SHEsaysWITHaSMILE.blogspot.com

The most important thing she said (jacquie williams courtright!) as heard by (me!) sandra, tvgp

so, at our meeting [and in our employee newsletter] Jacquie reminded everyone

"use your senses not your schedule."

and what she was referencing/referring to, was plants.    -she was explaining, that some people continued to employ their plant watering  -schedules-   even when we just experienced the extreme heat wave we did..     temperatures in Livermore, for example reached 115 degrees.   -ultra hot.

of course plants,  -just like people,  require more water when temperatures are that high.

   -it seems like common sense to me, but, I do realize...

I do realize, I, like many other people...  sometimes we stick to schedules/regimes/habits of behavior; 'what we've heard'  or 'what so n so said'  over using our own common, or 5, or 6th sense..

but it reminded me...

how my children reached a point where they would roll their eyes, and in an annoyed tone,

   -before I could finish the sentence, they would go, like

"I know, I know...  listen to my body."

and I repeated that very often throughout their childhoods exactly because I was seeing the same thing with people, as Jacquie sees with people and their plants..

my life experience has revealed it is VITAL to ignore schedules; and CRUCIAL to use your senses when it comes to your own health and well being

so, it may be said,   you need 8 hours sleep every night.     -but, I'm here to tell you, that that is only true for a % of humans..

some people need more; some less..   AND!  it varies with your age, the season, geography, etc.    so what you really need to do, is PAY ATTENTION, to how well you feel, perform, etc. based on how many hours sleep you get...     experiment!  and listen to your own, unique body..    PAY MORE ATTENTION to you, than to what you've been told is the  -write- thing to do

same with food, same with exercise, same with calories, same with recreation, same with quiet time, same with solitude vs. social..

USE YOUR SENSES!   LISTEN TO YOUR BODY!   don't use a schedule, or paragraph written by an 'expert'  or a brief news report, or a commercial..   etc.

I want to pause and "Thank You!" Jesus here,   -because, for over a decade, I have had no need for a doctor visit, or emergency dentist visit, or psychiatry visit

I have maintained essentially the same weight,  remained essentially the same size,

I have energy, creativity, verve, joy, peace, patience..      an appetite for life; energy for work; enthusiasm for time off to play..    good relationships with friends, family..

      grateful for daily blessings..    -daily.

and I credit my health, happiness to Jesus, first and foremost, and then next..

to exactly what Jacquie described; prescribes:

I use my senses.  I pay attention to my senses; not schedules.  I listen to my body, not experts with cookie cutter advice.  I don't step on a scale, I don't count calories..

I listen to my body    -when its hungry; eat.   when it's not; don't.    -that is revolutionary for many people.    thirsty; drink..     not; don't.       and I drink, lots of water..    each day, without counting whether its 8 glasses..     and I pray, lots throughout the day, without keeping track of how often; how long..

I use my senses.   I listen to my body.

tired; sleep.   energy; create..    I do not live according to a clock   -I live according to my senses..  intuitively;   honoring what my body tells me;.... not 'experts' or friends, or family.. or someone else does; or insists on..

we are all unique individuals..

I know my sleep, rest, water needs may be different from yours.   So nor am I going to advocate/dictate that what works for me, will work for you...

I know for example..    because MY BODY TELLS ME...     that just prior to starting my period, I need more sleep and more food; with great consistency..  I hear this, with my senses, I listen, I honor by providing myself with more sleep and food during that time..      -and with great consistency; those appetites subside after my period ends.   and I hear, listen, and honor that too.


if we listen; pay attention; notice.. use common sense, and tune in...

our bodies communicate with us, our needs, just as plants communicate to gardeners..

I need water..

I need more sun..

I need shade..

this soil; not that soil..

near that plant; but not that one..

fertilizer..

more space..

smaller pot...

whatever the need/requirements might be


   -there is an ongoing message and opportunity to communicate when you learn to observe and pay attention..   and take note of external changes in temperature; environment, circumstances etc.

and the language is very clear

and the results speak for themselves...

happy, thriving, producing    vs.   slouched, losing color.. stagnant


so, at least for me..  based on my life, and my life experiences:   I do not use books, or tv experts or magazines to dictate to me how much of this, how little of that..  yes to this/no to that..

I listen to my own body and honor what it tells me.    and for over a decade, longer, in some areas..  shorter in others

- the result, is that I am a happy, healthy, creative, loving, caring, enthused about life, relationships,  -with an ability to directly address, process, and prayerfully work through the ongoing challenges intrinsic in life.

it is the upshot for gardeners when it comes to watering plants

it is the upshot for humans when it comes to health & wellbeing: what/how much to eat; sleep; drink; rest; play...

"USE YOUR SENSES not a SCHEDULE."

   LISTEN TO YOUR BODY

amen & amen!

***

and these bible passages come to mind,  -because in each, Jesus healed on the Sabbath:
  Matthew 12:10; Mark 3:2, John 9:14-16

Sabbath = Schedule
Senses = Well Being

and I do remember, not the date or time, but I remember my internal reaction the first time I read John 9..

are you kidding me?!?   were there really people who witnessed the miracle  -a blind person having their sight restored..

a blind person can now see!!     and were there really people who ignored that miracle in favor of complaining that it took place on the Sabbath?

they focused on what day, not what happened?!?

one of many very sad stories about pharisses in the bible

***

and then, this schedule vs spirit..   schedule vs. senses..

robin williams voice...  surfaced in my mind..    I could hear bits n pieces of the beautiful scene in good will hunting on the park bench..   the beautiful monologue

posted by SHE @ 9:42 PM