JOT REVOLUTION

Just One Thing - Weekly Update JOT Revolution is a way of thinking and acting for me.  It seems much easier to tackle one thing at a time for positive changes in my daily existence. This week, I challenged myself to do the following: Breathe Drink Water Say Hello Look Up Hug Breathe. Breathing is involuntary but taking time to voluntary breathe lowers stress and allows for one minute of focus.  An App on my watch even guides this action!   I may not make time to meditate every day but one minute of deep breathing is my mini-break. Drink Water. The health benefits of drinking water are well documented.  For me, the amount of water I chose to consume will be challenging to maintain.  For my teacher friends... perhaps impossible.  However, drinking more water helped me control what I ate and helped me get well from being sick. Say Hello. Saying hello is a reminder that I can impact people. The key for me is to be genuine and kind, no...

Just One Thing - Hug someone! A simple action with a huge impact: Hugs. Love, support, comfort, joy, connection emanate from hugs.  Had a couple of hard conversations this morning. The types of conversations that I would normally run from and avoid. Powered through the hard parts and ended with a hug.  This simple physical connection made me feel better. My one thing today is to give a hug.   The best thing about hugs is that in addition to giving a gift to someone else, you also receive. The Power of a Hug

NEWPORT BEACH - JANUARY 2018 Just One Thing: Look Up! Headed to the beach with the puppy seeking a change of scenery and a fresh perspective.  Sunshine, sand, and simple joy.  I watched the waves as the puppy rolled around in the sand. Both of us enjoyed being outside and breathing in the beauty. As we left the sandy shore to head back, I looked up. The sharp blue sky was layered with clouds and I was mesmerized. I watched the clouds gently move and thought to myself, "I need to look up more often." The challenge today is to LOOK UP! Take one minute to stop moving and see what is happening above you. Watch the snow fall, clouds move, birds fly, trees sway, planes travel, kites soar.  What do you see? What do you feel?  For me, it was a moment of joy. Watch the following TED talk for more on simple pleasures:  Cloudy with a Chance of Joy

JUST ONE THING:  HELLO! I have been in the house for two days sick.   I am getting a bit stir crazy but do not feel like being social.  My JOT today is to get out and say hello to someone. This accomplishes two things: 1) connects me to people other than my family; and 2) contributes to a friendlier environment out in the world. The Power of HELLO  notes that sometimes the simplest things can make a big difference. Will you join me doing this one thing today?

Just One Thing: WATER (96 oz) My goal today is to drink 96 oz of water.  I am fighting off the winter challenge of a sore throat and cold. Hydration and fluid intake is important for health and well-being. Drinking 96 oz equates to 8 ounces every hour for the next twelve hours. I hope this will flush my system, make me less hungry, and help me get over this cold.  More about drinking water from CNN.

APPLE WATCH - BREATHE APP Just one thing:  Breathe Took one minute to work on my breathing.  This is a skill that needs development.   A resting heart rate between 60-100 is considered normal for a person my age.  So, while I am in that range, my goal is to focus my breathing and lower my heart rate below this starting point. Read some research on the importance of breathing to help control stress:  Harvard Health: Mind and Mood