Luck and gratitude

When I take stock of any successes I’ve had, I realize that luck played a major role, and that I was fortunate to have the advantages I had. I could have been born a woman in a country where the treatment of women is appalling, or in a location devastated by war.

You can’t pick where, when, or to whom you’re born.  By sheer luck, I won the parent lottery without buying a ticket. I give my parents enormous credit for any of my successes, which includes coaching me through the failures.

For those of you fortunate enough to have your parents still with you, take the time to express gratitude.  In most cases, they did the best they could with what they had. In my case, they couldn’t have possibly done better.

Selfishly serving

There’s really no such thing as selfless or selfish.  Even those who “selflessly” dedicate themselves to the service of others do so because it makes them feel good.

Perhaps we need new words that recognize that everything we do is out of self-interest, but we can still feel good about serving ourselves and others.  Selfish and selfless imply that someone loses.

Or perhaps we could see certain kinds of selfishness as a virtue, and feel good serving others and ourselves and know that it doesn’t have to come at anyone’s expense.

The best tools I’ve found for getting through difficult times

BREATHWRK: Very simple, guided breathing exercises to change your physiology and help de-stress, oxygenate, and focus.   https://www.breathwrk.com/perform

HOME GYM EXERCISES: I’m guessing you don’t need convincing on the value of exercise. No need for an actual home gym or equipment for this workout:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoIG7LlU6a8

CONNECT WITH FRIENDS: Connection with those we love boosts our mood, deregulates the stress response, and actually improves your immune system.  For friends and family not nearby use Zoom.   https://zoom.us/download

HUMOR: Read or watch anything you find funny.  Laughter truly is the best medicine for your body.