FIND MORE IN LESS

Simplifying your life will bring balance, freedom, and joy. When we begin to live simply and experience these benefits, we begin to ask the next question, “Where else in my life can I remove distraction and simplify life to focus on the essentials?” Below are many important things to simplify in order to begin living a more balanced and joyful lifestyle:

1. Your Possessions

Too many material possessions complicate our lives to a greater degree than we ever give them credit. They drain our bank account, our energy, and our attention. They keep us from the ones we love and from living a life based on our values.

2. Your Time Commitments

Most of us have filled our days from beginning to end with time commitments: community events, religious endeavors, hobbies… the list goes on. When possible, release yourself from the time commitments that are not in line with your greatest values.

3. Your Goals

Reduce the number of goals you are striving for in your life to one or two. By reducing the number of goals that you are striving to accomplish, you will improve your focus and your success rate.

4. Your Negative Thoughts

Most negative emotions are completely useless. Resentment, bitterness, hate, and jealousy have never improved the quality of life for a single human being. Take responsibility for your mind. Forgive past hurts and replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

5. Your Debt

If debt is holding you captive, reduce it. Start today. Do what you’ve got to do to get out from under its weight. Find the help that you need, and learn how to get out of debt. Sacrifice luxury today to enjoy freedom tomorrow.

6. Your Screen Time

Focusing your attention on television, movies, and technology is an addiction which affects your life more than you think. Media rearranges your values. And it has a profound impact on your attitude and outlook. Unfortunately, when you live in that world on a consistent basis, you don’t even notice how it is impacting you. The only way to fully appreciate its influence in your life is to turn them off.

•Want to finish “The Look” of your landscaping?

•Want to protect yourself and your pet’s feet from burning cement?

PAW’S CORNER

DID I GET SCAMMED? A pet owner asks about ear infections

Q. My cat Chester seemed perfectly healthy, but when I brought him in for his annual checkup, the vet said that he has an ear infection. I didn’t notice any behavior or odd symptoms previously. I gave Chester the expensive eardrops he was prescribed, and he seems just fine. Is it likely the vet just made up the infection?

A: Cats are really good at hiding the symptoms of an illness. Regular checkups are helpful in catching hidden acute problems like ear infections. Now that Chester has been treated, keep an eye out for signs of the infection recurring. Look, listen and smell around his ears periodically. Hold Chester on your lap and shine a little flashlight into each ear. A healthy ear is pale pink, with little to no earwax visible and no debris. A strong odor, lots of earwax buildup, debris or discharge that looks like coffee grounds or yellow/black debris are danger signs of another infection.