Consistency

They say that it takes about 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic, but other studies suggest that it takes anywhere from 18 to 256 days to form a habit. This wide range depends on the person and the behavior the individual is trying to change or create.  

I guess consistency is the key word, when trying to form a new habit. But consistency with what frequency? Is it performing the action, or not performing it, every day? Every week? I feel that consistency has a personal timeline. For some, it could be something that needs to happen every day, while for others, it could be once a month. It depends on the new habit one wants to form. 

Until now, and hopefully only until now, consistency is something that has escaped me. I start strong but don't finish. Just like with my blogs. I start, then stop, then start again, and stop again... it is like a never-ending cycle. It is frustrating and demoralizing. And it is a cycle I want to stop.

Do you have any issues with consistency? How many times have you started something but not finished it? 

Would you like to join me and try, One Day at the Time, to form a new habit? Think of something you are trying to change. Give yourself a deadline and give it a go!

My habit is daily writing. I have prompts I want to develop, and five different blogs I've been trying to keep up with. Which prompt or blog will get my attention will not matter, at least until I get in the habit of writing every day. 

What is in the past is now gone. Today is a new day. Taking it one day at the time, let's try to tackle this new habit we want to form. We don't have to wait for January 1st to start something new. 

Share your thoughts and your progress. You can do it. We can do it!

Let Go of the Past

To be honest, this is one of the hardest things I have to come to terms with. 
I spend so much time, no... let me rephrase that: I waste so much time on past events. I live them over and over again. I replay those moments trying to figure out how I could have done things differently.

Well... guess what? There's nothing that can be done to change the past. It is done and over with. I can learn from my mistakes, I can try to make amends when and where possible, and I can work on making different choices in the present. 

Yes, the present, because the present is really all we have. The future is not a guarantee. But we do have a present. And every day is a brand-new page waiting to be written; it is an opportunity to be better.

 "I use memories, but I will not allow memories to use me" from the Shiva Sutras.
Let's use memories to enrich our life. The good memories to bring a ray of sunshine in our day, and the less favorable memories to help us make different choices. Let us use memories to write a better present.

We cannot, and should not, erase our past. Our past is what shaped us into who we are today. However, brooding over it is not productive. Would you read a book that, page after page, repeats the same negative story?
The answer is probably no. Then, why would we want to write on our brand-new page each day the past mistakes, negative events, wrong choices, ...?

Let us let go of the past! We have a brand-new day to live today!

30 Days

I have just received the book I ordered: 30 Days Change Your Habits Change Your Life, by Marc Reklau.

I first read it online. Then, since I liked it so much, I decided that I was going to purchase a soft cover copy of the book. 

You may wonder what this book has to do with this blog. 

Marc gives you ideas and challenges to help you get on track with your life. Are there things you want to do but you feel you don't have enough time? There's a chapter on that. Are you bogged down by your past and seem to dwell on it often, perhaps too often? There's a chapter on that. There are 94 short, very short, chapters in the book. Each chapter tackles one thing you might want to work on to better yourself.

By working on yourself, one day at the time, one step at the time, you can accomplish great things. 

I mentioned the book, but it is not necessary to have a book to guide you through your change. I started wanting this change before I ever laid eyes on the publication. I wanted to change to be a better child of my Heavenly Father. I knew, as I know now, that I could be a better version of myself if I chose to rely on my Savior. Through His guidance, His example, His atoning sacrifice, I could learn one day at the time, one step at the time to become a light unto others. I could find hope to make it one more day; to make it through one more challenge. I am far from perfect. I have downfalls; I have made, and still make, mistakes: some big, some bigger, and some small. But I know I can change, if I rely on Him. 

You too can rely on Him, for everything! He will give you hope; He will give you refuge; He will give you guidance; He will help you. But you need to want Him in your life. 
The book will be beneficial, but I am sure that with Him, it will be even better. 

Finding Joy in the Journey

To find joy, one must know what joy is.

In an article from Psycology Today, the author states: "Joy is an emotion “evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune” (Merriam-Webster). It is a feeling of “great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying” (dictionary.com). Other words for joy include bliss, jubilance, exultation, glee, and appreciation. You can recognize joy by the physical sensations it triggers, like buoyancy in your whole body, a tingling in your chest, an irrepressible smile on your face. Joy creates a positive excitement that uplifts and expands you."

One must not confuse joy with happiness.
The first is a constant and internal feeling; it is something that we can feel even when things are not quite going the way we anticipated.
The second is found in a moment, an event; it is something triggered by an external cause.

Although we want happiness to be part of our lives, we should focus more on finding joy. Joy is what will carry us through the rough moments in our lives, in our personal journey. Yes, journey! Life is not a destination but a journey. 

How do we find joy? I personally have found joy in Christ. It is through Him that I can overcome obstacles, hang on during the storm, push forward knowing that He is with me, and He will carry and/or guide me to safety. 

I am happy when I can testify of Christ, but my joy is full only when l constantly strive to follow in His footsteps, when I rely on Him, when I always remember Him in all that I do and in all that I say.
The questions I practice keeping in my mind are: "What would Christ do, if He were in my place?" and "If He were next to me, would I be comfortable making this choice, saying what I am saying?" 
Please, do not think I am perfect. I am very far from perfect. However, through Him, I can be a little bit better with each passing day. Through Him, I can repent when my choices are not something to be happy about. 

Through Him, I can find joy in my journey.

There is a song I really like, and I would like to share with you: If the Savior Stood Beside Me

Lyrics

If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do?
Would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true?
Would I follow His example?
Would I live more righteously,
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would I say the things I say?
Would my words be true and kind if He were never far away?
Would I try to share the gospel?
Would I speak more reverently
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would my thoughts be clean and pure?
Would His presence give me strength and hope, and courage to endure?
Would His counsel guide my actions?
Would I choose more worthily
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would I often kneel to pray?
Would I listen to the Spirit’s voice, and hasten to obey?
Would I count my many blessings?
Would I praise Him gratefully
If I could see the Savior standing nigh watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would I comfort those in need?
Would I try to show the Savior’s love in every word and deed?
Would I give to those who hunger?
Would I serve more willingly
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

He is always near me, though I do not see Him there
And because He loves me dearly, I am in His watchful care
So I’ll be the kind of person that I know I’d like to be
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me.

Books to Help with Healing

 When I was younger, I did not like reading. May be because I was forced to read and then write summaries and character analysis. 

As a young adult, my then boyfriend introduced me to a series of books about animals. I love animals and so I loved reading those books. From there, I found other books I could delve into.

Then came motherhood, divorce, and college. Time to read for pleasure became a thing of the past. I was helping with homework, doing my own homework, and trying to make it as a single parent. Depression crept back into my life (if it ever even left). 

Fast forward to quite a few years later... my school was done, my kids were grown and gone, but time for reading was still eluding me because I was always preparing lesson plans, lessons, charts, IEPs (if you work in the Special Education field, you know what I'm talking about) and a myriad of other things that come with teaching.

It wasn't until last July that I was able to start reading again. And what a pleasure it has been. Some books I have devoured in a couple of days. Others took me a little longer. I am now reading a series that I am finding captivating. The main character is a former librarian turned book shop owner and "therapist." She is not the typical therapist. She talks to her customers and then finds books to help them deal with what they are experiencing and that is causing them pain. 

I want to share one of the quotes from one of her books (it is the first one in the series The Secret, Book, & Scone Society).

“Stories don’t change much across continents and centuries. Hearts are broken. Pride is wounded. Souls wander too far from home and become lost. The wrong roads are taken. The incorrect choice is made. Stories echo with loneliness. Grief. Longing. Redemption. Forgiveness. Hope. And love.” Now it was her turn to point at the bookstore. “That building is stuffed with books that, once opened, reveal our communal story. And, if you’re lucky, the words in those books will force you to grapple with the hardest truths of your life. After reducing you to a puddle of tears, they’ll raise you to your feet again. The words will pull you up, higher and higher, until you feel the sun on your face again. Until you’re suddenly humming on the way to the mailbox. Or you’re buying bouquets of gerbera daisies because you crave bright colors. And you’ll laugh again—as freely as champagne bubbling in a tall, glass flute. When’s the last time you laughed like that?”
― Ellery Adams, The Secret, Book, & Scone Society

I am really liking her main character Nora, and I feel that if I were to follow Nora's book list suggestions to the pained customers, I too would find a way to handle (or deal) with what life has thrown at me in that particular moment. 

Pick up a book. Give it a try. 

Another Month Has Gone

 Another month, May, has left us. This is time we cannot get back. However, we have other months ahead of us. We can choose to make the best of them, or we can choose to let them pass by. What will your choice be?

We might feel that things we have done or experienced in the past are holding us back. Let me share with you a quote I saw:

Our past shapes us, certainly, but it does not define us. Each day is a new opportunity to become better than our past self. We make choices as unique souls to change direction any time. Yes... even YOU. If ever you feel that your past is holding you back, remember that you have the power to overcome it. See it in your mind as if it is already true, and then step into your future. (Author unknown)

Let us take it one step at the time and one day at the time. Go for your dreams. Paint that picture. Hike that mountain. Hug a friend. Forgive yourself and forgive others. Today is a new day. It is a new blank page in your book of life. Whatever you choose to fill it with, it is totally up to you. It may not be perfect in someone else's eyes, but it is perfect for you. We each develop at our own pace. We each experience things our own way. Be you! You are unique! And you are of infinite worth!

Kids Answers on Tests

I am a teacher. Because I hang around other teachers, we often send one another things we find funny, either of our own students or students from other places.

For this post, I have compiled a few of those funny, smart aleck answers students have written on their assignments. I hope they will bring a smile, a chuckle, a light hearted moment in your day, as we take it One Day at a Time.

Name the Quadrilateral

Generally speaking, students first learn about quadrilaterals in 5th grade. They learn about their properties and names. Hope, the young lady who completed the assignment, either has a great sense of humor or was absent the day they covered the information. Here are the answers she wrote on her test:

This particular pictures has made it on several websites across the globe.

I was unable to pinpoint the original and, therefore, give it the proper credit.

Find the X

X marks the spot on a map, for pirates. 

X Marks the Spot

However, if you are not a pirate, x represents a variable and you are required to find its numerical value. This student decided to find the x the pirate's way. I don't think he received the credit he expected. 

Find x

This child is not incorrect

Even though this student did not give the answer the teacher expected, this child is not totally incorrect, especially if this is a daily scenario 

This image can be found on several websites,
I found it on Winkgo.

Even the teacher found this funny!

To expand something in math it means to multiply the terms so we get rid of the parenthesis. This student took expanding to a different level, but even the teacher agrees it was a funny way to do it.

This one was taken from Green Lemon

After math, let's look at some of the funny answers students gave on other tests.

Oh where, oh where was the document signed...

The Declaration of Independence was and is a pretty special, important, and well known document, at least in the USA.
This student, however, might have not taken the time to review its history. He is not wrong, but this is  definitely not the answer the teacher expected.

From IziSmile

A+ for Creativity

This student might have failed the exam, but received an A+ from the teacher for creativity. Even teachers have a good sense of humor.

From Funny

If you click on any of the links under the pictures, you will be able to access more of these funny answers. 

Happy clicking!