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1/8/23 Eliminate the ants in your brain

Sometimes you just get to work
and realize your shoes don't match

 Well we are on a different schedule again...church at 11:30 a.m. Which is good and bad!  The GOOD part is that I have my Sunday mornings back!!!! I got to walk with Linda today and I have time to write to you and I can even maybe make something for dinner tonight before I have to go to my 10 am. meeting. Wahoo!

Bad...won't be much afternoon! And church from 11:30-1:30...feels hard! We'll see!

Well it's been a strange week with having our trip and not starting work until Wednesday. I could seriously get used to doing fun trips and not working more! It's been strange being dislocated at work!!! I've worked in the utility conference room, the main conference room and the recorder's conference room and the back desk in Melodie's office. My favorite is the main conference room but I keep getting ousted because of meetings. 

I have a busy week ahead...Kerry Wheelwright is retiring and I'm doing the party. That is Thursday. I think I got everything lined up before I left. (Ordered lunch and dessert and his gift.) I have to get some decorations and set up the room but hopefully everything will fall into place. 

Saturday is our basketball game at Utah Tech (you know, not Dixie) and I'm having to coordinate that as well. 

Wednesday night is my first activity with my class (all my older girls moved up!). I think I'm going to do a Christmas Party (ours got canceled last year and why not?!)  We'll play some games and eat treats and exchange gifts. It should be fun. Good way to get to know our new girls a little better. 

We played pickleball yesterday with a good group of people. I actually won a couple of games !!! and made it to "King court". I lost after that and won a couple more but didn't make it up to the top court again before we went home. It was fun!  

Last night we had dinner with Milt and LeAyn, Shane and Beth and their adult son Todd and us. At Milt's house. It was really fun. Dad cooked a brisket that Shane bought and we had fancy salad, potatoes, rolls and pies. Yummy Yummy!

Grandpa Laurito just sent me a video for your Christmas/Birthday message. I'll forward that to you!  

This week I've been listening to the book Feel Better Fast and Make it Last by Daniel Amen (What a great last name?!!!!)  If you are frustrated and can't change it this book helps you to have a way to change: 
 
BRAIN-XL
B - BRAIN - use your brain to rescue your mind and body. When you are nervous, sad, mad, out of control -- know and use emotional rescue techniques to feel better fast. 
Our brains like routine...get out of a rut and get a better routine. 
R - RATIONAL MIND - develop mental discipline.  Eliminate ants from your brain (automatic negative thoughts) -- you know...you are fat, you are ugly, you are stupid...all the rotten things our heads tell us -- he calls them ants.  And one ant at a party isn't a big deal but a whole bunch of ants will ruin a picnic. And your life!  (great analogy!)  Quiet or eliminate the Ants! Focus on gratitude
A - ATTACHMENTS - work on strengthening your relationships so they bring you joy, not distress. 
I - INSPIRATION - know your WHY and have meaning and purpose in your life - you will be happier, healthier and live longer.  Live with passion and purpose and avoid addictions and depression. 
N - NOURISHMENT - Eat to power your brain and you can improve focus, memory and mood. 

X - XFACTOR - Think different.The XFACTOR is the variable that will have the most impact on an outcome. 
L - LOVE - Love yourself and others - do the right thing. 

He has a little chart that shows feel better fast now but NOT later: 
smoking cigarettes, drinking, smoking weed, video games
feel better now AND later: 
exercise, yoga, meditation, prayer, good music

Love you! Hope you and Sis S are having a great time and good success! Happy New Year -- 2023 --  time is flying!

xoxo mom

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