Diabetic Recipes
kinwahyu
I'm reading a new book now thanks to Oprah and the internet. I was cruising around the other day on MSN and I noticed a headline that caught my attention. It said something like "Oprah's Book Club takes on a new book". So I took it upon myself (I was bored and procrastinating) to check it out and it turned out to be a real eye opener. The book is called, "A NEW EARTH, Awakening to Your Life's Purpose" by Eckhart Tolle. I had never heard of this guy so I checked him out a little bit.
I ended up coming across another one of his popular books called, "The Power of Now". After reading a summary of a few of his chapters, I was sold. I believe what I have learned so far has been some of the best advice that I have gotten this year and I feel it directly connects to me and my life. In the, "Power of Now" one of the things he talks about is how "negativity and suffering have their roots in time." He goes on to say, "The mind continually lives in memory of the past, or anticipation of an imaginary future. Guilt, regret, bitterness and remorse is the result of too much past; stress, anxiety, and worry is the result of too much future."
I feel I can definitely relate many of these feelings to my life with diabetes. I constantly live in the past and I have always had trouble letting go of things. I feel bitterness and regret about my diabetes even though I try not to and that I shouldn't. I am also a very big worrier of the future. Bottom line, after reading some of Eckart Tolle's writings I am trying my hardest to not dwell on my past or be too concerned about my future. I will go forward from today focusing on living in the "Now." I'll try not to forget this great piece of advice that hit right at home with me.
I'll try not to start out any of my future blogs with "I'm very stressed out today". I really do want to try and live with this new outlook and attitude towards life.
-Andy.
just remember the glass is half full.
The glass is only half full if you were filling it. If you were emptying it, it's half empty.
I like what you wrote about the "power of now". As a nurse diabetes educator, I not only hear reasons everyday for not being able to start changing habits for the "health of it", but I live them (like all people). It is a good reminder to live in the present, as this is the only time frame that we can have an immediate/direct effect on: should I eat these 3 brownies(my personal weakness); should I put on my running shoes...the dog would sure like it, but it's cold out or hot out, etc.
While writing this and trying to see all of the merits of living in the moment, I caught a glimpse of some of the merits of the past (mainly as a point of reference for where we were) and future (where we want to be). What are our regrets of the past? What is our vision for the future? Both important questions, but none as important as the "present" when we can actually change the future by our decisions we make right now. Most of the lifestyle change items that we are all encouraged to do are mostly things that seem too hard and they seem too hard because they are just that "changes".
Nike's advice is always helpful when feeling the pressure of making the right decision: "Just Do It!" (or "just don't do it!" whatever is situation-appropriate. Future thought is helpful when worrying isn't part of it, but when used as a goal... "I will take better care of myself because I want to be around to see my grandkids grow-up" and/or "my loved ones want to me to be around (in a healthy state) for a long time to come." Take care.