A Recipe for a Life as Sweet as a Cupcake

A post for Trust 30 … the 30-day writing challenge I’m participating in.
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Today’s Prompt:

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I do not wish to expiate, but to live. My life is for itself and not for a spectacle. I much prefer that it should be of a lower strain, so it be genuine and equal, than that it should be glittering and unsteady. I wish it to be sound and sweet, and not to need diet and bleeding. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Think about the type of person you’d NEVER want to be 5 years from now. Write out your own personal recipe to prevent this from happening and commit to following it. “Thought is the seed of action.” (Author: Harley Schreiber)

Chocolate Mint Cupcakesphoto © 2011 DixieBelleCupcakeCafe | more info (via: Wylio)

 

My Response:

When I saw the words personal recipe, I thought of an actual recipe. Though I’ve never followed anything like this, I think it might work. Maybe for the month of July, I will try it. 

  • 1 hour exercise
  • 1 hour reading
  • 1 hour meditating/journaling
  • 1 hour food (shopping/cooking/eating)
  • 1 hour organizing/cleaning
  • 4 hours family/friends/life
  • 7 hours sleeping
  • 8 hours working
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Mix together daily … or if you skip an ingredient one day, double up on it the next day.

Experiment with changing the ratios to fit your world, but to ensure that each ingredient is a part of your life, so you are NOT the person you do NOT want to be in 5 years … you may need to spend at least a month following the recipe daily. Then once you know it well and each ingredient is a habit … you have more freedom to change it around.

Add unique ‘spices’ at times to keep it interesting..

Serve with a smile … no, more importantly serve with honesty and kindness.

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Do you think this recipe would work? What should be added to improve it?

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  • Trish Gheen Goins

    You left out the main ingredient that will make it rise!  GOD

    • http://www.JanetOberholtzer.com Janet Oberholtzer

      Good analogy Trish … and that’s what the hour of meditation/journaling is for. I left it open ended because each of our spiritual journeys is unique and looks different.

      I think it’s important to take time for our spirit, just like for our body and mind. And just like I didn’t give an exact ingredient for exercise for the body (I don’t say “thou shalt run like I do”) I also didn’t give an exact ingredient for the spirit. Because than I’m being a dictator and that’s not my goal. 

  • Dawn

    Looks like a terrific recipe to me Janet I should definitely give it a try.

    • http://www.JanetOberholtzer.com Janet Oberholtzer

      Would love to hear how it works out for you, Dawn.

  • http://thecostoffollowing.wordpress.com Christine Ivy

    This helps me realize that my days with a 3 hour and 20 minute commute are completely out of balance. Especially since I need 9 hours of sleep to be really rested.  

    It struck me recently that my life would look completely different with one hour of exercise a day. I have no idea how to go from here (practically sedentary) to there. Especially with my current job. 

    • http://www.JanetOberholtzer.com Janet Oberholtzer

      Wow, that commute does take up a big chunk of your day. 

      An hour of exercise is good, but you don’t need to start there … any is better than nothing, so start small.

      Walking is a great for our bodies and our minds … so start with a 10 min walk … maybe around the block or a parking lot before and/or after your commute. Then slowly add a few more minutes. 

      Walk at a brisk pace with your body stretched up, not slouched down. Suck your gut and tuck your butt as you walk. Do that for 10 mins morning, noon and night … you get 30 more minutes of walking than you normally do. Then maybe on your day off, you can do 30 mins at one time … and build up from there.