Dream: Your WOW Card of the Week Message

If you could do or be anything, what would it be? Photo Courtesy of Megan Thomas on Unsplash

DREAM

If you could do or be anything, what would it be?

Your Words of Wisdom (WOW) Guidance Card for Living Life Better for May 27 - June 2, 2020

DREAM

If you could do or be anything, what would it be?

Definition: a cherished aspiration, ambition or idea
Other: desire, wish, hope, intention
Opposite: apathy, indifference, contentment

Everything starts with a dream.
The vision of a new reality.
A possibility in the making.
A strongly desired goal or purpose.
A wish your heart makes.

Become your own dream detective and figure out what it is that you love and want more of in your life.
Sit in the stillness and quiet.
Think of what your life could be if there were no boundaries on the possibilities.

What image is created by your imagination?
What sensations are occurring in your mind?
What area of your life is calling for a dream?

Unlocking your dreams comes with the willingness to change, commit, and clear the way by setting goals and taking action.

Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind,
Be led by the dreams in your heart.
-Roy T. Bennett

Every dream precedes a goal that needs determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort to make progress towards the end result. Dreams can come true if we have the courage to figure out what is important and then do it. By living a lifestyle that is conducive to making our dreams a reality, we encourage others to reach out for their dreams also.

A dream helps to inspire, gives us hope, and fill our lives with purpose. It shapes our everyday life with intention and becomes a way of living life better.

Each Wednesday we share another Well-Being and Wonder Words of Wisdom (WOW) Guidance card message on Facebook and via email. Come join us and subscribe so you don’t miss out.

Becky Wilbur - Silver Lining Specialist at Well-Being and Wonder

Becky Wilbur, Silver Lining Special at Well-Being and Wonder. She is a woman who is wise-hearted and chooses to live with ease. Well-being is the vision which lights her way with peace and love. As an encourager, healer and champion for flourishing and contentment, she is honored to inspire others on their journey of change. She is a widow, and Mom to two girls and a mutt named Sadie from Modesto, CA.

Self-Care Your WOW Card of the Week Message

You are worthy and deserving of self-care. It is honoring the gift of your life.

SELF-CARE

I tend to myself because I am worthy and deserving.   

Definition: Intentional upkeep for mind, body, and spirit.

Other: Filling up, nurturing oneself, tending

Opposite: Depleted, spent, deflated

Self-Care is a sacred act of appreciating the gift of you.  Honoring the gift of your life.  Valuing yourself, confidently knowing that caring for yourself, makes life better for you and those you interact with.

Self-Care is not just an occasional facial, bubble bath, cup of hot cocoa, or time away from our routine although all of those things certainly can be self-care measures. 

Self-Care can be removing or limiting exposure to things in our life that are not nourishing to us such as excess noise, media, toxins, places, people…which are draining to us.

Think of your body as a precious holder or vessel which contains all that we put inside it. 

What or who are we listening to?  What media are we ingesting?  What are we consuming?  What type of people are we spending time with?  What are we eating and drinking and filling our surroundings with? 

What we put inside of ourselves, will fuel us and that’s what we have to “share”  with others.   If we feed it garbage, scary images, neglect, or negativity that’s what we’ll cultivate and dispense.   If we feed it nutritious food, uplifting content, care, and positivity, that’s what we’ll cultivate and dispense. 

Today is a prime example of taking the necessary steps for self-care. I felt like I was doing and experiencing too much and wanted to take today and perhaps tomorrow as rest days to nurture and fill up my cup. I am planning to be off social media for a few days.

I also see a nap in my future, I’m listening to soothing sounds and I am writing which always replenishes me.  I’ve also been for a walk with my dog and spent time out in the yard enjoying the warm sunshine and beauty at my fingertips.

What do you need more of?

What do you need less of?

How do you tend to yourself?

Here are some ideas:

·       Soothe yourself

·       Nap

·       Get still

·       Connect with an uplifting friend, relative or pet

·       Listen to peaceful music or sounds

·       Move your precious body

·       Meditate

·       Journal

·       Unplug from media or electronics

·       Be out in nature

·       Diffuse essential oils

·       Bathe

·       Drink a green smoothie

·       Hydrate

·       Enjoy a favorite meal, snack or beverage

Here are some Self-Care Quotes you may enjoy.

“I have come to believe that caring for myself is not self-indulgent. Caring for myself is an act of survival.” — Audre Lorde

“An empty lantern provides no light. Self-care is the fuel that allows your light to shine brightly.” – Unknown

How can you live life better by allowing yourself the gift of Self-Care today?

Janette Stuart: Best Selling Author, Certified Angel Card Reader, Blogger, Military Mom, and Emissary of Joy at Angel Angles with Janette Stuart which will assist you to own and embrace your Divine Beauty and live a life of love, joy, and peace. Gentleness and Joy are my Superpowers. www.angel-angles.com

Nature: Your WOW Card of the Week Message

Your WOW Card of the week, it’s all about nature.

NATURE

Go outside. Look up. Be amazed.

Definition: physical world, including plants, animals, landscape

Other: outdoors, Mother Earth, flora and fauna, universe

Opposite: barren, void, nothingness

Our affinity toward nature is genetic and deep-rooted in evolution. The biological need to connect with nature is called The Biophilia Hypothesis. Super interesting. Nature helps us survive and is in our DNA.

There are natural oils found in plants called terpenes that are critical to our well-being. Natural light is also therapeutic. Earth grounding affects our bodies.

Nature impacts health. Nature deprivation, a lack of time in the natural world, has been associated with depression. Nature helps us cope with pain. Being outdoors reduces stress by lowering the stress hormone cortisol.

WAYS NATURE HELPS WELL-BEING

• reduction in anxiety levels

• increase problem-solving skills

• heightened concentration

• improve creative abilities

• more grateful and appreciative

• mindful of what we see, hear, smell, feel

• alleviates feelings of social isolation

• reduces fear, anger, and stress

• increases pleasant feelings

As we shelter in place and stay at home more than we usually do we can feel trapped and hopeless. Our daily lives have changed and we are faced with uncertainty. We are in survival mode.

We can make the choice every day to do the best we can in these challenging circumstances.

INCORPORATE NATURE INTO DAILY LIFE

• Walk outdoors, sit on the lawn

• Plants scattered around your home

• Natural scents-candles, diffusers, spray

• Natural items as decor-wicker baskets, driftwood, rocks and pebbles

• Get creative and draw nature, color flowers
  Indoor herb garden

• Play nature sounds-gentle rain, whale song, birdsong

• Garden dreaming or doing

• Fresh flowers

• Open the curtains

• Bath - Epsom salt and scent of your choice

• Look up at the stars

• Study the moon phases

NATURE MAKES US FEEL ALIVE FROM THE INSIDE

How can you live life better using Nature?

Becky Wilbur - Silver Lining Specialist at Well-Being and Wonder

Becky Wilbur, Silver Lining Special at Well-Being and Wonder. She is a woman who is wise-hearted and chooses to live with ease. Well-being is the vision which lights her way with peace and love. As an encourager, healer and champion for flourishing and contentment, she is honored to inspire others on their journey of change. She is a widow, and Mom to two girls and a mutt named Sadie from Modesto, CA.

Rest: Your WOW Card of the Week Message

Allow your mind and body to LET GO.

REST

Allow your mind and body to LET GO.

Definition: Stillness, Sleep, Receive, Relax

 

Other: Meditate, At Peace, Pause, Replenish

Opposite: Action, Exertion, Movement, Force

Sleep is not needed to rest but rest is needed to sleep.

For me, resting is a quick way to shift my negative thoughts to better feeling thoughts.

I aim to include a high percentage of my thoughts as positive ones and to do that I need to take good self-care measures such as enough rest, nutrition, hydration, and motion.

Today is a prime example of taking the necessary steps to get the rest I need. I felt like I was doing and experiencing too much and wanted to take today and perhaps tomorrow as rest days to nurture and fill up my cup. I am planning to be off social media for a few days. I also see a nap in my future, I’m listening to soothing sounds and I am writing which always replenishes me.  I’ve also been for a walk with my dog and spent time out in the yard enjoying the warm sunshine and beauty at my fingertips.

How do you get the rest you need?

Here are some ideas:

Ways to Rest

·       Soothe yourself

·       Nap

·       Get still

·       Receive

·       Listen to peaceful music or sounds

·       Meditate

·       Journal

·       Unplug from media or electronics

·       Be out in nature

·       Diffuse essential oils

·       Bathe

”Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.” – Ralph Marston

How can you live life better by allowing yourself the gift of rest today?

Janette Stuart: Best Selling Author, Certified Angel Card Reader, Blogger, Military Mom, and Emissary of Joy at Angel Angles with Janette Stuart which will assist you to own and embrace your Divine Beauty and live a life of love, joy, and peace. Gentleness and Joy are my Superpowers. www.angel-angles.com

Support: Your WOW Card of the Week Message

Your WOW Card of the week, it’s all about support

SUPPORT

I think I can. I think I can. I know I can.

I ask for help when needed.

Definition: give assistance, give approval, comfort or encouragement

Other: reassure, help, console, hearten

Opposite: neglect, abandon

You can take your “I’m ok” hat off now. It’s just me. Fall apart. I’m not going anywhere. THIS IS SUPPORT

I want you to know that someone out there cares.

Sometimes we need someone to simply be there. Not to fix anything or even do anything in particular. Just to let us feel cared about. THIS IS SUPPORT

Hey, how can I help? THIS IS SUPPORT

Someone to encourage you. Someone to pick you up when down. Someone to listen. Someone to hug you. Someone to be quiet with. Someone to laugh with. Or cry. THIS IS SUPPORT

You are not alone in this. I am here. What can I do? THIS IS SUPPORT

Support goes both ways. -To support others -To be supported

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” - Charles Dickens

How can you live life better by supporting yourself or another today?

Becky Wilbur, Silver Lining Special at Well-Being and Wonder. She is a woman who is wise-hearted and chooses to live with ease. Well-being is the vision which lights her way with peace and love. As an encourager, healer and champion for flourishing and contentment, she is honored to inspire others on their journey of change. She is a widow, and Mom to two girls and a mutt named Sadie from Modesto, CA.

Courage: Your WOW Card of the Week Message

We could all use a dose of courage…

COURAGE

Your heart will carry your through.

Definition: pain, danger, uncertainty or intimidation

Other: bravery, valor, grit

Opposite: cowardice, lack of bravery

Courage is sometimes a matter of life and death.
As we try to deal with the COVID19 pandemic we are being called upon to be brave.

We are facing and enduring danger from an unseen enemy which can cause death for millions.

The health care workers, grocery employees, truck drivers, government staff figuring out what to do next, InstaCart and food deliverers and all the other people we sometimes take for granted are fighting on the front lines of this pandemic. Daily their courage is portrayed in stories on the news. They are brave.

AND so are we. We, the regular folks who are following the STAY AT HOME orders. We are showing courage when we wash our hands for the zillionth time or when we put on another sock puppet show or make another meal or avoid spending unnecessary money or spend money to keep a small business going or lifting spirits around us. When just grocery shopping for your family can increase your risk, that is courage.

We use courage when our anxiety and upset remind us that THIS is outside of our control, outside of everyone’s control. No one who survives this pandemic will be untouched by this humbling experience. Our distraction of doing is being replaced with living moment to moment, over and over again. We are worthy of respect and kudos also, especially from our very own self.

We take one day at a time and appreciate what the day has to offer.
Maybe using this precious time to rethink LIFE.
New goals and dreams are being born.
Courage has called us ALL to do our duty.
It is an opportunity to reset the rhythm of our days.
Stop doing some things.
Start doing others.
Doing the right thing.
Being strong.
Asking for what you need.
Spreading courage not fear.

Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, “I’ll try again tomorrow.”
-Mary Anne Radmacher

We are in this together.
Those on the front lines and those of us at home.
We will survive.
With courage.

Becky Wilbur, Silver Lining Special at Well-Being and Wonder. She is a woman who is wise-hearted and chooses to live with ease. Well-being is the vision which lights her way with peace and love. As an encourager, healer and champion for flourishing and contentment, she is honored to inspire others on their journey of change. She is a widow, and Mom to two girls and a mutt named Sadie from Modesto, CA.

Bravely Saying our "See Ya Later" →

As a military Mom, I have had the experience of saying “See ya later” instead of good-bye, for the past five years that our son has been in the military.  It doesn’t get any easier.  Today was once again a “see ya later” day. 

With tears in my eyes, a lump in my throat and so much love in my heart, I say “see ya later”, until the next time we meet again. 

What makes it tolerable is the knowing that my son is doing what he feels passionate about: serving his country but at a great sacrifice to himself. 

He has to be the one to bravely move forward to a new location, uprooting himself from friends and family and making new connections at his next duty station or billet. 

He is the one who must leave his life as he knows and creates it on hold as he goes on patrol for an extended time period, saying good-bye or “see ya later” to his family and friends, missing special occasions as he proudly serves his country. 

I have seen many Moms and Dad’s leave their families portside for months at a time, missing first days or schools, birthdays, holidays and other special events while they serve.  Not only does it tug at my heart strings for them, but it also makes me feel incredibly grateful for their sacrifice. 

I don’t know when I’ll next see my son and his family.  They live a thousand miles away.  I am so grateful for the ability to stay in touch via email, text, phone and video.  The gift of technology makes the distance melt away, it’s the next best thing to being there in person. 

I have been blessed that our son and his family have been able to visit three times this year.  This year I have journeyed with pancreatic cancer and I was unsure if or when we’d be able to see each other again.

During their first visit, they surprised me when I was first diagnosed and having procedures in the hospital.  The second visit they came down for a family wedding while I was undergoing chemotherapy.  This visit, I am happy to report, I am no longer having any treatments and have a great diagnosis following my life-saving surgery. 

I felt good enough this trip, to go sightseeing and just hang out with them and my heart is so full of love and gratitude for that simple pleasure. 

Son, I am incredibly proud of you and the other men and women who serve our country.  Your service means so much and I am filled with humble gratitude at the magnitude of your daily sacrifice for the benefit of all here at home.  I am in awe of you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. 

Until the next time we can be together in person, I bid you adieu or “see ya later” with a heart full of love and gratitude.  I am so proud of you. 

Love,

Mom

Tagged: Military Mom, Military, Pancreatic Cancer, Goodbye, See Ya Later
First Published on Angel Angles with Janette Stuart on Sept. 27, 2019