Frugal Friday isn't always about money. Sometimes it's about quality of life. Being green isn't all about saving our environment. Sometimes it's about taking care of ourselves.
What are you doing to improve your quality of life? How are you taking care of yourself?
I want you to take some serious time (say, 5 minutes) to think this over before you read on.
(Insert theme from Jeopardy here).
Quality of Life for $100, Alex...
The RGH is a worrier. He takes life very seriously. He frets about all the things that happen in life and he holds on to them. Me, not so much. I only worry about him...and our kids. They are grown but I am still a mom. I can't stop being a mom just because they got married and got a life. Uh uhhhh. Mom for life.
Anyway, back to the subject.
Since the RGH is the worrier, I try to make sure that I keep a positive note as much as possible. To me, that is how I improve our quality of life. I keep things organized, take care of all the small details or annoying tasks that stress him out. I watch out for his mom since he is away so much. I keep our environment calm, clean and tidy. I try to think up fun things to do when he is home. If he is relaxed, I can relax.
To improve my personal quality of life, I create art, read, experiment in the kitchen and try to learn new things. I volunteer at my grandson's class one morning a week. I do this blog. These things keep me using my brain and doing things that make me happy.
I also try to cultivate friendships. I have made some great friends in my cyber travels. Felecia, whom I have never met in real life, sent me chocolate for my birthday. Tara, whom I also have never met sent me lovely handmade cards when I was healing from surgery. My friend Nicole, whom I HAVE met in real life is a great friend to share life stories with and she gives awesome advice. My point is, just because they don't live next door doesn't mean that people can't contribute to your well being. They can and do. You can contribute to theirs as well. I hope that in some small way, I have enriched them as they have me.
As for taking care of myself, I probably suck at this some. I like taking care of everyone else. But I try to invest in myself by doing yoga, going for walks, eating lots of fruits and veggies, and doing all the 'girl' tests with my physician as required. I try to get enough sleep and allow myself relaxation without guilt. I flake on the yoga more than I should because it's a bit of a drive to class and I don't feel confident enough in the poses to do it alone yet. (I know, I am rationalizing).
My friend Nicole has been blogging about Health, Wealth and Wisdom lately. It's cool to hear a different perspective on what those things are to people. When all we hear on TV is red lights and sirens and the coming of Armageddon, it's good to hear someone talking about paying off a hot tub and reading good books for a change. I feel very protective of our individual realities these days.
Our real lives are not played out on TV. They are not the digits in our bank accounts. Our real lives are what we do when the alarm goes off in the morning. It's small things that make us smile. Like my Get It Scrapped! coffee mug, or my cat rubbing her face inside my sneakers.
It's a feel good meal, like Tater Tot Casserole is at my house, or walking to the park. Maybe it's your rose bushes in bloom, or your sister's laugh. Maybe it's a phone call from your dad reminding you about daylight savings time.
I don't know what qualifies as quality of life for you. I can only speak for me. But I would love to know. What are you doing to improve your quality of life? What things are quality already? How are you taking care of yourself?
Your nosey neighbor, MaryC, wants to know.
Blessings,
Mary
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4 comments:
What a great post and wow, it's uncanny how often we're on the same wavelength! Since I've been diagnosed with arthritis (I think it's more but regardless, it's something) and it's been affecting my life, it's making me think about my quality of life. I've always been overweight and have never found anything compelling enough to make me lose it. But since the knee is going to impact some of the things that bring job to my life - gardening, travel, etc. - I think I've found something compelling enough. Easier said than done but I'll be thinking of those things whenever I am tempted by peanut m&m's. At least that's start.
Another thing I've done to improve my quality of life (or at least my perception of it) - I stopped watching the news. Knowing how many car wrecks and shootings there were the previous day or how many points the Dow dropped adds no value to my life so why subject myself to the negativity. : )
Thanks so much, Mary for the kind words. You have added richness to my life and I consider you as "real" as any face to face friends I've had.
I too was getting tired of the doom and gloom that is settling over everyone. This economy is unsettling and things are hard. Going through the dot.com implosion when we were tech consultants was a real trial by fire but those lessons have set us up well to go into this down turn without panic. We know the changes to make and what trimming back and preparing ourselves for rough times ahead looks like.
Healthy, Wealthy and Wise was born from me trying to make sure I take a little time each day to insure that I am growing personally and moving our family in the right direction. Little things like exercise, reading good books, emptying the deepfreeze we don't use now that we're vegan to save $15 a month off our power bill - it all adds up. And if those little things are done everyday it can REALLY make an impact.
Yesterday afternoon I was at a difficult spot in my book and I asked the boys if they would mind if I read it aloud so I could keep focused and not skim that part. My nearly 13 year old enjoyed the chapter so much he asked if I would pick up a copy of the book from audible for him to listen to at night in bed. Had I not been tackling more difficult books, he would have missed this educational opportunity. Little things really do make a difference.
Hey! I think I have my blog post *grin*
Great post Mary. It must be a moment in time because I've been on this wave as well. I just got a book Life is a Verb that I got the book because it has challenges and journal prompts. I thought it'd be a good start for some self prospective... glad to hear others are re-evaluating life as it's a good thing to do now and then :)
Nicole good to see you as well ;)
You know you and I are a lot alike because I tend to do exactly what you do with my DH. I keep telling him that I'm surprised Hannity hasn't had a heart attack at all the negativity and stress he spews out on a continual basis. :) Me, I blog about it and then I let it go. . . and then I try to focus on making things better. :) Doing what I can do ... to the best of my ability.
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