Second Innings, New Beginnings Sometimes you have to get away to come back strongervidyasury.medium.com Quick Mindfulness Meditations that will take 10 minutes or less and have you smilingvidyasury.medium.com A Cup of Peace — is my mother’s story — one of the hardest I have ever written. Living with diabetes? Here’s how you can manage it better. Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles ❤ Did you smile today?

Tuesday Motivation — 24 — “Find one small thing that doesn’t suck and hold onto it. You may surprise yourself by finding more to add to the pile. Like, today is terrible, but purple pens exist. And new books. And chocolate chip cookies. And people who say thanks when you hold the door. And lights that turn green as soon as you pull up. And the glorious smell of coffee even when it is the just-okay kind.

A great way to calm yourself — This is a wonderful mindfulness exercise and easy to do. Choose a song. Now close your eyes. Listen intently to the music. Don’t do anything else. Follow the lyrics. Pay attention to the different instruments. Or alternatively, simply enjoy the song as an experience. If you have heard the song before, did you notice anything new? A note or nuance you missed before? Does the song have a repetitive lyric or phrase?

Let’s not hang on to painful feelings — Think of a person who has offended you or someone you know with their behavior. Pause for a moment to imagine what factors could have led that person to behave in that way—to hurt or put off others. Perhaps, imagine the person as an innocent child or baby. Send this person compassion from your heart, wishing them well. How does this feel—sending compassion?

Tuesday Motivation — 23 — Don’t ever be embarrassed for liking stuff other people don’t understand. Imagine saying, “Oh, you don’t get this thing that makes me happy? Let me decrease my happiness level to make you more comfortable, judgy person who doesn’t live my life.” See how nuts that is? Nah, do you. (Courtesy— Nanea Hoffman) Be you! Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles ❤ Did you smile today? Help me support underprivileged children via Ko-Fi. Thank you so much! Subscribe to my one-minute motivational tip posts on Substack

It’s time to visit your happy place — Let’s kiss the Monday blues goodbye with this pleasant exercise! Imagine you have a spaceship that can rocket you to your favorite place. This can be real or imagined. Now board your ship. Count down from 10 to 1. Then blast off to your destination. Stay there for a while. Breathe. Reflect. Feel the calm. Then, when you are ready, return home feeling relaxed and refreshed.