The cleanse

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Do you cringe when people say they’re going on “a cleanse”? 

And when did it become a noun?

One dictionary reference defines the verb cleanse “to rid (a person, place or thing) of something seen as unpleasant, unwanted, or defiling.”

During a whirlwind weekend of cooking, laundry and other domestic duties, I also performed some volunteer work and Feng Shui’d my bedroom.  With help from one of the young folk, I moved furniture around then I swept, dusted and sorted through boxes.

Is it okay to call those clumps under furniture “dust bunnies” if they consist mostly of cat fur? 

According to the Year of the Sheep workshop instructor, I needed to move my bed back to an “auspicious direction” with my head facing East.  Last year it was West.  That’s okay.  Some change is good.  I’m willing to explore a 5,000 year-old tradition about balancing energy and maintaining harmony in one’s space and lifestyle.

I’m also on a two-month “cleanse” to re-assess the need for boxes of books and other things I’ve kept, clothes shrinking in my closet and unnecessary thoughts cluttering my mind.

tabby cat in closet

Tabby cat in my closet

My little writing desk will stay in the same spot. Some things don’t need to change –  mostly for practical and sentimental reasons.

desk and books

Thanks for dropping by. Permit me to lead you to The Year of the Rabbit domain for a sampling of my fiction writing. If you decide to purchase a copy of the novel, it won’t collect dust.

T

Can’t change the weather

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Good grief!  We’ve been getting our fair share of snow in Eastern Ontario.

Weather forecast Feb. 8

There’s more to come which would be appreciated if one liked to ski. Baaa!

snow mount on bistro table

I can’t change the weather – just my reaction to it.  

If one has the luxury and sufficient snack food preparations, there’s always the option to curl up and nap – or read a book.

cats napping winter outside

One could also give in to the soft, white fluffiness as we anticipate the Year of the Sheep.

Illustration Year of the Sheep by GiseleAww-wuh!

If you like this illustration, hop on over to another blog where we admire the resident artiste’s other work, consider Lunar New Year celebrations and I entice you into reading my novel.

Thanks for dropping by. Bundle up before you head out.

T

Change the Things You Can: Change Your Attitude

Many of the distorted thinking styles listed in this change article are very similar to those for people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) . Wow! I agree that if negative thoughts arise, it’s good to change your focus onto something else but it’s also good to stop and analyze WHY those thoughts occur and work through them. Mindfulness exercises, concentration on breathing, a walk in the fresh air or listening to uplifting music can help in any circumstance to help one work through negativity.

mike54martin's avatarChange the Things You Can

Martin_Change

There are two types of attitude in every workplace, positive and negative attitudes. Negative attitudes can result from a series of factors including the overall workplace environment, the attitude of superiors and the individual themselves. Positive attitudes can result from the exactly the same situational and personal factors. What is the difference? The difference is in the thinking.

People with a negative attitude may have a lot of reasons to be less than positive in their workplace but the primary reason for their negativity is actually their thinking. Scientists and researchers who have studied this phenomenon have come up with a long list of thinking patterns that they call distorted thinking styles. Have a look at the list and see if you can recognize yourself or others in your workplace.

  • Filtering: You take the negative details and magnify them while filtering out all positive aspects of a situation.
  • Polarized Thinking:…

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