All posts by Carolyn Barrett

Fresh Starts and New Beginnings

Most people think of January 1st as a day to start fresh. There are resolutions, words for the year, new plans for getting fit and healthy, etc.

But I find March a better month for all of that. Now I’m not saying I don’t think about those things with each new year. It’s just that there’s a certain increase in motivation that comes with March.

I’m an early riser. And I do mean early. 4:30am early. Recently, the birds have been singing not long after I rise. A sure sign of spring.

Energy is in the air. Spring flowers are emerging, showing us that life is still good.  The days are getting longer. No more of that winter dreariness and moody blues.

Now is a great time to think of change. You see, that was the word I chose for this year. CHANGE. Partly because change is happening to me, like it or not. My husband and I are becoming empty nesters. Retirement is on the horizon, something that was always far off and someone else’s life. Alas, I have entered the senior generation. (Disclaimer: I still feel young.)

But mostly because I want to change things up. The necklace above is one I’ve been wearing daily as a reminder that this is the year to embrace change.

In the coming weeks and months, there will also be some change going on here at lifeisnteasy. I hope you will join in with me to create change in your life too. More to come on that soon I promise.

Stay tuned….

In the meantime, feel free to share your own goals for this year, and how it’s going.  I’d love to hear from you!

~Carolyn

 

My Christmas Prayer

Good morning, friends, and Merry Christmas! I woke up with these thoughts on my heart today and decided to write them down as a prayer.

Working in healthcare has been difficult. This whole year has been difficult for me. As we enter another phase of the pandemic, the future that once seemed clear has fogged over. Since circumstances aren’t likely to get better anytime soon, the only thing I can change is my mindset, and to remind myself I am not the one in control. It’s up to me to behave sensibly and with kindness. The rest is up to God.

Anyway, here is my prayer for today.

 My Christmas Prayer

Lord, forgive me for yet again losing focus of what Christmas is all about.
Thank you for coming to us as a baby, even being so humble as to be born in a stable.
Forgive me for caring too much about things that don’t last and fretting over giving the perfect gift.
Thank you for being the most perfect gift we could have ever received.
Forgive me where I’ve failed and help me to be a better reflection of you.
Thank you for being the true light of the world, worthy for the star of Bethlehem to shine upon.
Forgive me for being so fearful of death and allowing that fear to steal the joy of the life I have now.
Thank you for dying for me, for the suffering and agony, for being human so that you understand my fears.
Forgive me for not looking forward with more anticipation to the next life with you and clinging so tightly to that which I know.
Thank you for the promise of preparing a place for me, one far better than anything I have seen or heard.
Help me Lord, for I desperately need you, this Christmas day and always. I lift up my heart and soul to you.
Amen

Make it a wonderful day of worship and celebration!

Love,
Carolyn

Romans 6:23 (NKJV)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV)
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

1 Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV)
But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Matthew 6:27 (NIV)
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Matthew 6:34 (NKJV)
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Psalm 143:8 (NKJV)
Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For in You do I trust;
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For I lift up my soul to You.

Are You Afraid Of Dying?

Do you fear death?  Do you experience anxiety over what may happen to you in your final days? If so, you are not alone.

I encounter many patients on my job who are afraid to die. I feel badly for them. Many  are facing long term illnesses, where they’ve been fighting to get better for quite some time. Others have been hit suddenly with news that they are terminal, without even a clue until they were in the end stages of the disease. Sometimes they only have a very short time left.

Many are in shock, and state they’ve never been in a hospital in their entire life and just can’t understand what happened. Continue reading Are You Afraid Of Dying?

Blue Monday-7 Thoughts On Creating A Happier Year

Did you know today is the day referred to as “Blue Monday” for 2021? It typically falls on the third Monday in January of each year. It’s considered to be the most depressing day of the year, due to a combination of factors: shorter days, less sunlight, time since Christmas, debt accrued, and failed New Year’s resolutions.

With the pandemic keeping us home more, this certainly is a more difficult start to the year than most years. Continue reading Blue Monday-7 Thoughts On Creating A Happier Year