Some nice quotes today

Ed Sheeran-Sing

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.  We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.  We are all meant to shine, as children do.  We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.  It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.  And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.  
Marianne Williamson

Etiquette Wednesday: On Kindness

The Shins-Simple Song

Etiquette Wednesday comes early! I recently read this article and I can't agree more. I think it might also be my midwest up-bringing, but after spending close to two years out East and now having come back, the difference in civility is like night and day (although it might just be that there's more land area and a lot less people in the Midwest, but I also believe that people are less angry here in general and this personality map agrees). I'm a huge fan of kindness. I enjoy not being thrown out of the way as if I don't matter by some yuppie who is trying to board a subway faster than me, but forgot his manners because he's in a rush to get home (despite the fact that the subway conductors always poke their head out to make sure everyone on the platform gets on before closing the doors). I enjoy people who don't cut me off midway in a conversation because they honestly care to listen and aren't too eager to dismiss my point of view. I enjoy people not texting directly through an entire conversation and people who value the essence of human contact more than the electronic relationships. I enjoy people not prying into my personal life and asking invasive questions as if they automatically have the right to that information (for the record, no one has the right to that information). I enjoy people who are self-aware, sensitive, and kind enough not to be arrogant just to prove a point (the point being "I am better than you" or "I know more than you" or "what you say doesn't matter").

I enjoy being considerate towards others--bending over to pick something up that someone has dropped right in front of me but has their hands full--irrespective of who the person is. Offering someone else who hasn't eaten all day a bite to eat before chowing down myself in front of them. Offering someone who hasn't sat for 10 hours a seat instead of pushing them out of the way to take it. It always perplexes me when I don't see that same commitment to kindness in others. As if the climb up to the top is so much more important than being humane to a fellow person.

Plainly put, I enjoy being kind and I enjoy receiving kindness. I value that in the people whom I choose to spend my time with. One of my closest friends is studying for her Step 1 Boards (the be all end all medical licensing exam) and one thing I adore about our friendship is that regardless of how busy either of us are we can take a few minutes at least to ask how the other person is doing and always add the extra bit of encouragement to carry on (allons-y!) When we have problems, we both try to sincerely help the other person out by our respective strengths (she can offer parallel philosophical insight and I can offer my real-life experiences). That's kindness. The recognition that we are all in this together. Everyone is going through something and it's not our place to judge the degree of what someone experiences, but to offer kindness to them regardless: especially when it seems unfit or when we are at our lowest.

"Whatever you put out there comes back to you in some form eventually."

Musing's and lessons

(1) 50 facts about tigers!

(2) Insomnia is miserable!!!!
More info on enhancing sleep

(3) After thousands of viewings in 25 years, I am still in love with the Wizard of Oz.

(4) The psychology of color

(5) Interesting infographic on the science behind happiness!
-Enlightening how exercise is such a powerful tool (sometimes more so than prescription medication) to prevent depression relapse.

(6) 42 ways to get better at life!

(7) Find out more about whether gummy vitamins are good.
While we're at it, here's everything you need to know about Vitamin D. 

(8) Can you be an Elite Warrior?

• Elite warriors learn to win in their minds before they seek to win on the battlefield
• Elite warriors don’t whine.  They embrace the suck, get the job done, then move on
• Elite warriors love their fellow teammates like their brothers and sisters
• Elite warriors love their enemies as much as their fellow soldiers (this is an advanced warrior principle!)
• Elite warriors display integrity in their thoughts, words and deeds, alone, with their teammates and within the “system”
• Elite warriors do today what others won’t, so they can do tomorrow what others can’t
• Elite warriors take their eyes off of themselves and place them on their teammates
• Elite warriors expect to lead, don’t shy from the hard leadership roles, and step back effortlessly when it is someone else’s turn
• Elite warrior don’t seek fame or fortune, and are humble about these things if they come their way…often deflecting credit to others
• Elite warriors never quit.  They never quit in training or on an operation.  They never quit their teammates.  They never quit training their body, mind and spirit.  They never quit trying
• Elite warriors are innovative.  To them the term “failure is not an option” means that failing is required to learn fast, so the whole concept of failure is a moot point
• Elite warriors train realistically and they master the basics…coming back to them often.  They take nothing for granted
• Elite warriors know WHY they are doing what they are doing.  It is this connection to their WHY that keeps them focused and motivated when things get tough

(9) Find out how to meditate!

(10) Ignorance is bliss for some people. But being aware of my own ignorance has been a profound gift.

(11) Everyone experiences the world differently.

(12) Some people have an inability to empathize with others.

(13) Fiverr.com is wonderful!!!!! I've gotten excellent editing for just $5-10!

(14) I do believe it's incredibly rude to text when you are having a conversation (and even ruder to do it while on a rotation).  

(15) Sometimes people only hear what they want to hear, but wind up missing powerful lessons in the midst assuming. 

Spring is on the horizon!!!