I think of Whispered Words as those ideas that are captured in a phrase. They are easy to remember, understand, and apply in many current situations. They seem to dig deep into my ears and settle in for a lifetime.

This idea of Whispered Words got me thinking about some of these that are in my ears all the time. Here are some examples.

“Say yes More Often.” This one was late to the party. I only acquired it around my Movin’ On departure from paid work. When I hear the phrase, ‘No Thanks,’ it triggers the say yes phrase. It has stopped me a few times from missing fantastic opportunities and adventures.

I applied it to a request from the local Seniors Association to help them prepare for the accreditation of their bus service. I did this kind of thing for work over several decades. I retired for a reason. I was looking for new challenges. But I knew I could make a difference. Over the next six months, I worked with staff to complete the numerous tasks required to prepare for the on-site evaluation. The outcome? The examiner, with 14 years of experience, stated that she had never awarded such a high score as the one she gave to the Association that year. Job done.

“Am I In Balance?” By balance, I mean how I divide up my time. I have 3 big categories that I try to keep in balance. I’ve learned from a lifetime of experience that when these get out of balance, I don’t feel good. The categories are as follows: Time well wasted, Productive puttering, and Giving to others.

I define time well wasted as something I do for no good reason at all, but I enjoy it. Watching cat videos may be an example.

Productive puttering is about accomplishing something. It has a start and a recognizable end. It varies from writing my Blog every week to tidying up the corner of the basement.

Giving to others is about volunteering. Working a late shift in a casino for a local non-profit group is an example.

When I feel out of sorts, low on energy, or spending too much time vegging in my La-Z-Boy, I usually get out of this unhealthy mental state by reviewing my balance. I intentionally adjust how I spend my time. 

“I Haven’t Walked In His Shoes.” This one comes to the top of my mind when I can feel my frustration with people I encounter throughout my day: The pedestrian who seems to be ambling in the crosswalk in front of me, The person at the cash register who had lots of time to find their credit card before the final total was run up, now has spent my precious time digging into their coat pockets to find their credit card.

The Whispered Words come to the fore to remind me to be patient, compassionate, and grateful.

Please give this a bit of a think. Do you have Whispered Words deep in your ears that come out to guide you along a path to be the person you want to be? Do they help with your mental health with a different outlook on life?

I am curious about your thoughts. Please comment below or send me an email with your bit of a think.

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glenn.walmsley@icloud.com