Spirited - Spiritless

Spirited or Spiritless, the opposite ends of the spectrum. By definition one is full of energy, enthusiasm, and determination, while the other is severely lacking them. Some common synonyms of spiritless are lackadaisical, languid, and listless. It refers to the lack of animation or vigor that gives one’s actions and words life.

I have been spiritless; my behavior shows it. I often lack ambition or motivation, waiting for things to happen instead of making them happen, rarely offer suggestions or solutions, speak in a lifeless voice, and am indecisive. Going forward, I am changing that. I want to be positive, happy, energetic, and outgoing. It’s important to set a goal and try to achieve it. I’m adopting an “if I can think it, I can do it” mentality.

Each success I have encourages my confidence. Whether it is as simple as noticing something that needs to be cleaned, or more complicated like figuring out and fixing a hydraulic system leak, they add to my confidence.

I recently read an empowering article about things that are encouraging:

• Smile immediately upon waking. In other words, the act of smiling will make you feel happy, which is a great way to start your day.

• Studies reveal that listening to upbeat music improves your mood and boosts your happiness

• Acknowledge that you’re human make mistakes, own up to and learn from them.

• Exercising increases the ‘feel good’ chemicals that are naturally produced by the brain when we exercise.

• Drink water, take a shower, put on clean clothes, and move your body.

• Use powerful body language, it’s that simple. relax your shoulders, widen your stance, uncross your arms and put them on your hips (like a superhero pose), hold your head high, and make eye contact with a smile.

• Establish a routine and make plans for each day and for the future.

Exercising gives me a sense of accomplishment. I know I have more energy and feel cheerier afterwards, although it is often accompanied with a little soreness. Just like the Little Engine that Could, enthusiasm and determination are vital to forming thoughts and ideas, as well as resolving issues and completing tasks. This is something I am not very good at, but am trying to recognize it and do better.

It is important to live in the present and not the past. As Ralph Waldo Emerson eloquently said: “Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in. Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense.”

We are still in Quartzsite and plan to be here until at least the middle of next week. We had an appointment to get the slide worked on in Mesa, but after a call to them this morning to confirm everything, something just didn't feel right and we canceled the appointment. We have contacted a different place, that is about half the distance away to see if they can do the repairs and have scheduled a time with them next Wednesday. The new refrigerator for our friend is supposed to come tomorrow, so we should be busy helping her with that most of the day.

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