Brother Can You Spare A Fig Leaf and other things Bob Newhart Never Said

Simplify. In the timeless words of Henry Thoreau, "Simplify! Simplify!" He died in 1862, so I have to wonder what exactly was over complicating his life really, but still an almost daily mantra of mine. I can feel the clutter building again. Time for a good spring clean. Desk clutter, closet clutter, side table clutter, life clutter, mind clutter. Needs. To. Go. Plus cleaning things might help keep me warm as I, eh hem, patiently wait for spring to spring. Although I might just leave the closets and get outta Dodge. Fly south. Follow the sun.

And...

Breathe. I do not know who first said it. Eve probably. You know, "It's ok Honey, everything will be fine. Just breathe, and here, put this on." Or it might have been Pink Floyd. Either way, good advice. Take a step back, get some perspective. Inhale. Exhale.

And...

Laugh. Or at least smile. It is hard to keep up frustration, resentment or worry when we are smiling. Be honest. How many moms have been right in the middle of a temper tantrum (and by this I mean Their own) when the phone rings. We take a deep breath, pick it up and with faker than fake smile deliver a very pleasant, "Hello." Within minutes we are calm and happy again, the friend on the other end none the wiser. The children who were not smart enough to run and hide during the brief reprieve stand stunned and gawking, open-mouthed and wondering where the heck Mr. Hyde went. As the great philosopher Bob Newhart once said, "Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on."

There you have it. Three little words that I am focusing on today.

What are your three? Share...

Quote of the Day: "The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right."

--Mark Twain author and really smart guy who makes me laugh