Day Forty-Four ... Strength

Today is a late entry ... but it was a long day and a late night. Driving home I thought of something. Strength. Something I admire. And I realized something I own. I am strong, physically and mentally. Events may cause me to stumble, however I don't fall. I catch my stride and go right back on course towards my goals. I like that about myself.

We have no right to ask when sorrow comes, "Why did this happen to me?" unless we ask the same question for every moment of happiness that comes our way. 
-Author Unknown

Day Forty-Three ... The Glasses Caper

The day started off well enough or so it seemed. As time to leave for my first training session neared I started gathering my things for the day. Clipboard. Wallet. Keys. Glasses? Where are my glasses? After ten minutes of searching I began to get a little concerned but not overly. This isn't uncommon for me and part of the reason is because without my glasses on it becomes ever so difficult to see them and find them in the first place.

Then it became time to leave and I still could not find them. I asked the dogs. I asked they cat. They had no input whatsoever.

I texted my client to let him know I wouldn't be there early in case he was. More time passed and I had to text him to cancel. I simply cannot drive without glasses and believe me the world is better off without me on the roads nearly blind as a bat zipping around in a Mini Cooper late for work.

By now I was beginning to feel a bit frantic and I had to slow myself down, breathing deep and even I got my emotions under control. Instead of using my eyes to find my glasses, I had to use my hands, and find them I did. Under the bed. Between the base for the headboard and the casters for the box spring. Not visible to the human eye, even with 20/20 vision. I cannot imagine they simply fell there on their own. I have a feeling they had some feline intervention? I picture little Trinity playing hockey with my glasses with Sixto watching ...

She even LOOKS guilty

All in all I learned I can calm myself in times of real stress, my client was very understanding, my boss was understanding and texted me to get contacts. I thought he said CONGRATS though ... Wow, talk about needing glasses. Clearly I need a back-up form of something, contacts or glasses. My biggest worry was that I had mindlessly placed my glasses in an unusual and unfindable place. It is a relief to know that I did put them on the bedside table as I always do and they were moved by paws to a new location.

Grateful for my glasses,
Nicola Byrne

The obscure we see eventually.  The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer.
-Edward R. Murrow

Day Forty-Two ... A New Month

It feels right to start the first day of a new month off with being grateful for the past month ...

I am grateful to my friends and family who support me when I'm weak and cheer me on when I'm strong.

I am grateful for my health. My vision. My hearing. My taste. My sense of touch. My sense of feeling.

I am grateful to be alive. To be able to breath on my own. For the use of my arms and legs. For having ten fingers and ten toes.

I am grateful to live in Las Vegas. Where the sky is almost always blue, the mountains are a reminder of eternity and to not sweat the small stuff. That even the big stuff will pass too.

I am grateful for the phone, it keeps me in touch with those I love.

I am grateful to love the work I do and for each and every one of my clients. They inspire me and make me proud.

I am grateful to have loving and healthy pets. They remind me to slow down and enjoy moments.

I am grateful for the certification course I took last month. It has challenged me both mentally and physically; and has brought new concepts and tools to my training.

I am grateful for the food I eat and the water I drink.

I am grateful for my rebounder. I absolutely love jumping on the trampoline, especially knowing how much it does for me.

I am grateful for the experiences in my life, each have contributed to the person I am.

I am grateful for the hair dye that disguises my grays ... and that is a big job!

I am grateful for all the new friends I have made since moving to Las Vegas.

I am grateful for my car. It gets me here and there and everywhere.

I am grateful I began this blog, because every day without fail it keeps me vigilant for good things to write about. It changes the focus of my day from "Ugh, I can't believe that happened" to "OK, let's forget that because I can't write about it, where is something good and uplifting to write about instead?"

Thank you for reading,

Nicola Byrne

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.

-Cynthia Ozick

Day Forty-One ... Just for Today

Looking for a way to turn my focus I found this and the blog is a great place to share it:

 Just for Today

 Just for today, I will try to live through this day only,
 and not tackle my whole life problem
 at once. I can do something for twelve hours
 that would appall me if I felt that I had to
 keep it up for a lifetime.
 
 Just for today, I will be happy. This assumes to
 be true what Abraham Lincoln said, that
 "most folks are as happy as they make up
 their minds to be."
 
 Just for today, I will try to strengthen my mind. 
 I will study. I will learn something useful.
 I will not be a mental loafer. I will read
 something that requires effort, thought and
 concentration.
 
 Just for today, I will adjust myself to what is,
 and not try to adjust everything to my own
 desires. I will take my "luck" as it comes,
 and fit myself to it.
 
 Just for today, I will exercise my soul in three
 ways: I will do somebody a good turn, and
 not get found out. I will do at least two
 things I don't want to--just for exercise.
 I will not show anyone that my feelings are
 hurt; they may be hurt, but today I will not
 show it
 
 Just for today, I will be agreeable. I will look
 as well as I can, dress becomingly, talk low,
 act courteously, criticize not one bit, not
 find fault with anything and not try to improve
 or regulate anybody except myself.
 
 Just for today, I will have a program. I may not
 follow it exactly, but I will have it. I will
 save myself from two pests: hurry and indecision.
 
 Just for today, I will have a quiet half hour all
 by myself, and relax. During this half hour,
 sometime, I will try to get a better perspective
 of my life.
 
 Just for today, I will be unafraid. Especially I
 will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful,
 and to believe that as I give to the world, so
 the world will give to me.

 -Kenneth L. Holmes

Just reading it was calming, reading it a few times even more so. I found it late in the day - I don't know that I will be able to manage all of the "Just for Today's" in there but ... I can start out fresh tomorrow and have a good go at it again. This is one of those things I can see hanging in the bathroom mirror, reading it every morning. A good reminder of what's really important. I can let go of the rest that isn't so important, just for today ...


I especially love the Abe Lincoln quote. It is true and I make up my mind to be happy.


Just for today,
Nicola Byrne


If you don't think every day is a good day, just try missing one.
-Cavett Robert

Day Forty ... Baby Steps

Last night was a sleepless night. As I watched the minutes tick by I tried to halt the stream of negative thoughts. I had a great idea for exercises for clients as well as progressions of exercises. Based on the new TRX Certification I went for last week. That was productive.

It is a proven fact that you can't not think about something. Don't think about a white elephant. Stop. Don't picture a big white elephant sitting in the corner of the room. There is no white elephant ... You get the picture. Without something positive to think of instead the negative thoughts kept creeping in like ants at a picnic.

Then at 3:00 a.m. my text message alert bleeped at me. I always turn the sound off on my phone at night, so I was startled, but as I was awake it wasn't exactly a big deal.

My sister sent me a text response to a text I sent her earlier on Sunday. She said my niece Emma took her first steps yesterday. How sweet it that? It seems the Universe saw fit to give me something to smile about, to not only think about but to visualize. The timing was perfect.

It also serves as a reminder to me that although things in my sphere have gone negatively awry I can still take my baby steps towards maintaining a positive outlook. Yes I had a night of laying awake thinking negatively and feeling sorry for myself. Starting this blog doesn't mean nothing bad will ever happen in my life or that it won't affect me, it means I will turn away from making my day all about the upheavals and instead go towards the peaceful, fun, funny, good, uplifting things that also crop up. They are there, they simply need to be appreciated.

Taking baby steps,
Nicola Byrne

The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a man's foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher.
-Thomas Henry Huxley

Day Thirty-Nine ... Devestation

In light of my new found ability to let go ... the Universe has seen fit to deliver a fairly devastating blow to my well being. Perhaps it is a test to see how I handle it and how I cope. I don't know if I passed the test, however I am consciously choosing to focus on the good things in my day. I will not rant or complain or vent. I will turn my mind to better thoughts.

I worked a full day today. After that I went to a BBQ at a friend's house. My clients all inspire me. Their hard work, their enthusiasm, and the sheer joy of spending time with them makes my days a gift, not a job. Then to end the day spending time talking to friends and enjoying some rare time sitting and speaking to folks I do not normally get to have lighthearted conversations with ... Well that was a great way to wind the day down.

Last but not least to have a friend to call when in need ... I'm a very lucky person indeed. Maybe I did pass the test?

We shall see!

Happy Memorial Day my friends,
Nicola Byrne


If you're being run out of town, get in front of the crowd and make it look like a parade.
-Author Unknown

Day Thirty-Nine ... Saturday

Saturday was never my favorite day of the week, several other days have been. Now that Saturday is my day off I find it has moved on up and taken first place in my favorite day of the week. It was a great day to move at a slower pace, no particular destination in mind or timetable to follow. Just the ease of being. I had time to make breakfast and lunch and fresh carrot-cucumber juice too.


Days like this there is much to appreciate and be grateful for. No effort required, it seems that the more I look around for good in a day, the more I find. The less negative I notice and experience. It is becoming easier to let go of any potential irritation. I feel less need to label incidents and happenings as good or bad, they just are. I'm learning to let go. I have lots more to learn though and I look forward to it.


Listening to the Vegas wind,
Nicola Byrne

If I could define enlightenment briefly I would say it is ''the quiet acceptance of what is.''

-Wayne Dyer