Ain't Nobody Got Time For Dat ...

I can’t believe the things that go viral …. “Ain’t nobody got
time for dat”  LOL as funny as she sounds, she is speaking truth! Ain’t nobody got time for worry, stress, grudges, hatred, and negativism, period. Lol….  As I have mentioned before, I work in hospitals as an interpreter. During the three years that I have been doing this I have met some pretty interesting patients. lol One 88 year old lady in particular comes to mind. She wanted me to ask the doctor if he could fix her hunch back, refer her for laser eye surgery and give her a letter stating that she is able to drive. Her license had been taken away because of the cataracts in her eyes. At almost ninety years old she was not a candidate for any of the things she wanted done. Lol When the doctor tried to explain why she was not a candidate, she became furious. With a "ain't nobody got time for dat" look, she looked at me and said “I’m getting a second opinion” haha I have to say although I admire her perseverance, at some point, we just have to surrender to old age Lady! I hope I have her will to live when I'm 88! LOL  

This week I will speak about 10 ways we can live intentionally as people, spouses, and as parents; in that order. ;) I learn many life lessons from the older patients, they open up to me about life and what really matters in the end.  I can tell you with complete confidence that not one of them ever told me that they wish they would have spent more time at work.  Not one said to me that if they could get their youth back they would buy more things, get a bigger house or better cars.  Instead every one of them said they wish they would’ve spent more time with their kids, family and friends; every last one of them. Also, on the top of that list was that they would’ve taken better care of themselves. 

As I heard them speak, I made up my mind that I will not be saying that when I’m older.  I don’t want to have that regret. Taking this to heart I have devoted myself to living in the moment.  I made a short list of 10 things we can do to get us started on that journey:

1.      Exercise- walk, jog, run, stand up!…. Do anything but sit. LOL

2.      Eat healthier- make better food choices. One thing I do is carry snacks so I won’t be tempted by                    a juicy yummy big mac!!! Lol

3.      Be intentional about planting a positive thought in your mind as soon as you wake up. Say it to yourself … I’m loved by God.

4.      Wake up to your favorite music, play it while you are getting ready in the morning.

5.      Think before you speak, choose to use words of wisdom not emotion.

6.      Be intentional about creating a positive atmosphere everywhere you are. Bring the joy with you instead of trying to find it.

7.      Don’t stress about things you can’t control; traffic, weather, OTHER PEOPLE lol

8.      Try something different; eat lunch outside, buy a sweet smelling plug-in for your office, cubicle or home.

9.     Put something that makes you smile where you can see it often; a picture on the fridge or in your car, a special gift, a sweet note (even if you wrote it for yourself) lol

10.   Be kind, do something special and unexpected for someone. Bring them coffee, a chocolate bar or even a smile.

We must do whatever it takes, whatever works ….living in the moment however, didn’t come easy; the journey to it was long and hard.  A few years back I remember being in a bad state of mind. I allowed the things of this world to steal my peace. I gave all my power away to negativism. I drowned myself in sorrow.  I could think of nothing else but negative things.  I have been a happy person most of my life; it takes a lot to upset me. But during this period in my life I fell into a deep depression. If you have never experienced this, it is very difficult to explain.  

According to PudMed health:

“Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods. True depression is a mood in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for weeks or longer.”

I didn’t understand what I was feeling, I thought I was sick.  I remember waking up in the middle of the night feeling the deepest sorrow I have ever felt.  The only way I can describe it is an abyss. Life lost its purpose, food lost its flavor, flowers lost their fragrance, and everything around me lost its color.  I have to tell you that this was the scariest time of my life. I prayed, read the bible constantly, and heard sermons on TV and radio. I didn’t know what else to do to find the peace and joy I lost, I couldn’t find myself. 

Things got worse before they got better. I will fill you in on my journey to recovery tomorrow.