Life and Learning Archives - Page 7 of 9

Unique or Original – Is There a Difference?

Many of us like to think of ourselves as Unique and will even interchange the word unique with being original. But are they the same thing? Can you be unique without being original?

Someone who decides they want to stand out may dress in a style that is outside the norm. If you look at people who adopt the Goth look, they often look similar from one Goth dressing person to the next. They may still stand out in a group that is not necessarily into that style. If they went to a Goth convention (if such a thing exists), no one would stand out. You would see variations, but it would be a common theme.

What Do You Love….

…about yourself?

Each of us has a vast amount of qualities, characteristics, talents, skills, virtues, etc., which others wish they had. Loving and appreciating your own uniqueness isn’t always easy to do.

When you love something about yourself, you need to know why so you can remind yourself, if needed, and continue to build your confidence.

I have started to create a series of worksheets which you will be able to download and use to help you with reflecting on these posts. The first of these is What Do You Love About Yourself and Why? which you can find here.

The worksheet asks you to write down Ten things you love about yourself and why?

Thank You

75 years ago today the D-Day Landings took place. Today we remember and we honour the memories of those who gave so much and those who gave their all by making the ultimate sacrifice.

They fought for freedom across Europe and indeed the World. They fought and died so that we might enjoy the freedom we have today. We must never forget their sacrifice so that we can live our lives in freedom from tyranny and Fascism.

We cannot begin to imagine what they encountered, the horror of battle, the slaughter that occurred, the friends cut down alongside them but they fought on, They did their duty, they fought for us and for generations yet to come.

From the bottom of our hearts we say to that generation Thank You!

We must always remember them. We must tell their stories to generation after generation yet to come. Not to glorify war because there is no glory in war. We must tell their stories to ensure that never again do we ask so much of so many.

Thank You to the generation that won our freedom.

Thank You.

Simple Self-Care Routines

Beneficial habits like self-care often go by the wayside during stressful times. It can be difficult to focus on anything but the bare minimum when life gets hard. The fact is, though, that these are the days when you most need to take care of yourself. One way to have a self-care toolkit to help you out during these instances. Having a list of self-care routines can make it easier for you to implement them when needed.

Make a List

Let’s start with your self-care backup plan. This is a list of at least five activities you can easily fit in your life during the most stressful periods. Having such a reminder on-hand will let you gain the benefits of caring for yourself without having to think about it too much. This list can include simple reminders like go to bed early so you get enough sleep, eat nourishing food to keep your energy up or ask for help you need it because these are all things you might forget when you’ve got a ton on your plate. During times of trouble, the very basic foundations of self-care can be the most important.

Have You Bought Yourself Flowers?

In my previous post (you can read it here), I shared ways to get started with self-care. Creating habits and adding activities to your calendar help increase your chances of sticking with your new routine. Another way to keep things interesting is to treat yourself to things you’ve always wanted to do. Adding new and novel experiences to your self-care routine is like giving yourself a little gift every day. It’s a great way to stay motivated to do things to care for yourself.

Pamper Yourself

Taking physical care of yourself in a pampering way makes us feel good. Pampering is a go-to for many people when it comes to their self-care routine. Think of something you’ve never done before. It doesn’t have to be expensive.

A small act of indulgence can have the same effect as an extravagant one. Maybe consider scheduling a manicure if you’ve never had one. A bubble bath with candles can be soothing if this is something you don’t do very often. If your budget will allow, a spa day with a friend could rejuvenate your body and spirit.