How can we live our best life?

Today is August first. Seven months of the year are gone already. I’ve been 71 for almost a month now.  I can hardly believe how quickly the time is going by.

In the month of August, I’m seeing the following doctors and having some tests done: family MD, ophthalmologist, psychologist, massage therapist, podiatrist, rheumatologist, blood tests, and an MRI.

In between, I’ll be writing my book Murder in River’s Bend, and adding new poems to Rhythm and Rhyming Spirit, which I did today. I’ll be having lunch with friends, keeping my house, loving my cat Bella, and in touch with my family and friends. Life is beautiful and I’m grateful to be here.

My body has always given me a lot of challenges with numerous health issues since I was a teen. But I want to be all used up by the time I go. I may be going through a tough time physically but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, I’m doing great.

It’s wonderful to wake up in the morning and not feel fat. Even when I was 108 pounds in my twenties, I woke up feeling fat. Feeling fat is a state of mind. I don’t have that problem anymore, thank God.

It’s absolutely glorious to wake up with no resentments, few regrets, and a heart full of love for most of the people in the world. It gives me energy so that I can do what I love with my life. There’s no schedule or obligations. I live with the ones I create for myself to keep my life on track and get done that which I want to do, that which I want to accomplish in a day.

Each morning I write for three or four hours, then I have lunch and feed Bella lunch. In the afternoon I’ll do something towards the upkeep of the house, call a friend to see how they are, have a nap, and then get up and make supper. Then Bella and I will watch a movie in the evening. Once into bed, I like to read for at least an hour.

I live with chronic pain 24/7. A few years ago I went through a program called Chronic Pain Self-management out of Victoria. One of the best things I ever did for myself! I follow the tips and tricks I learned through them. I’d highly recommend that program to anybody who is in any kind of pain for whatever reason. My go-to trick is the ‘distraction method’. When I’m writing, I am totally in the zone, my phone is off, and I just let it flow. I am the same way no matter what I’m doing.

There’s nothing I can do about the level of pain I’m in. I couldn’t take enough medication for it to have any impact on the pain at this point. But I can do something about what I choose to do with my days, how I allow my mind to roam, where I allow it to rest, what comes out of my mouth, and my general demeanor day by day. I don’t need to be a bitch who feels sorry for herself and takes it out on whoever is closest at the moment. I’ve never been that person. I couldn’t live with myself if I allowed myself to get into that habit.

Choosing to live a life based on spiritual principles was a no-brainer for me. It’s the only thing that has worked to keep me wanting to be here on a daily basis. Some of the principles I live by are:

Gratitude for everything

Grace and humility

Peaceful mind

Take care of my own stuff and not dump it on others

Helping others

Prayer

Meditation

Spiritual and uplifting daily readings

Self-healing

Leaving others alone to find their own way and just sharing what has worked for me

Hope this helps.

Love Lyn