Get Over It – Get a Pedicure

Yesterday I was worried. Today I got over it and had a pedicure instead. Some might call it denial and judge me superficial and trying to avoid confronting my pain. I call it being in the moment and enjoying life every single day as long as I can.

We all go through rough phases in our lives that seem particularly hard and unfair. As the saying goes, “When it rains it pours”. Suddenly our lives fall apart. Beloved friends or family members die.  We have financial worries and problems at work. Even simple daily routines go wrong. You accidentally break your favorite piece of china. Your beautiful earrings from Italy are lost, and let’s not forget that cute pair of jeans which shrunk in the dryer. (You will never be able to wear them unless you starve yourself to a size two.) The whole world is against you – at least this is what it feels like.

Now what? You will mourn the losses and suffer from pain and you cannot let go of it. You question your fate, and you complain about constant bad luck. Everything and everyone is against you. Life is unfair. People are unfair. You feel like the victim. You are now trapped, running around in circles, and it seems like there is no way out of the misery.

This is the time when you must decide to let go and maybe have a pedicure. Seriously! When the world is falling apart around you, it is time to take good care of yourself and live your life moment by moment. All the suffering has its roots either in the past or in the future, while the present moment is what is real. You cannot rewrite history and you cannot determine everything that will happen in the future. Who knows what the future will bring or if there is a future at all? NOW is what is real and what you can enjoy.

Being in the NOW means enjoying what you have and breathing every single breath as if it is your last. Suffering pain is certainly part of the present, but don’t let it turn you into a lifelong victim or patient. Acknowledge everything that life is challenging you with, but don’t accept defeat. It is like the sunshine that comes and goes. “Enjoy the brightness and warmth when it is there, and enjoy the darkness when it is gone again. A life full of sunshine would not let you appreciate its magic.”  It is the darkness that makes us appreciate the sun – the anticipation of recurring warmth and brightness and the protection of the darkness that can give you peace and recovery. Only when you can find joy in both the light and darkness, are you living a happy life. If you can only enjoy the sun, you will be worried and scared when the light is gone again.

If you want to live a life full of pain and suffering, hold on tight to what you have and try to fight it, but you will eventually lose the battle and your quality of life. If you accept what is and enjoy the beauty and richness of now, you will still experience pain and suffering, but you will be strong enough to see the sun rising again. Happiness will always be right around the corner.

I wish you all the strength you need to live a happy life. You deserve it.

Be a woman and act like one.

I would love it if you would share your story of success with this blog community.

What is your experience with moments of pain or sadness and how did you get over it?

About Hertha Wolff-Arend

I am a business coach and writer located in Paso Robles, California. I am the author of the book Be a woman and act like one. Succeeding in business and life’’ and I write a blog for women with the same title. I give motivational speeches and offer leadership and personality trainings to women. I also work with business owners and managers to support them in their leadership skills and personal development. As a strategic consultant, I also help companies with their communication and marketing strategy. Born and raised in Germany, I spent most of my adult life in Europe. I have a German university degree in languages and economics and I worked for many years in the advertising industry as one of the few female managing directors in Germany for major international advertising agencies such as Young&Rubicam, TBWA and Bates. My client list consisted of mainly blue chip clients, where I was responsible for their communications strategies and the development and execution of the advertising concepts. Just to name a few clients: Lufthansa, Danone, Kraft Foods, Bosch, Singapore Airlines, Ericsson, Campbells etc. In 2004 I relocated with my husband and son to California. I graduated from New Venture West in San Francisco as a Certified Integral Coach and started my own coaching practice in 2007. I am fluent in German and English and have conversational skills in Spanish. Aside from my dedication to work and family, I am a passionate dressage rider. I am devoted to supporting women in business, with a focus on women in the lower and middle management who are aiming at a career in the higher ranks or who want to develop their own business.
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6 Responses to Get Over It – Get a Pedicure

  1. Daisy Platz says:

    Dear Hertha,
    Thank you for taking the time to inspire us all! Your words are just what I needed today. It’s amazing how all of the little things can add up to make us feel like we are not happy. I agree with you that putting the past out of our minds and trying not to anticipate the future (that which does not exist) relieves all grief and anxiety. I love being in the moment and hope all of your readers feel that same peace, even if it is only once in a while.
    Best Wishes Always,
    Daisy

  2. herthawolffarend says:

    Thanks Daisy for sharing your thoughts. I know it is not easy to let go of the past and the future, but every time we try means more time in the now. It sounds like you read ‘The power of one’ by Eckhart Tolle, which is a wonderful book and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in this topic. Take care, Hertha

  3. Monica says:

    Hertha at its best, if there was something better than best it would be that. So very true, what you wrote, it should be our everdays mantra.

  4. Hertha says:

    Thanks, Monica. We have to remind ourselves every single day that it is our choice to be happy or miserable. Life has its challenges but constantly being worried makes it worse. Living in the now is what makes us all so much happier.

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