MAGGIE'S THOUGHTS
GRATITUDE
As many of you know I have a tendency to depression and a little every day and sometimes luckily not at all. Maybe that's why it's so important for me to be thankful and, even more fun, I've implemented it myself. I always woke up so down and almost every day didn't want to live anymore and then at a certain point I started to realize what I actually DO have. And from that day on, every day when I woke up in my bed I started practicing thinking about the things and who I had and thinking about it brought a SMILE on my face ☺.
This was such a good feeling that I continued with this and every day, after I had stretched myself, just mentioned it all and thought about it. And it worked! I really thought, is it that easy? This is one of the things I suddenly discovered! Because I once heard them somewhere and then suddenly the penny drops. This is what I mean by being able to make yourself happy.
WHAT WE ALSO DON'T REALISE AT ALL
Is that in the Netherlands is that we are so spoiled and used to everything we have around us - shops, schools, cars, bicycles, money, in fact, everyone is very rich. We all live in beautiful countries where a lot is arranged and where so much is possible. Beautiful parks, forests, cities, roads, meadows, so much beauty. Amazing! Everything is well organised in the sense of healthcare and hospitals and general practitioners accessible to everyone. We think everything is very normal, but it is not natural at all. If you look at someone from a very poor country, you can see that those people have nothing at all and are often really happy. So, it's not about having things. It's not about the money either, because money doesn't buy happiness! (from my own experience!). So, it's all about LOOKING and SEEING what IS there and being grateful that you are healthy and around the people around you that you have chosen yourself that you are happy and grateful for.
You can also generate this yourself by sometimes deliberately leaving something out of your life and then putting it back again. For example, no meat or fish for a while, or not buying clothes for a longer period of time, or not eating out or ordering pizza. Just pay attention to how often you buy something that you really don't need at all, just leave those kinds of things out.
We spend a lot of money on nonsense things. If, after a while, you are allowed to do it yourself then you have first made that choice yourself and you are in control of your life AND you are grateful because you DO have it again. I sometimes have help with laundry on Monday, and that is only possible if she can and that is sometimes not for a few weeks, then I must do it myself. So, when she's back I’m sooooo happy and grateful. This is just a nice example from me.
I also always had everything in the house for our family and I kept driving to the supermarket etc. and suddenly I thought, hmmm, if something is gone, that's a shame, I'm going to the shop again on Friday. I said that also to the children - it isn't there right now. They looked at me very strangely but when I explained it, they understood, they also immediately became more aware that not everything is always possible immediately. Those children are of course also spoiled (we do it ourselves ☺. It's great to spoil them.
"IT'S NOT ABOUT HAVING MONEY OR THINGS"
AND SO I CAN CONDUCE UP FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
So much beauty around us. Look at that instead of the nasty, stupid things that are of no use to you. And avoid quarrels. Solve them with a little understanding for each other, listen to each other. Everyone is different and has a different perspective and background. When you see that, it's much easier to be grateful and live in the moment. I often ask, are you doing your best? Yes very much they say….. Nobody is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. Don't be so mad at each other. Give each other space.
We just got back from vacation and when I'm on vacation it can sometimes go wrong with me. Even more crazy, it's already going wrong with packing!! Ha ha I always have to get used to it, and yes on vacation everything is different. Take, for example, the bed, temperature, the space of your tent, hotel room, apartment, or house, the sounds, do I sleep well or not, the food, the smells, coffee, everything is different and my brain and my body take I often talk about it and run off with me so that I can get mega out of my mood. I just have to get used to it! I now know, not as strict as on myself .. Fortunately I learn from this and I can now respond better to it. So there too every day think about what we all have and that we are healthy and that everything works, (how bizarrely beautiful is that body!!!!) I wake up there extra happy and grateful because we also have you no need for anything!! Everything is allowed and possible, freedom and tranquility! Just being and enjoying those children, because they are often so nice and sweet when we are all a bit rested and have no stress ☺. Joe how! Party!
This year 2 of the 3 children were with me, how grateful I was, they are coming!! Out the flag! Flynn is only 14 but when your kids are out of the house Noa (22) you'll be super thankful they're coming. I have to say that this holiday we developed a rhythm of getting up early and going for a sport with the whole family (joe how), then that would have happened! That was so nice, and we felt so good about it! Staying fit has become second nature to us. Sporty family, with all sports, my dream came through !! Satisfying!!
MAGGIE'S THOUGHTS
IT'S IN HIM
It's in us to choosing positivity
It's in us to help others
It's in the little beautiful moments
It's in someone who gives you a smile on the street
It's in a sweet little bird
It's in seeing puppies
It's in seeing a happy baby
It's in your own child who says or does something sweet
It's in a full fridge for the weekend
It's in fresh flowers in your house
I CAN GO ON AND ON LIKE THAT FOR A VERY LONG TIME!
So much beauty is around us. Look at that instead of the nasty, stupid things that don't help you. Avoid quarrels - solve them with a little understanding for each other, and listen to each other. Everyone is different and has a different perspective and background. When you see that, it is much easier to be grateful and live in the moment. I often ask, are you doing your best? Yes, very much they say… Nobody is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. Don't be so mad at each other. Give each other space.
We’ve just got back from vacation and when I'm on vacation it can sometimes go completely wrong with me. Even more crazy, it's already going wrong with packing!! Ha ha! I just have to get used to it, and yes, on vacation everything is different. Take, for example, the bed, temperature, the space of your tent, hotel room, apartment, or house, the sounds, do I sleep well or not, the food, the smells, coffee, everything is different. I just have to get used to it! I now know not to be as strict on myself. Fortunately, I learned how to respond better to it. So, think every day about what we all have and that we are healthy and that everything works, (how bizarrely beautiful is that!!!!). I wake up extra happy and grateful because we also have no need for anything!! Everything is allowed and possible, freedom and tranquility! Just being and enjoying the children, because they are often so nice and sweet when we are all a bit rested and have no stress ☺. Party!
This year two of our 3 children were with me, how grateful I was that they came!! Put out the flag! Flynn is only 14, but when your kids have left home, Noa (23), you'll be super grateful they're coming on holiday with you. I have to say that this holiday we developed a rhythm - we got up early and went to work out with the whole family. That was so nice, and we felt so good about it! Being fit has become second nature to us. A sporty family, with all sports, my dream came true!! Very grateful!!
BUT ESPECIALLY THE DAYS WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING
and can just lie down with a book. Completely in the moment and disappearing into your book. Then of course you should. I couldn't at all at first. I always came last, and I didn't have time to read. Now luckily, I put myself first and sit down and read and then I see that the rest is also going very well - just because you're doing nothing. That's called letting go ☺.
Because I also do that in normal life, I look around a lot. I also see a lot and because of that I often get a SMILE at the beautiful things around me. That makes me happy. SEE and LOOK and FEEL! There are so many beautiful things, but of course, you have to LOOK and then SEE it and then FEEL it! ha ha! On vacation I can enjoy this even more because everything around me is new. I am always so happy with nice people. Recently I walked up to a waiter and told him that he was very special in the way he had served us. I felt how sweet he was and how much he liked his job. A big SMILE appeared on his face, and then I am grateful and happy again.
WHAT I AM ALSO SO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR
is that I have so much faith in things these days so I don’t panic quite as often. It has really become a choice. If something happens, is it really bad? Can I solve this? Or, oh yeah, that's not great but we'll solve that again. Thinking about possibilities. We often don't realise it, but this is learned behaviour, if you panic about something, as soon as you see it you can change it and that will give you a lot of freedom and gratitude.