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200 words, Alberta, Calgary, Canada, changing seasons, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, Fear, happy, joy, living in the moment, winter, worry
“You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness.” ~ Jonathan Safran Foer
A shorts-wearing Canadian, Calgary, Alberta – Jan. 24, 2015
Today it’s supposed to be 16c, that’s 61f!
I haven’t been outside yet, but just the thought of going outside on a warm January 25th lifts my spirits several rungs up the ladder!
I get so excited about warmer temperatures.
I’m not the only one, yesterday it was 10c/50f and some of my countrymen even wore shorts.
It occurs to me that in not one, but two previous posts, I have been bracing myself for I-can’t-feel-my-feet-and-hands-my-lips-are-frozen-to-my-teeth-and-it-hurts-my-lungs-to-inhale-the-air kind of days; worrying about something that hasn’t even happened.
I wonder how often I do that in everyday life.
They say that 90% of the things we worry about never come to pass.
How often do I worry about imagined future sadness and failure and strive to protect myself from it? And when I do so, how often does it rob me of joy in the now?
Do you find yourself doing the same thing?
~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~
If you need me, you know where to find me; outside and happy in the NOW
talktodiana 
I love that quote! That’s a keeper, for sure! (And, oh, so true!)
And, wow, you got an even better “January thaw” than we did. Ours was only up into the 40s (F).
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Yup that Chinook is something Smitty – glad you liked the quote!
Diana xo
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Wise words, Diana. Very wise. That 90% statistic should be tattooed on the back of our hand. I know I need to be reminded of it. It’s getting easier to think positive after years and years of practice. 😉
Blessings & hugs ~ Wendy ❀
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Thank you Wendy and blessings to you! ❤
Diana xo
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Wow, what a great segue from the weather into the whether or not! 😀 I do agree that most people tend to borrow trouble. I think because I am an empath, I feel different things than a lot of people, so while a lot of people have a “fear” of the unknown, I might get a sense of “dread” which when that happens, I KNOW the bad thing will come to pass… and at least 90% of the time I’m right. So I’m lucky in that I can tell the difference between fear and dread, and also lucky that if something causes me dread, I get a foreboding and am not taken off guard. I think you and I would be fast friends in person (not just on line) if we lived close. 🙂 I LOVE the way your mind works and focuses on the positive! ❤
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Aww thanks Rachel! 🙂
I remember your stories of sensing dread Rachel – that’s quite a gift! ❤
Diana xo
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LOL.. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like a gift at the time, but afterward, I’m always grateful for the heads up. 🙂
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My EQ friends tell me that every healthy emotion has a gift. The gift of worry or anxiety is that it makes sure we are prepared for possibilities. I guess the corollary is to make sure we include the good possibilities too!
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Yes I believe that to be true too Ian for personality traits as well. When impatient people are healthy and at the top of their game, they get things done, for example! ❤
Diana xo
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61 degrees in Calgary in January!! Amazing–Does Calgary get the Chinook winds? I liked the quote. There definitely is a relationship between sadness and happiness.
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Yes we get Chinooks – Love ’em! ❤
Diana xo
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I always used to say that if I didn’t have anything to worry about … then I’d worry about that. It is an illness. Now I strive to see the positives in life. There are many. As for the weather. Hey! I’ll gripe right along with you. Enjoy the ‘shorts weather’ while you can, Diana. 😆
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I will we had another warm day today and will have another tomorrow! I’m worried about our friends in NYC and Boston though – Holy Smokes!
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Not worth worrying Diana, specially over future things as we do not know if they come or not. So just enjoy the moment and make the most of it. Also expectations are not good, if you don’t have any you have more surprises in your life! More fun!
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Good points Ute! I do find that I have expectations though, not sure if I can outgrow that or even if I want to… will have to ponder that one! ❤
Diana xo
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Enjoy the time before the snowy blizzard winds comes through again. 🙂
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You bet I will Jean, hope you are as well! I bet you’re riding your bike, right? 😀
Diana xo
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Well, no. I still have to recover. Getting back on bike won’t be for another month or so.
For any friends who bike in the winter, see this Calgary winter cycling festival in Feb. this yr.: https://plus.google.com/photos/109570190880017161513/albums/5980749712282990993?banner=pwa&sort=4
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Right. Are you in pain Jean? Hope recovery is full and quick. ❤
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Sorry wrong link! Here is correct one:
http://cyclepalooza.ca/
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Prepare for the worst, hope for the best -and enjoy the moment
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A tall order Bill! How you doing anyway these days?
Diana xo
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Diana I am happy that I am not the only one who does this. Enjoy the weather no matter. Change will always come and we need to make the best of what may come……..having said that its not easy to do.
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No it’s not always easy Kath ❤
Diana xo
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Me too.
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Hugs to you Julie!
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Worry is such a crazy emotion to use energy on, but we all do it! I remember having a week in Canada in February, many many years ago and thinking I would never be able to leave the house ha. Warm thoughts to you from sunny Australia. It’s Australia Day today and we have a saying down here “No worries love” so I guess we should all remember that 🙂 Great post Diana.
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Happy Australia Day Karen! I love that expression “No worries love.” ❤
Diana xo
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I rarely worry about what might happen, can’t see the point in stressing over something that may not happen, and it is a lovely cool 21°c here today which is nice after the 40°c we had yesterday
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I’m glad you’re enjoying your weather too Jo-Anne! ❤
Diana xo
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I really try not to worry about what is coming up in my life. But, it isn’t easy. I am always telling my kids to take their minds off of those things and live today in the moment. 😊
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You’re a good mom Patty! ❤
Diana xo
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There is no better compliment I would rather have, Diana. Thank you.
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Worrying does take us out of the now that’s for sure. So glad I’m here with you in this present moment 😉
p.s. send some of that warm air down our way please!
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Val, I left the door to Canada open, you feeling the warmth yet? ❤
Diana xo
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I’m feeling it Diana!! Thank you 😉
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So glad you made it outside?
Was it as cold as you thought?
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It was warm Elizabeth – 16 degrees! ❤
Diana xo
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Great post! I’m so happy warm-hearted Diana is enjoying warm weather today.
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Thanks Ann, it was an amazing day! ❤
Diana xo
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I suspect that we are kind of hard-wired that way, and on top of that some people’s experience leads them to a pessemistic view of the world. That is why being in the present moment is a practice: something we do and something we have to keep practising to do. Thanks for your insights.
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Thanks for chiming in Chris, it’s something I’m continually working on as well. ❤
Diana xo
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Okay….seriously a wake up call. 90% of what we worry about never comes to pass? I am wasting way too much time. That truly just struck me……
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I know eh Colleen? It occurs to me as well… ❤
Diana xo
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The only thing to worry about is worrying… so wait for things to happen, you solve the problems so much easier then….
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One can’t possibly prepare for every potential outcome, can one bulldog?
You and Linda are certainly a good example of soldiering on in difficult situations while hoping for the best. You’ve been an inspiration to me. ❤
Diana xo
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Thank you
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Enjoy your here-and-now warm, Diana. ❤ Yes, I prepare myself for the worst that sometimes never comes, too. I think that's because sometimes the worst has come, and it's best to be prepared. So it's just human nature, my friend.
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Be Prepared was the motto I learned in the Brownies Mark and I still remember it to this day! Thanks for your brilliant observation, and you’re right; it is human nature. ❤
Diana xo
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