Consistent Practice

We get better at anything that we do on a regular basis. As they say, practice makes perfect. I enjoy creating things, like cooking, baking, knitting and doing some arts and crafts project, but I do not do them on a regular basis. So, when I try to bake or do something I haven't done for a while, I forget how I did it and have to look up the instructions. Sometimes I get lazy and do it by memory and it turns out pretty bad, because invariably I forget to put in one or two of the key ingredients. By the time I remember it is too late. As you can see, daily or constant practice is the only way to improve one's skills. Recently, I discovered I can make a very tasty Baklava, but that's because I made it many times in a row, and to my surprise I am getting pretty good at it. 

Likewise, we can become busy with distractions and worldly things and neglect our time with God and reading His Word on a consistent basis. Be consistent in practicing your faith and encourage others to do the same. Meditating on God's blessings brings us peace. A year or so ago, a friend of mine sent me a pretty pearl bracelet. It has four pearls on it and it is a reminder that at the end of every day we should thank God for four blessings we noticed on that day. I made it a habit to wear it almost everyday. Now it has become a habit even when I don't wear it. Some days my gratitude can be for small things, like finding the right parking, seeing a beautiful rainbow after the rain, or getting an email or call from a friend. Other days it can be for bigger things, like avoiding an accident, getting a good report on a medical test or getting a healing. Almost always my list is much longer than four things. I realized that God's blessings are all around me all the time, and in the past I may have missed many of them. I have to make a conscious effort to open my eyes to see them. 

This consistent practice has made a difference in my attitude throughout the day, and I believe it will make a difference in yours. When you focus on your blessings rather than things that went wrong, you cannot help but feel good and full of gratitude! 

Have a great day!        

  

Multitasking

In today's fast paced life, multitasking is considered by many to be a great skill, but is it really? There are conflicting opinions whether multitasking is efficient and effective, and whether the human brain can support this sort of activity.

The definition of mutltitasking is "trying to perform two or more tasks concurrently", in other words repeatedly switching between two or more tasks. I am "guilty" of doing that all the time. However, according to some psychology experts the human brain is not able to multitask, it is designed to complete one task at a time. Therefore when we try to split our attention between tasks, one or both of them will suffer. Since our brains cannot effectively do two things at once, and we bounce back and forth, we are prone to make more mistakes and we are less productive. So what is the solution? Try doing one task at a time and see if it will increase your productivity and decrease your stress. Maybe everything will be done on time with some time to spare. 

When you are working on a project, concentrate on that and do not look at your emails or texts while you are working on it. Do not look at your social media apps, focus only on the task at hand. Try scheduling a specific time during the day to look at emails and texts, and don't try to respond as they arrive. Nothing is that important that it cannot wait. I tried it, and it works. Things did get done.

The "experts" and psychologists are saying that multitasking can have consequences on our mental and physical well being, including short-term memory, increasing anxiety and stress.We think we are being productive, but maybe not. Many times I find myself stressed out when I have several things going on simultaniously, and I bounce back and forth from task to task. So, maybe the "experts" are right.

Here is a fun exercise to try and you can decide what works best for you.....

• Draw two lines on a piece of paper
• Start a timer, and on the first line write "I am a great multitasker" 
• On the second line write the number 1 through 20 in sequence.
• Stop the timer. This represents Monotasking.
• Now, draw two lines on a piece of paper
• Start the timer, and alternate back and forth between writing the next letter in the sentence and the next number in the sequence......i.e. I on one line and 1 or the other line, a on one line and 2 on the other line etc..
• Stop the timer. This represents Multitasking

How did you do?  

I tried the exercise and to my surprise, I did better at monotasking than multitasking.It took me twice as long to do the multitasking. I also found myself stressing out and having to think what I was doing, thus taking more time to complete the task. Maybe I need to re-think this, and instead of trying to do a bunch of things all at once, focus on one thing at a time. This might even give me extra time to discover things around me that I have been missing.

......Lord, you have done so many things! You made them all so wise! The earth is full of your creations!

                                                                                                        Psalm 104:24

So many things to enjoy!

Have a great day!

Happy Valentine's.....What is Love?

 A Swedish Proverb says : "Love me when I least deserve it, because that's when I really need it"

It's interesting, because God did just that! He loved us before we deserved it. Hard to believe, isn't it?  

In the New Testament, John 3:16 states: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life"

Today is Valentine's Day. When and how did it start? Many people anticipate and celebrate this holiday, and we have had many Valentine's parties at our house, here and in California. However, growing up in Turkey, and then in Sweden for several years, Valentine's was not a holiday that I ever remember celebrating. 

Well, there are many fun facts about this day. It dates back to Roman times. In the 1300s it officially became a holiday associated with Love. Then we have Cupid, which has its roots in Greek mythology, dating back to 700BC. Cupid was supposed to depict Eros, the young handsome Greek god of love. Overtime he became known as Cupid, by the Romans and his image was changed from young handsome man to the little boy with bow and arrow. Because of his love inspiring powers, he was then linked to Valentine's Day by the turn of the 19th century. Giving flowers dates back to the 17th century and according to Hallmark, 145 million cards are exchanged every February 14, making it the second biggest holiday for exchanging greeting cards, Christmas being number one.

This holiday has evolved over the years. Not only do we give gifts, flowers, cards and chocolates to our friends and loved ones, but also to our pets. According to some reports, around 27.6 million American households gave presents to their dogs in 2020, and more than 17.1 million picked up gifts for their cats. All in all, American households spend an estimated 751 million dollars on gifts for their pets. I guess our furry children need love too,but they would be content by just being loved, I am not sure they understand getting a bunch of gifts. 

Today, Americans spend a lot of love. In 2023 it was estimated that they spent $26 Billion on gifts. This spending can be stressful for many, I am sure. The most popular gift is giving a box of chocolates and the heart shaped box was introduced in 1861. I can go on and on with lots more fun facts, but LOVE is something we can express and live with on a daily basis, not only on Valentine's, and it doesn't cost anything.

Here are some more quotes about love: .  

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving  someone deeply gives you courage"

                                                                                                                               ----Lao Tzu

"Love is a friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection, and makes allowances for human weaknesses"

                                                                                                                        -----Ann Landers

Most of all, LOVE never fails. 

It is best summarized in the New Testament, 1Corinthians 13:4-8

"Love is Patient, love is Kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It does not dishonor others. It is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres"

Remember that God loved us first, so we can love one another, at ALL times and under ANY circumstance, no only on Valentine's Day.........

HAPPY VALENTINE'S

What if you were the happiest person you know?

Well, we have made it into a New Year. Because it is a new year, it doesn't mean we will not have challenges. We will. The good thing is, we don't know what challenges. The bad thing is, we don't know what challenges. What we do know, is that there will be some. So, how do we deal with them?

The only thing we can control is how we react to them. We can react in a negative way or a positive way. Why not try the positive way. It may not be easy to do, but in the long run it will pay off. 

For example, today picture yourself as the happiest person that you know, and watch what happens. Your enthusiasm is contagious, it will bring out the best in those you interact with and they will in turn behave in a more positive and loving way. Your day and theirs will be blessed.

Here are a few steps to take in the New Year for a Blessed Day (regardless of the circumstances). 

1. Today I will not strike back

    If someone is rude, impatient, or unkind, I will not respond in like manner

2. Today I will be careful with what I say

    I will carefully choose and guard my words, and will not spread gossip 

3. Today I will go the extra mile

     I will find ways to help share the burden of another person, and make life more  pleasant

4. Today I will forgive

     I will forgive any hurt or injuries that come my way, or have been inflicted on me in the past

5.Today I will treat others the way I want to be treated

    I will practice the Golden Rule

6. Today I will raise the spirit of someone who is discouraged

    My smile, my words of enciuragement, my support, can make a difference

7. Today I will grow spiritually

    I will spend more time in prayer and in reading something inspirational

    I will find a quiet place and listen to God's voice

8.  Today I will nurture my body

     I will eat less. I will eat only healthy foods, and I will thank God for my body

9. Today I will ask God to bless "My enemies"

     If anyone treats me harshly or unfairly, I will quietly ask God to bless that individual. 

     The "enemy" can be a family member, neighbor, co-worker or a stranger

     (I think we all struggle with this one, but if we do it, it will lift a burden off our spirit)

10. Today I will do something nice for someone, but do it in secret

      Bless the life of another person, and it will make you feel good about yourself

Let 2026 fill your cup with Kindness, Peace, Happiness, Strength, Joy, Gratitude, Hope and Love