Would you do a list of 5, 6 or 7 things that you should do to improve your quality of life?
If I think about myself, I think that shouldl stay less time in front of this monitor. Besides that I really care about my quality of life, walking in the fields, enjoying every single moment. I would love to hear your opinion because this can be very useful to other people.
Thank you so much for sharing.
Paulo
DON’T WORRY ABOUT YOUR ENGLISH. BUT IF YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE, POST IN YOUR MOTHER TONGUE (PORTUGUES, ESPANOL, FRANÇAIS, ETC.).
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Dear Paulo
if and only if i can improve my life style,i will
1.try to add a smile on someone’s face everyday
2.start writing instead of delaying it everytime i touch a pen
3.live just a moment of peace daily instead of thinking continuously
I grew up in poverty where there is zero quality..So I would like to share these list of things I did to escape poverty and gain the quality of life fit for a human being..
1. Self-love, self-relliance, hard work, repentance..
2. Unlearn inherited dysfunctional culture, traditions,
superstitions..Unlearn old things whilst learning new ones..
3. Aim to satisfy own needs and wants keeping in mind the needs of others.
4. Dream only of things that are possible.
5. It is better to have things that I don’t need than to need things that i don’t have. But things musn’t take over life itself..
6. Blessings I received, are passed on to those who deserve. The more you give, the more you receive. But first, give to yourself because it is impossible to give with empty self….
7. Offer daily prayers of GRATITUDE..it’s the only prayers that are answered…
Wonderful list.
“….But first, give to yourself because it is impossible to give with empty self….”
this is one of the best lines i’ve ever read! .
this should be the quote of the week:)
i respect u for that
thank you:)
Beautiful, Hazel. Thank You.
Love,
Liina
I love your list, Hazel. It seems so real, so solid, practical, yet deeply meaningful. I especially like #4. So often we are told to “dream the impossible” and it will come true. And in a way I understand this and believe in it, but I am not sure that, as a rule, it is always applicable in circumstances where material resources are not available. In a situation of impoverishment or oppression (or any combination of the two) it seems that one has to turn one’s thinking around to a different view. One can dream “big dreams” – “impossible dreams” – all day long every day, but this will not serve to get one out of the situation of poverty. In such a situation, it is necessary (or at least it seems so to me) to look closely at the resources which ARE available and consider how those can be utilized to the fullest in the given moment. Dream what IS POSSIBLE – what is IMMEDIATELY FEASIBLE, what is DOABLE within the scope of extant resources. Then, when one begins to gain a little financial traction – what I like to call attaining “escape velocity” – one can begin to dream of things “impossible.” There is a hard, practical side to poverty, which must be dealt with first, before one turns to dreaming of things impossible to attain within that context.
Thanks for sharing your list with us, Hazel!
Sincerely,
Savita
I thank God to have you guide on the path of wisdom, I thank God have given you the “wealth” of the heart , i thank God for you have given the path to the dignity and the love ( and I am proud of your “road”: YOUR SUCCESS / and proud for your sons high in the respect of the rights of life and of love .
Thank you for all men and women who crosscutting your path and learn by virtue of your acts and beautiful life’s meaning.
God allows to learn the essential to certain …
and behind the clouds , they always reveals the light and the sun’s heat. blessed be each day …
Love
Sido
I undertook this quality exercise over the last two years -
these were and some are still, my objectives.
I would go to bed early.
I would follow my dreams.
I would try to live closer to the ocean.
I would be with animals and wildlife more of the time.
I would spend more time with family.
The only one i failed in big time was to drink less alcohol…
;o/
:o)
1. Take time to plan. Spontaneity is wonderful, but you need to take time every now and then to map the next direction.
2. Eat healthy and with measure (gives me soo much energy)
3. Practice discipline for shorter time spans (e.g. one week: whether is waking up earlier, or not watching junk tv, or in my case, go to the gym every day and keep a food log). Most cases the energy of the achievement make you want to practice it one more week, and another one.
4. Start the day with something that will enhance you. ( a short walk, a beautiful song, love, favourite tea). Do not open the tv or internet first thing in the morning.
5. Take care of your needs. A favourite exercise we use in coaching is the now one. Whenever you think you need something, get it now. Food? Eat now. Sex? Do it now. Drinks? Now. In about 1-2 days the obsessions are pretty much debunked and you’re ready to take care of more meaningful needs.
6. Don’t worry about the quality of life. Enjoy every stage you go through. If you are consumed by a project, devote yourself to it. Lose sleeps, eat fuel and send time on it. All the comfort in the world will not make you happy if you regret not completing something worthwhile for you.
7. Try doing something slow at least once a week. Anything. A relaxed walk. A soulful talk with a close friend without time pressure. Cooking a recipe. Reading a book. Making love slowly. Even shopping. The need to rush will be annoying for 10-15 minutes, but if you give it time the experience will sink in, and will open all your senses to it.
The first thing that comes to mind is, get a babysitter…but I don’t like the word “should”, it reminds me being a child when I got told, “you shouldn’t be doing that, you should be doing your homework”…
so possibly a second thing would be to avoid all things that I feel I should be doing and do the the things that I really need, for my soul’s sake to do…
More to follow …
Get a babysitter! What a wonderful idea – a luxury beyond measure, an exercise in self-pampering that is almost beyond comprehension! With myself and my daughter (now seven) it has been 24/7, almost without exception, since the hour she was born. I’ve never had family that I could ask to keep her, so it is just the two of us. Now I am home-schooling her, so our sage together continues. As much as I love her and thoroughly enjoy this, when I do actually have a day to myself, I am always overwhelmed by this enormous sense of freedom. It is like being under water for so long that you’ve forgotten what it feels like to come up for air.
Yes, do get a babysitter! Enjoy!
Love,
Savita
One thought has helped me across the bridge: I let darkness become darker and watch light shine brighter. The more time passes the more I have this natural feeling that the light I see is actually myself, and I feel more alive and divine.
It’s amazing how talking to children makes me realize that I’m not alone in this parallel world!
I’m Bastian and I’m a child (and I’m from Germany). I say it because someone maybe wondered about my things.
1. having a best friend
2. talk with him/her and listen to him/her (about everything)
3. playing
4. discover new things
5. meet other people and learn from them
6. playing (again and again, nobody could play enough I think)
7. being alive
8. (and last, I borrow it from a book) to get into trouble and consistently get out of it
Wonderful, Bastian :)
Perfect! I will try this list!
Thanks Bastian.
With love, Daniel
You list is the best. I hope something from yor 8.is allredy start to be real.
Good luck my boy
;-)))
hI bastian,
yes those things will make u’r life more complete !
love
aditya
Bastian,
what a wonderful list! The best!
Thank you so much for sharing with us!
Love,
Anca
follow my heart if I can, because sometimes I have to break other people heart when I am following mine. that is the hardest part.
Help others. Be kind to myself. Walk more. Write more. Open to my intuition.
To start with I have to say that I need to get up an move more although the goal is to obtain a higher education (my dream). I seem to sit in front of this machine from sun up to sun down. I need to spend more time with my children helping them to realize what their own dreams are. I also need to spend more time watching what I eat and what i feed my family so that we can have longer lives to accomplish all that we desire. Because of the current economic situation in our country right now, I do not have a job. Finding one is at the top o fmy list right now so that I can continue to provide the things my family needs to survive.
I live in a beautiful place but I would like also to have a place to live which wasnt so isolated and where I could just step outside my door and watch the people or talk to people.
I have a good quality of life and enjoy life…..just want to travel more and see more of different traditions and cultures.
love to you Paulo xx
When you ask this question, I feel like my personality is a case of conflict of interests:
- On one hand, I want peace and harmony in my life, being a mother and wife, tending to home, family and garden. Grow anything that can be grown in a garden. Walking long walks, hike in the mountains, sit by the shore by a lake or see. Smell the flowers, listen to and talk to the birds, fish in brooks, rivers, lakes and the sea. Pick berries and mushrooms. Do handicrafts, read books, listen to music, the radio, watch a little TV. Cook, be a good neighbour, talk over the fence, invite people for coffe and dinner, chat. Travel and explore other places a little, sit and chat in a café or restaurant. This is a dream life.
- On the other hand, I want challenges and development in my work life and other aspects of life. I’m very curious and exploring by nature. A little impatient – get easily bored. I have never been a career person – I have chosen a horizontal career development rather than a vertical. This has given me a wide basis that gives me ability for overview, many perspectives and seing connections. The time never felt right for climbing the ladder, and I didn’t have the interest or the guts. Now I do have much more guts and lots of education, but I’m not quite sure about the interest – because of my first hand arguments. The funny thing is – the more education you get, the more you realize you don’t know. You feel quite incompetent in this complex world, and you also start to wonder about the competence of other people and the systems of your own nation and the international society.
But then again, I want to do something to make this a better world. Lately I have been doing a lot of work in organizations, which has taken me away from the local work with refugees. I must admit that I prefer to work directly with people who need help or support instead of spending a lot of time with organizational work. Maybe there is a bit selfishness in this – it feels good to help others. To me this brings quality of life.
One important thing, though, is to be true to the mission which has been given to me. This concerns spirituality, and the very special ability I have that enables me to help some sick people. I have told this story on this blog before, and I’m not going to repeat it. But I have made a promise in prayer, which is a very strong obligation I need to fulfill, even if it has quite high costs when it comes to quality of life.
Right now I’m going trough very tough processes in my life, and I don’t know how it is going to turn out. I feel like having vacation and playing, but I’m not a party, party person. I love to laugh and make other people laugh, but yet, there is probably 90 % seriousness in me. I think I should go for 30 % laughs and 70 % seriousness. That would probably mean more quality of life.
And of course, being economic secure and having a home is very important for quality of life. Knowing that your child is / children are safe, sound and happy is also necessary in order to achieve happiness and quality of life. Actually this should be the first point.
think on this song:
” To every thing turn, turn, turn, there is a saison, turn, turn, turn and a time for every purpose under heaven…”
Dear Mari Ann,
I feel like you´ve described my situation !
there is no positive with out the negative! we run from negative telling ourselves that we must be positive!spiritual,etc…..in the last temptation of christ, his human desires,negative???he learned to accept the human with the spiritual,dark with light and allow God to use it all……….so quality of life??????????anger with kindness,compassion with rudeness,self-serving with self-giving,all my life i have tried to run from myself with religion/spirituality robotic thought and feelings. christ himself said, the kingdom of God is within you, look to no other than yourselves!!!!!!perhaps there you will find your quality of life. even the earth itself who is our mother,nurturer weans us away to wander into the darkness….perhaps emerging into the light,which even then dark and light are one!!!!!!!!
paulo, you speak of enjoying moments, how about the moments that you dont enjoy? from reading your books i understand that even in the moments of non-enjoyment there is quality of life. even in death there is quality of life. in the pilgrimmage that you wrote of el camino, there was the time of the encounter with the dog and you reverted to primal in order to fight the good fight against the dog. i do not mean to be sacriledge of God but even the word God is Dog. so all has both??? i am not enjoying life or have the superficial quality of what people write i am in a loss of a death and only can feel the good with the bad, nite with lite,white and black,ascension with descension……….do not like this place i am in and only faith/courage can let the dark nite of the soul sit in limbo……diane
honesty !! yes that is teh first step ! say it as u see it.
if u don’t like the place u are in, don’t u think u should make some moves, initaie things to chnage either teh place or your place.
honesty is not enough, then with faith one needs to chose the good over the ugly ! by choosing i mean doing something to further that good. dark nite of the soul is a necessary evil, everyone must endure, it is a test of faith. could have shared another mythological story, but that will make this blog post too long to read.
love
aditya
True, what You said about moments You both enjoy and don’t enjoy.
But reminder: Dog = God. Only in english. ;)
Love,
Liina
1. Write more.
2. Train a diction each day.
3. Go to sleep before 0:00.
4. Don’t regret about good things what I’ve done.
5. Don’t forget good things, what I’ve done.
6. Do something worthy every day.
7. Don’t forget two very special things, what are given to every person: breathing and heartbeating.
quality of life is in the quality of dying/death. i know this yet am struggling to live it. my father recently died and i have descended into hell but cannot seem to emerge into heaven. perhaps,i have ascended into limbo,pergatory and in a while will emerge into the heavens………there i will find my quest of living.diane m.castro
Breath more – sometimes we get so caught up in DOING stuff that we forget that sometimes its okay to just sit down, and be.
я бы хотела больше проводить время с другими людьми,больше общение,и не этого фальшивого общения,к которому все привыкли, а настоящих душевных разговоров,всё равно ведь мы зависим от окружающих нас людей!
cool topic…
actually there’s nothing special that would make my life better right now..
the only thing i could think of is being better than i am right now in order to win more battles.. i need to evolve more, go forward, have more energy. i dont need more sleep, more chances, more calmness or less troubles…
everything is compatible with my choices and my battles. i decided to fight the battles i am fighting right now..
the one and only thing i wish is to be stronger than i am now. everyday i want to get stronger and better.
to improve the quality of my life i only have to be better.., everything else will be a consequence of me doing things and fight battles even better than i am right now.
7. read more for relaxation
8. give and ask for more hugs per day
9. smile and talk more to strangers on the street.
Dear Paulo and friends,
A list…I have many lists…
-A work list with the list of tasks to accomplish and when to do it by.
-A list of tasks to do at home – wash this,scrub this, weed that, water that etc.
-A list of goals regarding children -teach them this, then that, make them do this etc, take them to this class etc
I’m overwhelmed with lists and goals that there is no time to make list to improve the quality of my soul….but now and then something happens and I come up with a resolution.
Like now when my grandfather was in his end of life, i took a resolution to improve the quality of my soul:
1) Don’t have regrets or resentments in relationships with our family or friends.
2) Ensure each realtionship with someone is nutured.
3) Forgive yourself and others.
love,
Laxmi
That’s lovely, you are a good person.
laxami,
with small children and sort of in first phase of your ‘grihsatha ashram’ u’r main worship is discharging your family and sociual obligations truthfully. do all that u do, but make something else too a time say 15-20 minutes, prefarabely in teh morning when u just meditate, just sit and observe your thoughts, then feel the love of the universe, feel blessed for all that u have, all that u are. 15-20 minutes, should suffice, end the session with a prayer.
love
aditya
Next winter time i going on ski holyday (snowboarding) to enjoy
the mountains and the snow for second time of my life.
I go more often togheter with the family to a restaurant.
I try to play more often with my daughter when i am home.
Doing on jogging.
Respect the rest time i need to rest.
To reward myself with something like a book or something else(parfum).
Enjoying my coffee in the morning time.
I give compliments to people who are doing a good job and then i
see the happy faces.
I try to listen to my wife,which it is not so easy to understands always, what i know if she says No it means Yes of course for me,some people will not agree,i don’t try to convince them.
To visit my parents in law.
Enjoying the room who i am no busy to renovate.
Going to fetch a paper in a bookshop.
Looking to the shops it gives me special feeling.
Working in my garden.
I trying to accept myself .
Sometimes doing nothing for a whole week.
Trying not to be focused on thoughts.
Walking on the Belgian coast when it is windy.
Shopping with my wife in Brugge, Gent, Antwerpen,Knokke ,Nieuwpoort,
St-Niklaas .
Learning people on a respectfull way something about airconditioning,
hydraulics,electricity,pneumatics etc……….
I’ve changed my life over the recent months. Daily now, I walk my dog and my neighbour’s dog which forces me to exercise and enjoy nature.
I read a few pages from a book I enjoy every day.
I read one page from a prayer book.
I meet with my neighbour for a morning coffee.
I sit down with my children for dinner, always.
Besides that, it would be great to find the time to walk by the water. It is so soothing. Also, one day I hope to volunteer at the hospital, perhaps spend some time giving back. I think that would improve my quality of life. Giving back is a drug.
Oh, and to stop worrying. Worry wastes the moment.
I need to have more FAITH. Faith would improve my quality of life even more.
And more God. As I write I keep thinking of more things.
Thanks.. that is inspiring ;p)
I was pondering the idea of this earlier b4 I logged onto the blog as I read a newspaper article on the best places to live…Norway came first – just so you do not have to read the full article :)
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20091005/twl-revealed-the-world-s-best-place-to-l-3fd0ae9.html
I was also thinking that the one thing holding me back at the moment is job/money. So I need to find a job & make some money and stop sleeping in until 2.30 in the afternoon…
So… 1. A good job more money
2. Spending more time with people who matter.
3. Travelling more to worth while destinations filled with culture (I read today that there is a McDonalds opening in the Louvre!).
4. Finding somebody to love and to have my own family (if I can have children).
5. Building a nice house – buying houses everywhere(Spain, Italy, South of France, Boston, etc) !
6. I would love to be a writer and make a lot of money & appear on MTV Cribs! – also have a crazy ammount of expensive & fast cars…
Bom Dia meu querido Mestre…. “longe dos olhos.. dentro do meu coração”… Bom, vamos ao meu “TOP 5″
* Dou importância ao que é REALMENTE importante;
* Converso com meu Anjo, com a Mãe e com Deus;
* Ouço minha filha;
* Vivo meu presente – com olhos no passado e futuro;
* E trago música para o dia-a-dia: p/ dançar, cantar, ouvir…
Agora, o que eu GOSTARIA de fazer, mas não faço:
* Viajar mais;
* Alimentar-me adequadamente;
* Ter menos necessidade de sono do que tenho;
* Conhecer mais pessoas a cada dia;
(…) essa lista é ENORME…. mas esses aí já vão dar um belo trabalho….
Beijo QUERIDO do meu coração.
Até breve…
Patricia Rudeck
I didn´t want to send this, but it just clicked and submitted…
- I would like to work something with religion so I can use my love and lifetime experiences in my daily job. The job that I have right now is boring, it is full with rutines and is not creative, and my boss sucks!
- I would like to communicate better with my boyfriend, so that he could trust me and not to be afraid that I would fail him. He believes so much in the humanity and is too kind, while I
The more I look to comments, the more they seem strange, and similar to my choices! not probably in the “form of activities”, but in their “content”, see? : we always say :”I (should) do this or that for a better life”.
Then how can we be interested in or truly enjoy doing these activities, if we “decide” once and twice and again and again to do them.
Are many of these wishes our true wishes? a true decision is something that flows and pulls us, not something that we “decide” to do. Probably, we`d better look more inside and find true QUALIfiers of our own life.
and one question: some challenges, some long-term progresses, need effort, and sacrifice, of some important things. These can lower our quality of life temporarily.So how important is quality of life? compared with goals? are they different?
best
1.)Giving up being angry. I am not sure why I am anyway.
2.)Think longer before I speak.
3.)Look for a new career that is both pleasing to me and allows me to move to a smaller town. I have found I do not like living in a big city.
4.) Quit smoking! It’s expensive and so bad for my health.
5.) Remember to smile…it improves my face value :) and instantly makes me feel better.
6.)Keep up the exercise, it makes me feel good.
7.) Get to bed earlier
8.) Engaging more in what is available to me now. I don’t like living in Washington D.C. because there are way too many people and traffic is horrific but while I am here there is so soo sooo much to see and do. I must take advantage of my surroundings.
9.) Show more love.
10.) Be less critical
Lovely reply. Thank you
Love
Alexandra
Olá Paulo, bom dia!
Bom, eu concordo que ficar menos no computador seria bastante saudável. O problema é que eu vivo em uma cidade violenta, então simplesmente sair para andar na rua nem sempre é um bom convite. Acho que tentar dar menos importancia aos problemas, tentar sempre ter um maior diálogo familiar, procurar ver sempre a beleza das coisas simples da vida, fazer mais atividades físicas, dormir mais cedo e acordar mais cedo também, ter maior organização em alguns aspectos da vida… Acho que isso tudo ajuda.
Abraços grandes,
Fabrício.
Hello everyone,
I would
-manage my time better
-manage my money better
-do sports
-get a job (I am a student)
-stop losing my time in front of my pc.
I think that’s it. Thanks for asking another interesting question, Paulo. Take care.
The tings I should do..
1. Get more sleep, I often get caught writing, thinking, reading and stay up too late. I would feel healthier if I slept more.
2. Read something worthwhile every day, something that lifts my spirit and my awareness (like this blog!)
3. Meditate at least every second morning. The difference to my wellbeing is amazing, I often forget the difference it makes.
4. Do something kind for someone, give of myself unconditionally, even if it is out of duty sometimes.
5. Do something kind for myself, such as treat myself to a new book or CD, or to a meal out by myself.
6. Put my feet in the ocean, it both calms and excites my spirit, I love it.
7. Exercise, either jogging, swimming or cycling, plus stretching.
8. Write.
1) In English, we have this expression: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” We also have another saying: “If you can’t beat them, join them.” I’ve been thinking about both of these expressions this week, thinking specifically of the amount of effort that I put forth in resisting the culture where I live. Sometimes for good reason, but sometimes simply out of prejudice against all things “Texan.” I would like to be living somewhere else, but, at this point in time, this simply is not possible. So, here I am. I also have this belief that – providing that we are not starving to death or truly impoverished – the Universe always provides us with the resources we need to thrive and live a joyful life. We may not always recognize these resources – we may yearn for other resources – but, what we really need is right there, all the time.
With all of this in mind, I’ve decided: I’m in Rome, I’m going to do as the Romans do. I obviously can’t beat them – I’m far outnumbered – so I’m going to join them. Sure, I’d like to be in a someplace where I can go swimming in a nice pool, or take my daughter to a playground, go cycling, maybe go to the theatre, the ballet…so many things. But this is not going to happen. These things do not exist here. Nor is it feasible to even attempt to drive to them. So I look around: What DO we have here? What unique opportunities exist here, which I am overlooking or missing out on? Well, there are a lot of beautiful forests cut through with trails and quiet, dirt roads. There are a whole lot of horses and people who enjoy riding them.
So, I conclude: I’m going to get a couple of horses – one for myself, one for my daughter – and we’re going to take up riding. There’s plenty of land to do it on. All throughout the cooler months there are numerous organized trail rides to join. There’s even a rodeo arena just down the road from my house, if I want to take up horseback archery. It’s something I’ve wanted to do, dreamed of doing for quite a long time, so why not now? The conditions couldn’t be more conducive.
So this is one of the decisions that I’ve made just recently in terms of improving the quality of my life and my daughter’s: When in Texas, do as the Texans do – buy a horse, and ride it as much as you can. If you can’t beat the cowboys, then join them. I think that, no matter what situation one is in, nor how badly they may wish to get out of it, it is almost certain that there is some opportunity, right beneath one’s nose, which they have wholly overlooked. Resisting is good, to a point – when it serves a purpose – but sometimes going with the flow is also good. Fully utilizing whatever resources DO EXIST is probably a good thing. Rather than spending all of one’s time longing for what is NOT available, better to take advantage of WHAT IS.
Love,
Savita
Dear Savita,
Good decision Roman :)
As always your post is refreshing to read.
love,
Laxmi
I had to make peace with my city too…Now is ok. But for a while I felt in hell here. Mostly after I came from abroad, as Florence …My heart was crying . Best wishes
Alexandra
P.S.
You are such a lovely person, thank you for being.
Maybe you can take scarlet the horse into your life again? ;o) x
Em primeiro lugar, é preciso tornar a vida mais simples e próxima da natureza; sentir os perfumes e sons de tudo que nos cerca; estimular os sentidos; permitir que a luz do amor ilumine tudo que vemos; tratar todos os seres com respeito, carinho e gentileza; nao permitir que sentimentos ruins nos dominem.
Falando de forma mais prática: é preciso dedicar ao menos uma hora por dia para cuidar do corpo, fazendo exercícios e meditando; ingerir alimentos frescos; criar uma rotina de leitura; dar mais atençao para as pessoas que convivemos e ficar menos no computador.
Ah…e use filtro solar! =)
Ohh, what a wonderful topic!
I was thinking on that this week, because during that year I had to endure too much stress, so I feel on my body and not only the effects. I know not all depends on me, but now I decided to serach for better ideas, examples, and to try to improve as much as I can.
Indeed, while searching on line, I remembered simple rules to take into consideration. I think stress is not a good think in big amounts, so this is to be limited if possible.
Lets see;
I think I must avoid people who is always negative
I think I shoud eat less, or to chose better the food I eat, I already try. A healthy alimentation is very important . To avoid soda beverages. I rarely drink, but maybe that too I might cancel .
Than, I will go to an aerobic fitness club, I am sure I will feel better. I walk a lot, dance, but is not enough .
( I saw in tv that if exercises could be put into pill, would be the most used against getting old)…
So, I should go more often to spa, resorts, take care of myself. I noticed is not only the cure, but there women talk and socialize among themselves.Same for hairdress.
Maybe I must go to church more often… Here I feel really guilty…
Pray more.
Maybe I must visit granny, for if not I feel really guilty too.
Than apologize to people I did wrong.
Think is enough.
Ohhh.Sure.
Last but not least, I have to find a way to be able to handle better with my romances, I am awkward in that respect.
All the best guys
Much much love
Alexandra
Yes, Paulo has a way of introducing these topics that are already in our minds. I was thinking along the same lines this past week – what can I do to work with what I do have, in order to increase the quality of the life I am living now?
I started,well not those past 2 days,but in general,to wake up earlier in the morning and go to sleep earlier in the evening to improve the quality of my sleep.The same about food,no more crap,to avoid sweet things,simple I eat apples,seen that in a magazine,sounds silly but it works,cut your appetite and as it’s already sweet in itself,you don’t want more sweet.Alors “mangez des pommes” as someone used to say!LOL :P,the morning is for my son and I walking,we are lucky we still have a good weather.The thing is that,there is trying and there is doing.Before,I used to try,now I’m doing.It is all easy,I guess I’ve been touched by an angel.And I do hope it will happen to all of you too.Hoping too that it continues.I’m sure there are lots of things to improve the quality of your life,but it all start from within,so if you are feeling great inside,then,it all will come to shine out.But if your soul is trapped,if your “inner child” is crying,then it will carry on like that,till you don’t set it free,no matter anything you might try.So healthy food is important,a good quality of sleep is essential,exercices,for the most courageous :P and of course to follow your heart and to not forget to please that inner child!
Have a great day :)
i dunno if this will make any difference to anybody…
but if it does..
what i must do, and i do already:
just let go…do things, don’t kill your soul, soul, or, that little kid in your heart, like, drench yourself in the season’s first rain, walk on grass, drink the finest wine ever, eat whole of that cake, then work out like mad, go play with you dog, dirty your clothes, get wounded, then heal…just…go crazy, you can’t know what life has to offer if you always keep searching for some reason to live it…just…breathe, thank god, and live, there are sorrows, there are bad times, but, there is always sunshine…and don’t regret, somebody told me that people who keep on regretting, kill their self, like a virus, so i don’t regret anything.
what i must not do to improve the quality of life:
stop hogging…which i already did.
its better go get fat, then lose weight, so you know both sides of the coin..lol…
listen more talk less
trust
that’s all i can think of for now.
i dedicate this to all of you…love you a lot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lFXy5bIiSA
unwritten-natasha bedingfield
Thanks. Are you fatty??? Me too.
Lovely song and post.
Have fun
Love
Alexandra
- more discipline
- learning to breathe,
- yoga,
- sophrology
- laughing club (to release the endorphins) :)
- singing
- swimming classes
- walking
- exploring my environment
- photography
- reading new books I never dreamed I would understand
- talking to strangers in the tram
- visiting my neighbours
- going out with friends for lunch
- trying new dishes
- getting to know myself better and getting help
- being involved with the Association “Etincelle”- “Sparkle”
- not spending as much time on the computer
- learning to adjust to my new life
- eating fruit everyday – still have to work on the other side
- listening to music when I am feeling down as it raises my vibrations
- smiling and saying hello to people in the street
- sharing a conversation with my Romanian friends
- rehearsing my new song
- listening to the silence
- praying
- reading
- crying when I need to
- trying to make the best of what life has given me (some days are better than others)
- learning from my mistakes
- re-connecting with my inner-child
- feeling a sense of pride with my achievement
- appreciating nature
- trusting people
- grateful for all the help everyone has given me
Love and thanks
Marie-Christine
Ohh. Nice list, really.
hello, dear paulo… it is a good question just right in this time of my life i have been working in improving my quality of life, so i have made some Decisions to change many things that made my life not worth living:
1- I left my work where i have been working for 12 years but that it didn’t mean anything to me anymore.
2- I went to TOSCANY in Italy to fullfil a dream in a way to get straigh to go on…
3- I start spending more time with my family and create and new relationship with my husband.
4- I stop worried about my hair, my dress, my weight… it is so nice to enjoy life…
Right now I working on:
1- making legal paper i haven’t don’t but they are important.
2- planing to leave the country where i live because it political situation make me feel insecure and not growing in an economical way neither espiritual way.
3- making my bussiness improve it income… it will help too.
love… claudia
Quality of life is not to be afraid to share!
Sharing thoughts and time together free of fear is what will make the world come to reunite as one once again.
Hi Paolo,
To improve my quality of life I would:
1. Travel more, but on the other hand spend less time stuck in traffic
2. Spend more quality time with family and friends
3. Have the refurbishment of my home completed
4. Develop my mind with an art, such as painting or playing an instrument
and finally and most importantly
5. Stop working for the man, and work on my dreams.
i try to improve my life by:-
1. being more intune with my own personal rhythm so i donot unnecessarily hurry up things to create more chaos.
2. avoiding getting things accomplished forcefully,allowing acceptance to take more prominence in my life.
3. simplifying daily needs
4. smiling a lot
5. being around children, nature, poetry and music
6. being more generous and loving and less harsh on anyone including myself
Querido Paulo
Para mantener una calidad de vida, para mi es importante realizar lo siguiente:
1- Dormir lo suficiente todos los días para reponer mis fuerzas.
2- Estar en contacto con la naturaleza, aunque sea tener una jardinera para regar agua.
3- Realizar ejercicios, tres veces durante la semana. Ejemplo: Bicicleta, Natación, Caminar en el parque.
4- Comer de manera que sea lo necesario, también, saludable y balanceado: Vegetales, frutas, trigo, ect..tratar de ignorar las comidas rápidas.
5- Tener una relación amorosa, una amistad, alguien a quien puedas confiar para desahogarte de tus emociones, compartir tus alegrias, vivir aventuras.
6- Aprender todos los días algo diferente y ponerlo en práctica.
7- Tener una aficcion que te guste mucho, un jobby, ejemplo: la lectura, la musica y tocar algun instrumento.
8- Estar en contacto con Dios, las veces que sea necesario.
9- Hacer algo diferente a la rutina, durante el día.
10- No hacer nada, por lo menos un día durante la semana.
11- Vivir por ti, quererte lo suficiente como para desear un helado de chocolate y comprarlo porque te lo mereces.
12- No criticar y mirar las aptitudes de los demás.
13- Tener metas a largo plazo y a corto plazo. Ejemplo: Visitar un lugar nuevo en tu ciudad, ejemplo: Museo, parque, obra teatral, cine. Viajar al interior del país, ejemplo: Una playa y una montaña. A largo plazo, comprar una casa, casarte, tener un hijo..ect.
Espero que les guste.
Con mucho aprecio y amor,
Isabel
Irrespective of whatever may our profession and social standing be we can improve the quality of our life by
1. including a 1 hour session of meditation everyday, well almost.
2. remaining aware every moment of time.
3. engaging in some charity work, where we work for others without asking for anything in return.
4. learning to lessen our needs.
5. spending some light moments with family and freinds.
6. Being religious !
love
aditya
PS : But why do we need to always keep on improving, let things be !
Yes, acceptance is not always bad… All the best.
Love
Alexandra
1. more family time
2. eath healthier foods
3. play more games
4. give more 2 others
5. learn not to point with fingers, but giving out hand 2 help
6. laugh some more
7. share things 4 free
i believe when we dedicate our lives 2 help others to increase their life quality, we are improving our own quality of life.
i mentioned giving more than once LOL. i guess giving was meant to be given more than just once. :)
LE RECOMIENDO A TODOS ,EMPEZAR YOGA,PARA MEJORAR LA CALIDAD.
Five or 6 things that I have been inspired by from Paulo’s ‘quality of life’
1. Walking in the mountains.
2. Travelling around Europe cities as if these cities are a matter of ‘moments in distance’ from each other.
3. Taking a daily in one’s neighbourhood, in morning/afternoon time.
4. Relying on the white feather as a sign… to speak of impending writing time approaching!!
5. Singing with friends at a party.
6. Writing every two years and sticking to this vow.
;o)
Hugs
oops..
a daily walk in one’s neighbourhood ;o)
Oh – to find a very good vegetarian cookbook and start preparing more meals without meat…
perhaps drinking less wine and ales also…
here’s to good health!!
I need to do more of these:
1. AMBLE: take more adventurous walks in the countryside. perferably with a dog.
2. CREATE: playing the piano, learning a new musical instrument, creating tunes, singing [perhaps a choir], designing art and crafts.
3. RIDE: Horse-riding ;o) and now i live near the coast, to ride in the sea.
4. WRITE: connect with friends through paper and pen, or visiting.. but less facebook snippets.
So essentially, remembering and taking time again to relax, love and enjoy life.
What in fact I have planned for this week though is:
5. CHURCH: take up going to church on sunday for the morning service…
and, I am going to try bell-ringing!!!
6. LIFE: finding a job and flat in the new town I have moved to.
7. MUM: spending time with my mamma, supporting her in her life.
See.. it’s not that difficult after all ;o)
hugs and kisses xx
For better quality of life I believe one must always do what his or her heart asks them to do. Fulfilling hearts desires makes self happy which alternatively improves your surroundings. If you are happy inside, somewhere deep in your soul..you will always be good and positive with people around you. This way whole world is becoming happy..
Dear Ruhi
I like the way you said this, “one must always do what his or her heart asks them to do”,
It doesn’t demand the heart (unlike a lot of other things/people), it just asks, and all it takes is for someone to listen, but usually the deafness arises because the external demands made, are sometimes a lot clearer to hear, as we are not taught to hear that inner voice, even though it has been speaking to us for a very long time.
In my experience, meditation helps me with this.
Thank you
Pandora
Me too!
In fact, I laid it out to my mother that she just had to increase her hug quota since [being a leo] it was necessary for my quality of life to receive at least 10 per day!!
;o) xx
If you can believe me, even the quote of the week was in my mind …Incredible.
Hi Annie
Can we see you play with your guitar…anywhere, youtube, etc would love to see you play and sing?
That would improve the quality of my life, I am sure!
XXX
Thank you for reminding me beautiful Annie, I do need to laugh more.
lol…yes…
Yes I Kan
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
good morning!!!
xxx
you are very sweet, thank you Al
how absolutely right! your memory is good ;o)
I would say i said to take up a new musical instrument… a harp or drums i was hoping to do.. but it has not been possible… much travelling and moving around ;o)but im going to settle in one place .. jaja: so i can play the harp!
;o) xxx
Oh, dear! I had wholly forgotten about that. Like you, Annie, I have no idea what mine were. Still, even if we don’t consciously remember, I think that such exercises have a great effect on us. I have in the past, on several occasions, come across such lists, worksheets, or journal entries that I had made months or years prior and then forgotten. What surprised me is that I had actually accomplished or attained many of the things I aspired to, even though I had long since forgotten them as conscious aims. I think, when we make list like that, it somehow serves to imbed those goals in our subconscious, and thus it isn’t really necessary that we always consciously remember them.
Speaking of dreams, how about a refresher, Paulo?
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be reminded of them now, and still have a chance of working towards them, (if they got lost) instead of the New Years’ shock?
I believe, Alexandra.
Love,
Liina
Great Annie, I look forward to hearing them a lot, music is a passion of mine too, I could not live without it, I am excited for you. X
Dear Pandora,
Thanks for the comments…
:)
Dear Annie
you are a real warrior in my opinion if u can achieve ifs.thx,u have already added a smile on my face!
Yes, I have found – in my experience – that traveling is actually not a good idea in such a situation, unless of course, one can afford to travel often or move the place of one’s choosing. We went to London last year and all it did is make me yearn for what is not here. Even after we returned, my heart remained in London for quite some time. It is like having a slice of cheese cake when you can’t afford to have it on a regular basis, more than a treat, it is a torment.
Peace…to both of us (you and me).
Love,
Savita
P.S.
I’d love to see your city. Isn’t it funny, just like the saying we have here: “One man’s hell is another man’s heaven.” (Or maybe it’s the other way around. Doesn’t matter – it works both ways.)
Ah ha! That explains it! This friend of mine, a Leo, on facebook she bombards me with these “hug requests.” Now I understand!
Thank you Annie,
I am in the people business, and have been a coach, only not a certified one. Have thought about becoming certified, but I still need to overcome two challenges:
- I tend to get truly involved in helping people solve their problems
- I would feel too guilty if I were charging people for help, I would not feel genuine.
But you never know what life has to offer!
Love,
Anca
great! I’m glad!
who would you add?!
absolutely – seeing with the heart..
how could i forget this one!!?!
and Estes also?!?!
xxxx
feng shuiiiiiiiiiiiii Anniiiiiiiiie..
feng shui dear one!
x
Thank you so much Savita for sharing your thoughts on dreaming “the impossible”.. Of course, this isn’t practical especially for a person lacking in everything like food, clothing, shelter, education and social connections.. It is very difficult to get out of destitution and so easy to spiral down deeper into it. So, dreaming the impossible dream is totally out of reach..but for some reason, people seem to think that reaching for the star is the only way to get some quality of life..And yet when we look at down here where mother Nature provides, the simplicity and the awesome quality is all around us fro the taking…that is why i said dream only the things that are possible…
Corrupting oneself to reach the impossible dream is not going to bring quality of life..But very sadly, corruption is very rampant with people living in poverty…I don’t know how to educate the poor about the true meaning of human dignity, I don’t mean to say that the rich and highly educated people know the true meaning of dignity either…No matter how rich, or highly educate we become,there is absolutely no way we can achieve quality of life without knowing and living with dignity..
But there is within each one of us, an inborn wisdom that should guide us, whether we are poor, rich, educated, ignorant to feel that we humans need to live like humans created/evolved into highly intelLigent beings…
***********************************
Thank you Lina, Cheiko, Mariman, and Kathleen for your time ;)..
oxoxoxo..
hazel
*FOR CHILDREN TO LIVE A QUALITY LIFE TO THE FULLEST, THEY NEED TO LEARN..BUT FOR THE ADULTS TO ATTAIN QUALITY AND LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST, THEY NEED TO UNLEARN *hv*
Oh, I thank you all. :)
Please can I see your lists to?
Or have you write it here in the comments? Than I have to look for your lists. ;)
But with your comments you give me a pleasure.
Beautiful list, and I love your quote Annie… thanks X
Dear Savita
It must be very hard for you, not to have any time to yourself, my daughter goes to school, because although I had huge problems last year with her, and considered pulling her out, feel it is good for her to socialise with other children, and be aware of the environment she is in, it’s also fantastic for me to have a few hours out.
It is difficult to be a single parent, and not have family support, have you thought about an au-pair?
We all need air to breath, so do come up for air! ! ! I am slowly beginning to surface after nearly seven years …
Love,
Pandora
Dear Hazel,
You say, “I don’t know how to educate the poor about the true meaning of human dignity.” I wonder if you have ever read Paulo Friere? If not, two of his most famous books are “Pedagogy of the Oppressed” and “Pedagogy of Hope.” Anything by him, however, I would highly recommend. Your quote – “…for adults to attain quality of life…they need to unlearn” – is sharply reminiscent of the theories on education developed by Friere. In fact, the core of his life’s work was focused upon developing a method of educating underprivileged and oppressed adults in such a way as to empower them to change their lives, both on a personal and a societal level. This “corrupting” of the individual and his/her society – the selling out of one’s own values and adopting the values of the oppressors – is one of the things which Friere fought so hard against. He felt that the answers to poverty and oppression had to come from within – from the minds of those impoverished and oppressed. The answers could not be imposed from the outside. This is why he sought to develop a method of education which would enable and empower people to come up with their OWN ANSWERS to the problems which they faced.
Very good examples we have today: The World Bank and other such entities going to developing countries and trying to convince or force them into adopting the plans which the World Bank has developed for their so-called “advancement” – plans meant to “lift” them out of poverty. As we see, this never works. Why? Because the answers are IMPOSED from the outside by the very oppressors who caused the problems in the first place. Secondly, these plans of “aid” or “restructuring” are motivated by aspirations of further gain by those who are already in power.
Freire would have it just the opposite. He would say, go into one of these regions and educate these impoverished people utilizing the Freirean method and they will then be able to come up with REAL solutions that WILL WORK for them.
Another similar example of plans that do not work because they are imposed: the Welfare System in the U.S. It is a band-aid on an open wound, but it does nothing to get at the root of the problem or to offer real-world solutions to people who suffer from poverty. The system is formulated and controlled from above, by people who have never even experienced poverty. Meanwhile, those on the lower rung of the economic ladder are brought into the system, but they are never asked for their input as to how it should work.
Granted, many of these people are uneducated, or poorly educated, so the excuse is: “Why ask them? What would they know?!” But this is what Freirean education is all about – not imposing “a body of knowledge” from without, but bringing people to a solid understanding of their circumstances and the root causes of those circumstances, so that they can formulate solutions that work for them.
Wishing you all the best!
Much Love,
Savita
Savita,thank you so much once again for sharing what you know..I shall get those two books that you mentioned..I love them already. They sound like just the kinds of books I need to read to somehow guide me to the right words to say and share with the poor back in my hometown where I am planning to set up a library for the children…
For the last 6 years i go back and forth to my town of birth to share with those who want to learn a new functional culture/mindset in order for them to stop their neverending waiting for a “saviour”..For them to stop praying for what they don’t have but instead pray with gratitude for the things they have and use what they have to get more things that they need and maybe with their hard work, all their wants be granted..Trying very hard to show them hard work (literally) by our (my husband & I) willingness to get our hands dirty working on the land..Learn to live in harmony with Nature by appreciating what they harvest after they sow…Trying desperately to make them understand that abundance can also be found in places where money doesn’t come easily…We need to be physically there to show people examples that there is nothing to feel lowly about working on land as it is the notion of the poor farmers that they are “just nothing” compare to those who work in air conditioned offices..
” a method of education which would enable and empower people to come up with their “OWN ANSWERS” to the problems which they faced “…..That is exactly what I was thinking..People need to realize that it is up to them..but it is very difficult for them to realize that because most of them are fanatically religious..They were taught from the begining that hey are under “GOD’s MERCY”.. they are spiritually under the control of the church..
Poverty is the number one problem and the simple solution is to stop pro-creating more children to bring up in poverty..It would have been that simple….very easy to solve if not for the church’s imposing that people not use contraception for it is “against God”….How do we make people understand that the Church can not hundred percent care about the well being of the poor?…Because if they truly can, they will have programs to get rid of poverty using their massive wealth to educate people on how to attain human dignity..Isn’t that what spiritual leaders are there for? .. You see, this is the problem with the uneducated poor…They don’t see it how their poverty is actually “assets” to some religous and some charity organizations…How would these organizations survive if there is no poverty? But is is emotionally and spiritually very exhausting to go to this line of discussions because to those who don’t understand, will take you going around in circles…
Education is so important..But higher education is not only attained by having master’s degrees in universities, but by unlearning the things that caused poverty, inequality, discrimination, racism, slavery, spiritual bondage. Even a high school dropout like myself can be highly educated by learning from life’s experiences…but only if one wants to be educated by learning from own mistakes and the mistakes of others…Mistakes are the things done with tragic or missirable outcome…
Thank you Savita, I have read many of your posts here, i don’t respond to all of them becaus of my busy schedule but i take note of your wisdom and the wisdom of others here too…take care ..sending love..oxoxo..
hazel..
Thank you so much Sido for your kind and generous words..We all cross path to somehow connect in spirit no matter how far we all are from one another..
It’s wonderful to have cross path with you..sending love..oxoxo..
hazel.
Just remembered this, I think my 1.2.3. are a distilled version… :-)
How to be an artist… (and improve the quality of your life??)
STAY LOOSE. LEARN TO WATCH SNAILS. PLANT IMPOSSIBLE GARDENS. INVITE SOMEONE DANGEROUS TO TEA. MAKE LITTLE SIGNS THAT SAY “YES” AND PASTE THEM ALL OVER YOUR HOUSE. MAKE FRIENDS WITH FREEDOM AND UNCERTAINTY. LOOK FORWARD TO DREAMS. CRY DURING MOVIES. SWING AS HIGH AS YOU CAN ON A SWINGSET BY MOONLGHT. CLUTIVATE MOODS. REFUSE TO BE RESPONSIBLE. DO IT FOR LOVE. TAKE LOTS OF NAPS. GIVE MONEY AWAY. BELIEVE IN MAGIC. LAUGH A LOT. CELEBRATE EVERY GORGEOUS MOMENT. TAKE MOONBATHS. HAVE WILD IMAGININGS. TRANSFORMATIVE DREAMS AND PERFECT CALM DRAW ON THE WALLS. READ EVERYDAY. IMAGINE YOURSELF MAGIC. GIGGLE WITH CHILDREN. LISTEN TO OLD PEOPLE. OPEN UP. DIVE IN. BE FREE. BLESS YOURSELF. DRIVE AWAY FEAR. ENTERTAIN YOUR INNER CHILD. YOU ARE INNOCENT. BUILD A FORT WITH BLANKETS. GET WET. HUG TREES. WRITE LOVE LETTERS. (SARK)
My heart is filled with joy …Hazel
I will also provide the 2 pounds of FREIRE (thank you Savita for the information) , it is indeed a subject that I would like to heart. i often discuss with homelessness etc to better understand their needs , their desires , their joys etc –in order to power , help them to mount together a project , with them, by them and for them …
The reading of these 2 works will therefore “a precious” to my eyes
Love
Sido
INVITE SOMEONE DANGEROUS TO TEA: I love it!
Bravo! I like it… a great list ;o)
actually red wine gives me terrible side effects… rose or white is fine…
ales also just make me feel depressed and low…
but i like ginger beer shandy ;o))
mmh. totally – like the hand bells ringing at christmas time by the local villagers… i love this in my home village! ;o)
hummm…i understand.thanks.
and hows it like now?
Thanks :)
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