LOVING YOUR QUIRKS

Good morning everyone.  Happy Tuesday!  I don't know about you but when I was born I was undeniably perfect.  Then things changed.  My flawlessly aligned baby teeth fell out and in their place came new slightly crooked ones and my silky smooth skin developed a number 11 seemingly tattooed in between my eyes.  One of my best friends from high school was gorgeous and still is even though her two front teeth overlap.  Interestingly that recognizable feature attributes to her beauty.

What is perfection?  Straight teeth?  Smooth skin? A certain weight and height?  Tell that to plus size model Ashley Graham.  The things we might not like about ourselves are all part of who we are and not just our physical attributes but the way we view the world.  Today's quote is, "Be confident that the uniqueness of you may take time for you to notice - even when noticed by others you are the one who needs to believe."  Time to stop picking on yourself and criticizing your bumpy nose, crooked teeth and bald spot!  Time to appreciate the way certain music makes you cry or the way a sunset makes your heart race.

We are all unique in our own way and not just how we appear to others but the way we think and feel and observe the world.  Take for instance the photo below.  Some of you might notice the clouds while someone else will see the branches yet someone else will see the pink sky.  Being unique is not a burden but a blessing.  You my friends out there are a blessing upon this earth.

Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone! ~Love, Amy

To learn more about what I do, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co
To schedule an in-person or remote Reiki session with me, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co/private ses
sions OR email me at amy@amykaufman.co

FREEDOM FROM SUFFERING

Good morning everyone and happy Monday.  One of the things I do since I am up at a crazy early hour in the morning is yoga.  I've been practicing yoga Monday through Friday for several weeks in addition to a brief morning meditation.  I have found that not only am I calmer in times of stress I am also no longer consumed by worry.  Did I know this to be a benefit of meditation?  Absolutely but not of yoga which has now turned out to be a wonderful enhancement for my morning routine.

The Buddha has said that we are the cause of our own misery.  Today's quote is a nod to his belief.  "One day it will become evident that we are the cause of all our suffering and anguish."  What da ya know!  Turns out he's right!  We just need to be aware but that right there is the problem.  We aren't aware!  We don't realize that it is us.  We don't realize that we are the cause of our stress and anxiety.  I'm not going to tell you to take a deep breath and it will all go away.  That's not realistic. 

If you are alive, you have stress.  If you are a breathing living human, you have a certain level of stress.  It is the way you handle that stress and what you do when it rises within you that will allow you to carry on.  Holding onto every little problem can cause the same amount of suffering as something big.  If water has spilled all over the floor, just wipe it up without sighing or cursing.  If your computer crashes that is a big problem but if you let your blood pressure rise because of it you now have two problems.  

I understand that it is difficult to observe a situation before reacting but that is truly the way to end suffering and anguish over things that are easily fixable and those that take more work but you must try for the sake of your well being.  

What is needed is an outlet and a way to beat that stress before it beats you.   My morning yoga and meditation are tools to help me cope with the daily stress of being alive.  If downward dog does not appeal to you then take five minutes every morning to meditate and if five minutes seem too long, begin with one.  You will be on your way to observing your day for what it is and leave suffering and anguish in the dust!

Have a wonderful Monday everyone! ~Love, Amy

To learn more about what I do, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co
To schedule an in-person or remote Reiki session with me, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co/private sessions OR email me at amy@amykaufman.co

DO YOUR BEST TODAY AND EVERY DAY

Good morning everyone and happy Friday at last!  As the week winds down do you get a bit sluggish with your responsibilities.  Sometimes after a long week, it is hard to be as focused as we were when it began however in accordance with the four agreements we must always do our best.  Hard as it might be, I think that doing our best shines the light on who we really are.  

Today's quote is, "Do your best everyday, every waking moment so that each day you are closer to your true self."  To that I say, YES!  Forget how tired you are.  Forget that once again you are standing at the sink washing the dishes you washed yesterday and setting the same table and feeding the dog yet again!

If you gave your poor pooch rotten leftovers, trust me, you will pay as much as your fur baby.  No I have not done that but I would never and I'm sure you wouldn't either.  When people rely on you you have no choice but to do your best.  This is when you need to think of yourself just as much as someone else.  That's right.  You are relying on you so do your best whatever it is.  

Whether you are cooking, cleaning, conversing, or simply being.  Be your best always from the minute you wake up until you close your eyes.  When you do, sleep will come over you like a giant, warm bear hug.

To learn more about what I do, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co
To schedule an in-person or remote Reiki session with me, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co/private sessions OR email me at amy@amykaufman.co

Have wonderful Friday! ~Love, Amy

TAKE NOTHING TO HEART

Good morning everyone and happy Thursday.  Today's quote is a perfect segue from yesterday when the discussion was having the freedom to not to care what others think.  Today's is sort of the same but with a twist.  Here goes, "Not poisonous words nor words of kindness should be taken personally - listen to your heart and let it decide the truth."

Have you ever said something you regretted?  Visualize me raising my hand right now because I sure have said some things I wish I never did.  What about the compliment you gave to a friend about her new couch?  She loves it but you thought it was the ugliest thing you've ever seen yet you praised her taste as magnificent and visionary!  

Mind you, your friend knows in advance that you would never let that thing in your house.  For all you Lucy fans out there, think of the episode where Lucy tells Lillian Applebee that her furniture looks like a nightmare you would have after eating too much Chinese food.  You need to know from where a compliment comes from as much as where a regrettable statement does.

When on the other end of either poison or kindness, know from where it comes and from who and please do not take it personally!  So hard, I know but if you know from who and where it comes, that alone should make it easier to understand.  You know best when you listen to both your mind and your heart but mostly from your heart.  

The heart is of course the center of love.  Listen with a loving heart and then decide if you have truly received an insult or a praise.  Your heart will always have the right answer.

Have a wonderful Thursday everyone and I do mean it! ~Love, Amy

To learn more about what I do, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co
To schedule an in-person or remote Reiki session with me, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co/private sessions

WHO CARES WHAT THEY THINK?

Good morning everyone and happy Wednesday.  No matter how tired I may be, I usually conjure up an outfit to wear to work and end up looking perfectly put together.  On the weekends not so much.  Weekends are busy with errands and other types of running around which translates to sweat pants and no make up.  Truth is I really don't care, especially if I am running in and out of stores and walking Mia.  

Beyond not caring about your Sunday attire, what else do you give little regard to?  Are you cautious with your conversation or do you say whatever pops into your head?  Obviously there are times when discretion is needed but when it comes to matters dear to your heart and standing up for what you believe are you outspoken or shy?

Today's quote is, "What is freedom - when you stop caring what everyone thinks and value what you think."  Ahhh!  Tapping into turquoise blue, the color of the throat chakra so that you are able to speak your mind with courage, confidence and clarity and with understanding and calm, not anger and accusation.  

We don't all share the same beliefs but you can present them in a way that is not offensive yet still gets your message across.  You cannot go through life pleasing everyone you meet and disregarding your own feelings because someone might not like you.  Do you like you?  Do you value your thoughts and feelings?  That is what matters most.  

You can please some of the people some of the time but not all of the people all of the time! 

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone! ~Love, Amy

To learn more about what I do, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co
To schedule an in-person or remote Reiki session with me, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co/private sessions OR email me at amy@amykaufman.co

LIFE WILL ALWAYS FIND YOU

Good morning everyone!  Happy Tuesday to you.  Did you ever feel like just running away and leaving everything behind?  I know I have.  I'm wondering if I should share this with you but here goes.  I can remember when I had two one year olds and a three year old.  I was overwhelmed and eusted having barely a moment to myself.  Yes I had a husband but while he was at his day job, there I was at mine.  Outnumbered by little people.  I was fortunate that my parents would come weekly so that I could do fun things like food shop and run other errands.






Good morning everyone and happy Tuesday  - Did you ever feel like running away and leaving everything behind?  I know I have.  I'm wondering if I should share this with you but here goes.  I can remember when I had two one year olds and a three year old.  I was overwhelmed and stressed having barely a moment to myself.  Yes I had a husband but while he was at his day job, thereI was at mine.  Outnumbered by little people.  I was fortunate that my parents would come weekly so that I could do fun things like food shop and run other errands. 
I distinctly remember one particular day driving to a bagel store 30 minutes away and thinking, "maybe I should just keep going."  Was it postpartum?  No.  It was responsibility and motherhood.  I chose that particular bagel store because it was far and gave me time to be alone yet I couldn't get the thought of leaving my life behind me out of my head.  

Today's quote is, "Wherever you dwell your life will find you."  Running away is a temporary fix.  You can run from problems through sleep, vacations, binge eating or any other number of ways but life will be there when you wake up, get off the plane and finish those donuts.  Simply said, you can run but you can't hide.  

What do you do when a problem hits you head on?  Are you one of those who tackles it right away or do you think about it for days at a time?  I'm that way with technology.  When I have computer stuff to do, I suddenly think of a million other things I could be doing but when I have accomplished those million other things, the computer stuff is still there waiting.  

A few paragraphs ago when I contemplated my Houdini impersonation, please don't think I hated my kids or my life.  I was just fried!  The good news is that stage of my life is done and gone.  My kids can now bathe, feed and dress themselves (and a lot more!).  Does technology still scare me?  If I'm being honest with you then yes although I have to say we have gotten to be much better friends.

If you need a break then take it.  Go outside, take a deep breath, treat yourself to coffee.  Whatever you need to do, go and do it.  Life will be here when you get back!

Have a great Tuesday everyone! ~Love, Amy

To learn more about what I do, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co
To schedule an in-person or remote Reiki session with me, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co/private sessions OR email me at amy@amykaufman.co

GIVE YOURSELF THE CREDIT YOU DESERVE

Good morning everyone and happy Monday.  I'm glad to be back and illuminate you with my words of wisdom!  Haha!  Those of you who know me outside of my blogs know that I can be very sarcastic and self-deprecating at times.  A lot of times!   On a more serious note, what I share with you is not as much wisdom as it is experience.  I do this because I know that all of you have probably had similar if not identical experiences.  I'm just here to point them out!

We choose to seek wisdom and knowledge from outside sources yet many times, what we need to know is already there.  Today's quote is, "Much of the knowledge you need to live is not outside but already within you."  If you want to learn about history or architecture, I would imagine you would have to do some research online or at the library but the knowledge that I am speaking of is neither history nor architecture.

The knowledge that I am referring to has more to do with your instincts and that "feeling" you get blended in with experience.  Not the knowledge found in books.  Your intuition tells you what is right and wrong because the feeling is visceral.  Your intuition tells you who you can trust and who you should veer away from.  Your experience plays an equally important part as well.

Some knowledge just can't be found in any Barnes and Noble.  Go with your feelings and recall every situation you have been in, from every person you have met, and from all the places you have seen.  It is the accumulation of both that will give you much of what you need.

Want to make a great pie crust?  I have just the book.  Want to know if you should buy that swampland in Florida?  I think you already know the answer to that one!


Have a great Monday everyone! ~Love, Amy

To learn more about what I do, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co
To schedule an in-person or remote Reiki session with me, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co/private sessions OR email me at amy@amykaufman.co