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Health & Fitness

A NOT to do list.

My NOT to do list

Every day it seems I have a mental list of the things I “need” to do but most days the tasks remain unchecked, I’m a dropout of the Franklin Covey system of time management, and as I mature in my life, I am beginning to understand how little those lists really matter. The important things manage to work their way into completion so I have decided to make a list of the things NOT to do in my life…anymore.

1.       Judge, gossip, or listen to gossip or judgment. I have no room in my life for the intolerances of others, it really is that simple.

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2.       Be a people-pleaser. First-born children, especially daughters, are known for this skill; but over time, we realize it may please others but at what cost? I know the cost so I choose not to do this anymore.

3.       Save things for special occasions. What is more special than a weekday dinner with friends and family, the laughter and time spent together is well worth the cloth napkins and sterling silver flatware. After all, I own a dishwasher as well as a washing machine, so what am I waiting for? Several years ago I realized it makes any dinner more special to use a linen napkin rather than a wrinkled square of rough paper from last weeks’ takeout Thai food. Now it’s time to break out the fancy forks and knives!

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4.       Hold my breath. Even though I am a yoga teacher, I find myself holding my breath at different times throughout the day and I have no idea why. Deep breathing brings more oxygen into my brain and cells and gives me clarity. No more breath retention for me, unless it’s part of my yoga practice.

5.       Skip breakfast. This is a silly thing to do but many of us out there do it and don’t pretend like you don’t…and coffee doesn’t count as the breakfast of champions so don’t use that excuse. Breakfast kick starts the metabolism and gets us going for the day so make sure to eat, preferably  something balanced and healthy, before you leave the house every day.

6.       Ruminate. I’m actually very good with not doing this one but it’s a good reminder that things are as they are and acceptance of that makes life more pleasant.

7.       Try to comprehend, even in the slightest, why on earth people do what they do; I will never understand this so I am going to stop trying and just accept.

8.       Waste my time with negativity and negative people. This goes along with #1 but it still makes the list of what not to do because the energy I devote to trying to shift the mood of a negative person drains me of my natural positive energy, so I’m  not doing that anymore and will lead by example. Those who notice will follow my lead and those who do not, well, they will not.

9.       Make excuses for my healthy lifestyle. I eat right, I exercise nearly every day, I practice yoga and I meditate. That’s why I “look the way I do” and there is no other reason for it, it’s not good genes or part of my job; it’s because I value my health.

10.   Not be afraid. I choose not to be afraid anymore; and I’m not talking about spiders or things that go bump in the night, I’m talking about being fearful of doing, being or saying something that truly is in my best interest and completely within my reach. What in the world am I afraid of? Succeeding? That’s just hogwash and I refuse to do it anymore.

 

This is my Not to Do List, over time I imagine some items will remove themselves because I’ve removed the trigger for those items; one thing I know for certain is not doing leaves a lot more room for doing.

 

 

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