Now, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking the last few days. It hasn’t even hurt too much! (Too bad my husband is out of town so he can’t see this rare event) 🙂
I’ve come up with a few tips on how to live one’s life more fully. (Which is basically the theme of my blog for you brand new, yet-to-be-initiated readers.) But to be able to share such sage advice, I decided I needed an alter ego, so Swami Over-the-topananda will take over for the day!
Swami Over-the-Topananda
Here is what Swami says:
#1 If you can’t see your shoes due to your belly–you’re a Budda!
#2 When you get home from that all-important meeting and find out your shirt has been on inside out–you’re a fashionista!
#3 When you’ve said something that even you can’t understand–you’ve finally broken the code!
#4 If your memory isn’t as sharp as it once was–you’re a member of the club! (Which club, who remembers!)
#5 If you’re a little stiff when you get up in the morning–have breakfast in bed!
#6 When you can’t find your glasses–give your eyes a rest!
#7 When somebody hurts your feelings–sulk!
#8 When you can’t see the forest for the trees–go to the ocean!
#9 When you’re taking life too seriously–look in the mirror!
#10 When you’re making a fool of yourself–laugh the loudest! (Ha Ha Ha!)
There now, don’t you feel like you’re already living life more fully!
If so, throw a token on the altar and rejoice in the day, another moment of living, another moment of The Sweet Life: La Dolce Vita….
P. S. from Gayle:Â Your token could be one of your life lessons in the comment section. Swami Over-the-Topananda reads, appreciates and does not grade all contributions!
Amen sister thanks for the smiles. Love you.
Ahhh, smiles! How refreshing.
Thank you Gayle… a good way to start my day! Something to always remember, but I will have to think a bit to see what I could add 🙂
Thinking won’t help. I find it’s best to just be silly!
Gayle,
I love reading your posts and your sense of humor they always make me smile and
look at life with a new prespective.
Keep up the good work Swami!!
How sweet of you to share! Thanks!
Dear Swami Over-the-Topananda –
You continue to “crack me up” with your blog. Actually you make certain that I have the opportunity to expeience every feeling and emotion I own from time to time, especially “gratitude.” Thank you for making my life’s experience richer as a result of your “deep insights.” So, I will “throw a token on the altar and rejoice in the day” with you.
George
Your token is YOU! And I rejoice!
You are truly an inspiration!!! Love you for being so uplifting!! Xoxo
You have your own inspiration going on, girlfriend, keep it up!
Here’s one thing I’ve learned: If you are sad, mad, frustrated, or just feeling grumpy, Sing!!! Sing as loud as you can, even if you don’t know all the words; humming is good, so is making up new verses! Guaranteed, you will end up feeling much better. Rita
I LOVE your token! Singing is one of the loves of my life….
Oh, dearest Swami Over-the-Topananda,
I read your most enlightening factoids and feel everyone of them is most certainly over the topananda. Truth…every one of them. 🙂
Yes, and I have one to add:
LIGHTEN UP PEOPLE! You get this one go-around so have at it, gosh darn it all!
If you have not yet taken the time to see some Spring flowers..do it now. Enjoy the green, green, green of this limited-time only Spring in Redding. Next month we may be back to everything being Beige again.
When you do see a newly emerged flower: Say Hello! Welcome! Tell it how beautiful it is and how much you appreciate being able to see it and enjoy that beauty.
From: Guru Gotta Go LOVE!!
I would say more, but I’m busy welcoming all the little lavender cat’s ears we have growing in our yard!
I want to change #1 to “you might be pregnant” if you’re a woman.
Okay. Then you have a baby Budda!
Wonderful great thoughts.
Great is good enough for Swami!
You only live once, but if you live right once is enough. : ) X
Wowee! I see you’re wearing your favorite Swami jacket today. Good one!
Extremely clever…I note that Swami is not subject to chemo brain…her wisdom flows no matter what which is a good reason to heed it! I thought of you this morning as I had a minor medical procedure on my legs. The last time this experience was most unpleasant…in large part because of my anxiety and the unknown factor. So this time I listened to the advice of my friends who are also apparently tuned into Swami Over-the-Topananda. That advice was TAKE THE DRUGS! So I had my first Xanex and voi’la it was definitely better. Squeezing the hand of my sweet nurse as hard as I wanted to helped also. I thought of the great writing you did about your tech in S.F. These compassionate medical folks are jewels in the crown of life yes! I hope to hear more from you Swami! much love, Pam
Take the Drugs! Great advice. I found during the year of so many procedures in which I had to be drugged, that I began to like the feeling. I came home from the hospital wanting to pour wine coolers down my feeding tube!
You are an inspiration in taking life as it comes… and not too seriously! Love your humor-
Thanks, Joyce. Life is too absurd to take seriously, isn’t it!
Life is instantly better when I follow Swami’s Melodious Instant Laughable Events Sageness (SMILES) I feel lighter and happier, already! Oy Vy! Michael
Michael Ha HaHusband, SMILES–huh? Wonder what you would have come up with for Over-the-Topananada. Ha HaWife
My gift must be of spirit.
Garments of light, beauty, and praise
to chase the dank chill of darkness.
Courage to endure the path ahead.
The spirit of faith, hope and love
to defeat the enemy of gloom.
Finally, my own love
because…
Just because.
I yearn for your poetry
because…
Just because.
Just continue to be in awe of you….and I don’t care what you say, “it aint easy”. I heard a lady speak today about the things you don’t say to a person with an illness: don’t say “Oh, you look fantastic”, “you handle this so well”, “I’m cheering for you”. She claims people with devastating illness want someone to just lay it on the line. Such as “I know this is a nightmare and I can talk about it with you if you ever need me” or “what can I really do for you?” be specific: do you want to go for a “Brazilian Wax (ouch),??, do you have some loose ends I could help you with????, anything on your bucket list (I hate that expression) that needs doing???? And most of all, being optimistic and realistic are not mutually exclusive.And some of the nicest, most caring people in the world would fail the test. We just don’t know what to say in such an unthinkable dilemma…..see, there i go gilding the lily….a dilemma??
Get real gg (Ish). Si I will practice on you and you can grade me…and maybe we can write a book. xoxoxo
If you would have heard me speak today, you would have heard me say, Tell me I look fantastic. Tell me I’m handling this well. Tell me you’re cheering for me! I don’t want you to lay it on the line. I know how grave my situation is. I know my worldly walk is drawing to a close. What I want from you is your heart! Give me who you are. Be vulnerable with me. Cry with me. Laugh with me. Tell me what you would tell me if I weren’t dying. Share with me the stupid things you do, the embarassassing things that happen. Tell me what you’re proud of, what motivates you. Share with me your passions, your fears, your dreams.
I don’t need a Brazilian Wax, or loose ends to be tied up, or unrealized dreams to come true. I need you!
..well, yes,..you look fantastic! really! Yes, you are handling “this” very well, too well actually (I’m mad as hell!). OF COURSE, I’m cheering for you, wishing upon wish for a miracle. I don’t want to post all the embarrassing things I’ve done (but I’ll tell you in person :)…I’m still looking for my passions, facing my fears one at a time (sometimes, if I’m lucky 2 at a time!), dreams..unfortunately I’m too logical for dreams, but I have a dream of miracles for you. NO Brazilian wax (sorry guys), loose ends, none that I’m aware of, unless you are talking about those old files I need to shred. Unrealized dreams, ohh I’d rather they show themselves as I go along 🙂 Love you Gayle, you will always be my favorite sister-in-law 😉
That’s what I’m talkin’ about!
Laughter is the best medicine of all! Thanks for making me laugh out loud with your awesome Swami advice. I loved it! Big Hugs
Silly is as Swami does. 🙂
Sometimes it takes me awhile to read your blogs, please forgive me. I love them, you are funny, wise and so very inspiring. Thanks, this one was great! Love you and think of you often, Swami.
Hi Pam, Sometimes it takes me a while to write them. 🙂 Glad to hear from you. Hope you’re well and happy.