Daily Gratitude: Well, this is a bummer. I guess I’m not too intelligent. However, I must be getting smarter because I’m getting better at change. Maybe there’s hope.

Seriously (although i was being serious) we should examine this saying. After all Albert is way above the norm in almost all categories of brain function. But that makes it more interesting since he isn’t saying that intelligence is an IQ measurement or how well you do on tests. No, he’s saying it’s measured by how well you can adapt to different conditions and circumstances.

I think that’s because in many, if not most, instances of change, you have to use your brain to facilitate that change. If you can open your mind and look at any type of change with excitement and curiosity, you never know what might come out of it. It might even become fun in that “let’s figure out this puzzle kind of way”.

Let’s just try it. Next time you are up against some sort of change, stop and say “I am intelligent so this will be fun, even if challenging” or something similar.

Instead of being a Nike man or woman today, just try it.

Daily Gratitude: Boy is this true. It takes great practice to stay in the present moment and not go off on a “movie director” career – meaning creating multiple scenarios, no matter how far fetched. I think I might receive the Academy Award for this.

I am learning to stop when this happens and say “stop. The fact is _ and all the rest is your creation, Terrie. Stick with the fact”. My medical mind goes all over the place acting like Dr Oz or something. It really does take effort to stop.

It’s funny how I’m less likely to go off catastrophizing in areas that aren’t medical…or actually, in areas where i have little knowledge. It seems that knowledge is key for a good spiral downward.

Do you go off into ideas and thoughts that are fear based? What phrases or ideas can you use to stop your mind from hurtling out of control? Share them with us please.

Daily Gratitude: This is so helpful to remember at this time of year when absolutely everything can seem (and be) overwhelming.

It does take courage to keep going on or to decide you will go on tomorrow. My 2025 vol state is a perfect example of that although I’m not sure I’d call it courage. I wasn’t going to be picked up when I wanted to quit so I just had to keep going. But did I really have to keep going?

Not really. I could have gotten several people to come pick me up or I could have just walked off the course. But I didn’t.

The courage was buried deep within and it was a “part”. A part that kept the basic fires stoked but not prominent enough that I was conscious of them. But wherever it was hiding, it kept me going.

Sometimes it just takes courage to go to sleep and say “I’ll decide in the morning or when I wake up”. The power of sleep to rejuvenate all your resources can never be overstated.

So when your energy is low this month and you feel like quitting and hiding or running away, try to postpone any major decisions (and sometimes even minor ones) until you’ve had some rest and preferably sleep.

You can go on but you also don’t have to save the world. Know your limits but also know your real “why” in everything you do and have to do.

This is a season to be enjoyed and enlightened, not overwhelmed and buried.