BestYOULife
  • Welcome
  • About
    • Contact
  • What's Possible?
    • Reviews
  • Blog
  • About Yoga
    • Sivananda Yoga
    • Yin Yoga
    • Yoga Resources
  • About Ayurveda
    • Ayurveda, Diet, and Yoga
    • Ayurveda Resources

TO PARTY OR NOT TO PARTY?

1/19/2015

 
Picture

My struggle with this question surfaced as an interesting topic when I was writing last week’s blog, following my bout with the flu.

You might recall:

Lesson #2  CHOOSING HEALTH OVER A PARTY IS NOT EASY

I had been looking forward to a friend’s birthday party on Saturday night for weeks.  I like getting dressed up and dancing and having a good time as much as anyone does.  I chose to sit this party out, and it wasn't easy for me to do.  (watch for blog about this topic coming soon)   


I’ve often wondered about two life approaches that people regularly quote:

‘Life is Short, and so Live NOW’ - this mantra is heard usually after a loved one or someone we know dies.

‘Live and Plan for Tomorrow - Better Safe than Sorry’ - for the savers and those of us who are more future oriented.

For me, both statements have always been true, and therein lies some conflict.  It is also part of why it was difficult for me to choose NOT going to the party………..I wanted the fun of NOW.

With my life possibility being a happy, healthy and loving world - beginning with me - I had this running dialogue in my head about being healthy or being loving with regard to the party attendance.  The conversation was more like a tug of war, trying to have 'loving' or 'healthy' dominate.  

The possibility of both healthy and loving wasn’t initially an option.  My mind was busy playing tricks on me.

In the past, I would have considered it positive to show up for the party and for my friend, despite my health.  Besides, I thought, even though weak, I was able to keep food down now, and the fever and headache were gone….... The ‘Live for Now’ approach.


Many of us do this in our workplaces too - feeling a little better, so go to work and 'tough it out' .

With my more current mind tug of war, there was the side that tried hard to note the ‘loving’ gesture of attending the party.  That side and argument seemed strong, as it matched up with my past ‘Live for Now’ approach, so it felt comfortable and ‘right’.

I further justified that in going I would be a good friend and someone who goes above and beyond for others.  I and others would have assured me that after a couple of drinks, I wouldn’t feel a thing, and so the partying would go on.

When in reality, the justification about friendship and being loving was much more about throwing caution to the wind, so I could join in the fun.

Exposing my friend and everyone else to my germs, plus stressing my own immune system further would not have been convincing arguments to keep me home in the past.  I would have pushed myself when deep down I knew better......but I refused to listen to how my body was really feeling.

I’m not sure what finally gave me some clarity on the situation, maybe the ‘magic oranges’ that my friend bought me to strengthen me after being sick.  I told her the oranges tasted so delicious that it was like the first time I had ever eaten one.

Whatever it was, I paused a bit and honestly considered the situation.  

I plan to be friends with the birthday girl for years to come.  There will be other celebrations of all kinds to share, and each of them unique and wonderful in their own way.  

Missing one birthday didn’t mean I wasn’t a good friend.  I had sent her a gift, and I let her know that I did not feel party-ready. I was not well enough to join in THAT night, but that I looked forward to other celebrations yet to come with her.

I was certainly living in the present, by paying attention to how my body felt and what my energy level really was and then choosing and acting accordingly.

If I had gone to the party, I would have chosen to ignore the present condition I was in and the signals my body was clearly sending, and instead chosen to live FOR the party - not really living for the Present, but for the Party. 

What’s interesting to me is that I finally realized going to the party would have made the party more important than me, my health, my friend or her friends or any others that I would have encountered throughout the night. 

Not loving at all, and not healthy either.

It shouldn’t have even been a tough decision, and yet it really was.  I kept envisioning getting ready and being at the party and talking and dancing, and what I was wearing and how I would fix my hair.

There will be a next time:)

In the end, I’m so glad I chose to be happy, healthy and loving!  


I encourage you to Leave a comment below or post one on my BestYOU facebook page. Sharing your thoughts is a gift to all of us!

Please let me know if there is an issue you'd like me to write about. Your issue may be the one everyone is waiting to hear about.  Thanks!

 If you know someone who may like to sign up for my blog posts, please share this link with them. Thanks!


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    Here I am Life!
    I'm living out loud and sending up a flare.

    Join me in creating  the possibility of a happy, healthy and loving world.
       


    Archives

    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

©2020 BestYOU, Mary Roberts. All rights reserved. All content is the sole property of BestYOU, not to be reproduced without written permission.
Photos used under Creative Commons from Phú Thịnh Co, mikecogh, wuestenigel, emily @ go haus go, lisaclarke, emily @ go haus go, anokarina, jasoneppink, mealmakeovermoms, pinboke_planet, JoanDragonfly, theritters, wuestenigel, quarxdmz, symphony of love, ramesh Iyanswamy, Ryan Dickey, Tax Credits, cursedthing, Five Furlongs, JD Hancock
  • Welcome
  • About
    • Contact
  • What's Possible?
    • Reviews
  • Blog
  • About Yoga
    • Sivananda Yoga
    • Yin Yoga
    • Yoga Resources
  • About Ayurveda
    • Ayurveda, Diet, and Yoga
    • Ayurveda Resources