Today I’m wearing a little bracelet from American Eagle that says PEACE. It has narrow green leather straps attached to a small rectangular piece of silver. I bought it as a gift from me to me during the 2006 holiday season because (1) I liked it and (2) I thought it would be a nice reminder that of the importance of peace: peace within one’s heart and mind, peace between and among family and friends, “peace on earth and good will towards men,” and the Prince of Peace.
Yesterday I wore a similar bracelet, one with burgandy straps, that said simply, “Live your life.” My son gave it to me as a Christmas present last year after a BIG HINT from yours truly. I loved the bracelet because of its reminder to truly live one’s life to the utmost and to experience all that life and love have to offer. As I took it off last night, however, I thought about the other two words: your & life.
So many people live their lives to make others happy that they do themselves a disservice. They dress to please others, choose careers to gain approval, stay in dead relationships to make others happy, live in areas they barely tolerate to appease others, and the list goes on and on and on. Sure, we need to think about others in our lives and all of the implications of our choices, but it is YOUR life. Oh, and as I was reminded, it’s not a dress rehearsal.
And speaking of life, the other word. It’s such a gift, and most of us go through our days not even thinking about it, much less appreciating it. The fact that we can breathe and move and see and sing and dance and speak and savor delicious food….ah, life! Are you living YOUR LIFE to the fullest?
mom's musings 
Did you know they sell bracelets that you can put your resolutions/goals on? It’s engraved and you can wear it.
Christine Kane is doing these online seminar thingies and she sends out the plastic bands that encourage one to be complaint free. I love those little bracelets you wear! You know I am a sucker for stuff like this and anything that smells of symbolism
i.e. the pearls…I needed to remember how a pearl is “born”.
Lots of grit and irritation. Is it harder for women to “Live Your Life” than men? Just a thought. (not trying to open a can of worms)
Persistentillusion, No I didn’t know that. Who are “they” who sell the bracelets?
I love pearls too, and I gave Amanda, my future daughter-in-law some pearl earrings for Christmas along with a little speech about the irritants and the final beauiful product.
I’ve enjoyed Christine’s site every tme I’ve visited, and it sounds like I need to visit again.
My work has rubber bands that you wear on your wrist. When you think negative thoughts you read the slogan then snap the band to help you refocus on the positive thought that is written on the band.
Ah… I try to live my life to the fullest but sometimes I fail miserably. It is easy to become satisfied with the good or better and fail to reach our best potential.
I love this quote: Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention ofarriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroghly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming, wow what a ride! “Peter Sage”
Another favorite is: “One of the greatest tragedies we witness almost daily is the tragedy of men of high aim and low achievement. Their motives are noble. Their proclaimed ambition is praiseworthy. Their capacity is great. But their discipline is weak. They succumb to indolence. Appetite robs them of will”. Gordon B. Hinckley, 1979
I enjoyed your post.
Janet, Thanks so much for stopping by and posting something. Are these rubber bands just like any other rubber bands, or are they different somehow (color, design, writing)?
Both of these quotes are absolutely marvelous. The first one about skidding in sideways and being totally worn out reminds me of a conversation I had with someone recently. We were thinking of going to some event, and she was just too tired to go and felt that she needed to get some shut-eye instead. I used one of my grandmother’s old phrases, “You can sleep when you’re dead,” and then added that when I drew my last breath, I wanted to be totally used up. Her response was that if she didn’t get some rest, that day would come soon for her.
The second quote is equally splendid…if not more so (maybe because it’s from a prophet). It’s so easy to “succumb to indolence,” and after reading this post, I think I better get up and get moving.
The rubber bands are purple with yellow writing on them. We have them made up special.
Sounds intriguing. I’m guessing the slogans have something to do with motivation.
It’s funny how although we know something, seeing the words in front of us all the time can be so powerful. One of my daughters gave me a tiny CTR ring a couple of years ago, and although I have several “fancy” rings, I wear it all the time because (1) she gave it to me and wears an identical one and (2) I need all the reminders I can get to choose the right.