Are you expanding or shrinking?

"when was the last time you did something for the first time" Miss Susi Q
I'm not talking about your waist size. I'm talking about your life bucko. We've all heard that old cliche that says, in nature eveything is either growing or dying. When it comes to your life you are either expanding or shrinking.
When we are young we are always learning new things and having new experiences (expanding). However, as we age there is a tendency to shrink. Sometimes we think we know everything. We quit seeking new experiences, skills and knowledge and our world starts to shrink. Get old enough and even your friends start die off and you shrink your social life.
As we age we have that tendency to cocoon. To pull back from life, for some their only day planner is the TV Guide. We exercise less, get out in nature less. We fall into the trap of playing it safe. The tried and true, old and comfortable become our new norm....we start to shrink!
So be honest with yourself, are you expanding or shrinking?
Thinking about this got me to evaluate my life. I reached the conclusion that while I was still expanding, I could do much more (and I'm not talking about my hat size). So then the question came to me....
How do we become shrink resistent?
Here 12 fun ways to make you shrink resistent;
1. Learn a new language
2. Learn a new skill
3. Take up a new hobby
4. Read more
5. Write
6. Travel
7. Do cross word puzzles and Sadorka (No sure about the spelling of that)
8. Do charity work
9. Change vocations
10. Commune with nature
11. Seek silence, solitude and stillness (doing nothing works too)
12. This will be a favorite.....try new sex positions.
Of course thinking about this I must practice what I preach so this is what I'm playing with right now;
1. Learning to sail
2. Take a scuba lesson
3. Making 2 new friends
4. Very, very, slowly learning more Spanish
5. Writing more
6. Planning a trip to a new destination
7. Taking an online course
8. Take up kayaking
9. As soon as I find the right partner, I'll work on number 12 above
Phew, makes me tired just looking at that list....I just might have to quit work early, I wouldn't want to risk straining my poor brain...
Smile, the more we expand the more fun life is!
Eduardo


2 Comments:
I am going to honest here. I am shrinking. I got sick a few years ago and had to retire from my career. The illness I have has taken me places that I never wanted to go. I went through the stages of grief that we all go through when we have a loss. I think I am stuck in the depression stage and I really am trying to get out of it. Sometimes it is like trying to run in a sea of jello. Your blog has helped a lot because you make me think and evaluate my life. I have a handicapped child and I have to live for her if no one else. I know that no one will love her the way I do so I can't let this disease take me away from her. I know that having a positive attitude is beneficial when dealing with illness and I am trying really hard. Thanks for being a voice of caring and peace. You may never really know what good you do. I am making progress and I am determined to be a positive force in this world.
I admire your honesty and your courage Gracie! Depression and illness is a double whammy to deal with. I do know though, that there can still be sunshine in your life. I have a close friend who has had to deal with a husband dying of cancer and then a year later her son committed suicide. It's taken time and support but I see the sunshine in her face now, most everytime we meet. Doctor Eduardo's advice; find a way to expand! Take a course, learn a skill anything that leaves you with a sense of accomplishment. Right now I'm reading a book on reading body language by Allan and Barbara Pease. It's a lot of fun to learn a skill like that. Anyway, I'm not a fan of big wholesale changes, I like small incremental improvements. Best of Luck and remember, you are expanding when you read and share on sites like this...adios....Eduardo
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home