Archive for January, 2010

About thirty years ago, my mother gave
me a rather small, pathetic looking
Christmas Cactus. Over the years, I
have kept it with me, mostly in honor of
her memory.

The plant did not grow very much and only
on occasion has it bloomed. I stopped paying
attention to it and would often forget to
water it.

Over the years, I have even contemplated
throwing the cactus away, but when it was
passed up on the tag sale table, I decided
to put it back on the shelf near the window.

Most of the time it looked pretty ugly.
You can imagine my surprise when I passed
by the other day and the my little Christmas
cactus was in various stages of blooming.

Glorious buds peppered the leaves while large
layers of blossoms brought brilliant color
to the plant.

“Well, aren’t you a beauty”, I said out loud.
“You have been hiding that secret for much too long.”

That little ugly plant was truly in love with
every part of it’s self and was willing to show
off it’s true essence.

Don’t wait for the holiday season to remember to
love all the parts of yourself. Bloom each and
every day with your magnificent preciousness.
And as you pass by the mirror, say to yourself,
“Well, aren’t you a beauty!”

Smiles, gena

p.s. My new book Love Your Slim Self
is available on http://lysscentral.com
There is free content and meditations
on the site.
I am also collecting favorite photos
from readers. I will decorate them
with captions that encourage you to
LOVE YOURSELF! Happy Holiday!

Have you ever ignored the signals on your car
dashboard that indicate..”something is not right”?
Well, not actually ignore the warning, just not
bother to take your car in to be checked.

Not a good idea!!

Fortunately, I stopped my car when the engine
light came on and liquid began pouring out onto
the driveway. The only thing I could do
was call AAA to have it towed to the dealership.

I watched my little red car get lifted onto
a flat-bed truck and taken away. My thought was
not about my poor car, but about me.

What if someday I ignore the warning signs that
something might not be just right and I have to
be lifted onto a flat-bed truck and taken away….

Not a good idea!

Cancelling that thought quickly, inspired me to
take an inventory and ask the question: “am I doing
a good job of taking care of myself”?

Cars come with a warranty, a written guarantee
specifying that the manufacturer will make any
repairs or replace defective parts free of charge
for a stated period of time.

We don’t come with any guarantee.

My little red car was still under warranty and
the dealership fixed my car, for free and it is
good as new.

But what about you…are you ignoring the signs
that indicate you are going to fast, overheating,
need a check up or even an oil change?

It is time to love yourself enough to pay attention
and actively do something about your body and your
mechanical self.

Love yourself enough to continue making healthy
choices, schedule that check up, get an oil change,
keep your heart pumping, lubricate your joints,
strengthen your bones, nourish your body,
practice gratitude, laugh out loud, breathe,
rest, and relax more.

Love is a good idea!

Loving yourself is a better idea and we are always
wanting to make things better.
Be in love with yourself and be happy.

Smiles, gena

p.s. Pass this along to all those you love and care
about. Love Your Slim Self is published
and you can find it on http://www.lysscentral.com