By Sheila Yonemoto, PT
Watching the morning sky the other day, the sun was barely peeking through the streaks of clouds, making the sky pink. I quickly took a picture and sent it to my kids as I knew that the color in the sky would not last long. No sooner than my son remarked that it looked like a bubble gum sky, it was gone.
It made me think of how fleeting the beauty in nature is and that we should look for these remarkable moments always. So much better to remain in the present moment than being stuck in the past. Each moment can be a new beginning.
As I reflect on my life, I can’t help but think that it keeps getting better. I try to take care to keep the balance in my life and watch my daily actions. Whether it came from the sages of the East or the West, the focus was the same: prevention is always better than repair.
Paying attention to your daily habits is key — eating the right foods, not eating too much, getting proper exercise/movement in your day, sleeping enough so that you feel refreshed in the morning, managing your stress, and having purpose in your life.
Here are some additional words of wisdom that I have picked up along the way:
- Focus on the positive. Everyone has a good side and a bad side, so always try to face their good side.
- Count your blessings and practice gratitude.
- Make this a better world, preferably all the time.
- Practice taking control of things. See what you can do to make a situation better first, rather than waiting for someone else to do something.
- Laugh more, complain less.
- Help others and develop an attitude that everyone is better than you and that you can learn something from them, no matter who they are. That way you keep learning and making improvements in your life.
There are many more things one can do. But start with one thing to make your life the best it can be.
Sheila Yonemoto, P.T., has been a physical therapist for more than 40 years, specializing in integrative manual therapy, utilizing a holistic approach. She can be reached at Yonemoto Physical Therapy, 55 S. Raymond Ave., Suite 100, Alhambra, CA 91801. She also offers a qigong “Chinese energy” exercise class. Your first class is free. Call (626) 576-0591 for more information or visit www.yonemoto.com.