There’s nothing like the impending switch to a new calendar to turn one’s thoughts toward the philosophical.
It’s a perfect time to recalibrate a bit and ponder in hopeful ways for the coming year.
Nuggets from The Morning...
Melissa Kirsch of the New York Times assembled some of the top advice sent in by readers. As she discovered, there’s much wisdom out there in the world.
Life can get overwhelming at times, with so much to do and so many things vying for our time and attention. One really insightful tidbit was this: “We are all juggling so many balls. Differentiate between glass balls and rubber balls – and don’t be afraid to drop the rubber balls.”
It’s a visual reminder to not sweat the small stuff, as the ol’ saying goes.
Here are some other good ones:
· “Do something today your tomorrow self will thank you for.” – Ava from Cincinnati
· “Instead of trying harder, try softer.” – Martha from Phoenix
· “It’s never too late to have a good day.” – Carolyn in Kansas City
· “Everything is better after you stretch.” – Tal in Connecticut
Good advice for falling asleep.
We keep hearing about how crucial adequate sleep is to our physical health, emotional wellbeing and all around ability to function. But again, with all those mental to-do lists swirling around in our heads, it can be elusive.
Recently I read this helpful nugget from writer Peter Coy:
“I have learned to relax the tiny muscles around my eyes. I visualize the muscles and gently tell them to let go, one by one. They do! And then I feel a deep calm. It’s a great way to go back to sleep at night.”
And one more lovely quote:
“In quietness, the soul expands.”
- Rockwell Kent
You have a new bank account.
I’ve shared this before, but it still resonates and is worth repeating, as most good things are. It’s from Greg Laurie in Riverside, California:
“Let's say that one day your phone rang and it was the president of the bank that you use. He told you that an anonymous donor who loved you very much had decided to deposit 86,400 pennies into your bank account each and every morning. At first, maybe that didn't seem like a lot. But then you figured out that it was $864 a day. At seven days a week and 52 weeks a year, those pennies add up to almost $315,000 each year! But - the bank president added one thing: ‘The anonymous giver said you must spend all of the money on the day you receive it! No balance will be carried over to the next day. Each evening the bank must cancel whatever sum you failed to use! Remember, what you don't spend is lost.’
That may sound like fantasy, but here's the reality: Every morning, someone who loves you very much deposits into your ‘bank of time’ 86,400 seconds, which represent 1,440 minutes, which of course equals 24 hours each and every day. He gives you that much to use each day. Nothing is ever carried over on credit to the next day. There is no such thing as a 27-hour day. It's called time, and you can't escape it. Time is ticking away right now. The Bible tells us to "redeem the time"— to make sacred and wise use of every opportunity.”
So in other words - make those minutes count. Your time is such a valuable asset. If you don’t believe it, just ask someone who has very little of it left.
Lastly, a quick word of wisdom from Dale Carnegie:
“Inaction breeds doubt and fear.
Action breeds confidence and courage.”
P.S. Charleston really is awesome.
Yes, we are biased… but yes, it’s true. The Lowcountry really is a very special place to be. (After all, as I covered in that last blog, it’s a much better place to spend the holidays than New York City.)
Every once in a while you read something or hear a comment from a visitor that reminds us of how wonderful it is here.
And wouldn’t you know it, I found a gem on Reddit the other day. There’s a Charleston group that’s quite a good source of local info about the Holy City.
Well, this comment was posted by someone who came to Charleston for a visit. Number1swimmer’s post was so good, I have to share it here:
“This is the prettiest city I've ever been to.
I've traveled pretty extensively. 48 of the 50 states, Sweden, England, The Caribbean, all around Canada. Charleston is absolutely breathtaking on a different level. I just came for the weekend for the first time and holy sh__, I hope y'all appreciate what you've got. I promise not to move here, but I'm going to be back very frequently. Thanks for being so welcoming as well!”
So be like Number1swimmer and come visit Charleston - again and again. And when you do, give EP a call, and we’ll connect you with the best Charleston home rentals at the beach.
All best,
Lowcountry Lisa
your Isle of Palms vacation blogger