Monday, June 1, 2009

Happy New Month! This Month's Intention



Happy New Month!

In the past, I've explained how I'm not a fan of New Year's Resolutions. However, I do like the rejuvenation of feeling like I have a fresh start at the beginning of every month. And so at the beginning of each month, I set an intention.

I've been thinking about this month's intention for the last several days. I had several ideas, all of them worthy -- to take a vitamin every day, to do yoga at least three times a week, to learn a new word in French every day, etc. But I'm traveling for a short period this month, and I knew that those were probably not practical and should wait for another time. By this morning, I was feeling a little anxious because I had not yet decided on an intention.

When I sat down to read my e-mail, however, I had my answer. (Perhaps my intention should be to trust that the universe will give me what I need everyday!)

In my inbox, I had an e-mail titled "Seven Tips for Giving up Gossip." I'm certainly not the world's worst gossiper. In fact, I'd say that I am perhaps more cognizant of it, and therefore cautious of it, than the average person. Nothing good ever comes of it. If you work in a building or an environment of any kind in which more than a handful of people work, though, gossip is hard to avoid. But I'm going to try. I know there will be days when I'll fail, and I'll feel terrible, but I won't beat myself up over it. I'll just set my intention again the next day, and the next day, and the next day. And I'll try to do like Thumper said, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

Happy New Month!

10 comments:

  1. a worthy intention for sure!

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  2. You know, My Mom never gossiped. I never heard her say one bad word about anyone, even to "what I heard was" ... how I have envied that and how trusted she was with so so many secrets and stories and burdens. A worthy beginning to a lovely month here in Athens, GA. LOVE that Grand Canyon photo, Janet!
    Candace in Athens.

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  3. I like this "new month, new intention" idea, brilliant!
    Good luck, holding back juicy gossip is tough :)

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  4. that's such a great idea, janet! in my yoga classes, I have the students pair hand mudras with intentions (such as yours) stated in mantra-like ways. Maybe someone trying not to gossip might say Thumper's mantra with her hands prayerstyle. Then, with her hands in the Anjali mudra (prayer), she can recite the intention through various poses. The idea is to create an intention and a movement, then bring them together in yoga.

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  5. for sure gossip is worth avoiding always. I am very mindful of it myself. It's so human nature though. Great intention for the month.

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  6. This is great, Janet! Like you I don't do with gossip....so this is a great intention. This actually reminds me of a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt I came across recently, she said: "Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people." Isn't that food for thought? I'll be keeping Thumper's mantra in mind too... So nice to catch up with you here and your recent posts. We are just returned from a two-week trip in which there was next to no online time but sharing a few photos at my place. Great to be back in blogland. Happy weekend ahead. :o)

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  7. Thanks for the comments everyone! love the mantra and mudra idea. (I love mudras cuz i love hands. sounds strange i know, but i'll do a post on it someday.) and LOVE the quote by Eleanor Roosevelt! perfect.

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  8. hey janet- love this. i think i´m also going to start thinking up some resolutions. thank you for all you sweet comments. kindness does make the world spin... p.s. i never gossip- solely because i have the worst memory- you can tell me anything and i assure you i´ll have forgotten it in 5 minutes. it drives my husband crazy... besos!

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  9. and if we are all not to gossip, does that mean no tabloid magazines, either?!?

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  10. This is a great idea, a new intention every month! I find it difficult not to gossip, specially in the office!
    I see you are doing The Wreck this journal book club! Me too!!

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