A to Zen of Life

I collect positive aphorisms, supportive phrases, motivational words and keep them on hand. Keeping consistent messaging in front of me helps me remember and apply it on a daily basis.

This wooden plaque hangs in my home office. The A to Zen of Life has a wonderful life quote for every letter of the alphabet. Each phrase is nothing I haven’t heard before. It is just full of reminders to keep going.

I found this in a little home goods shop while on a mini vacation with my husband. It’s green (my favorite!) and I knew it was perfect. I just found out I was pregnant, and this was going to hang in that baby’s room. I wanted each day to be full of reminders of love and support, encouragement to be a good person, and a little alphabet education to encourage reading. I envisioned this hanging in every iteration of that child’s room until they took it with them when they moved out.

Not long after bringing this tissue paper wrapped treasure home, I miscarried.

And forgot I even bought it.

A few years later, I found it among some items in the basement, still wrapped in that white tissue paper. As opened it up, I remembered why I bought it and was flooded with grief and reminders of our loss.

One thing we know is that grief and loss are things we never we get over. As we process and find support, the pain gets more manageable. Over time, I learned to carry all of it with me, not as a burden, but in a way that reminds me to celebrate the small things and know that life continues in different ways.

Soon after, I remembered why I really brought this thing home in the first place: to encourage, to support, to motivate, and to love. I hung it where I could see it every single day.

As I’m working on some life and career changes, each phrase is something I need to hear right now. Everything applies in a new way depending on the circumstances. It no longer hurts to know why I have this wooden plaque, I am simply grateful for the reminders to keep going.

A to Zen of Life

Avoid negative sources, people, places, and habits

Believe in yourself

Consider things from every angle

Don’t give up and don’t give in

Everything you’re looking for lies behind the mask you wear

Family and friends are hidden treasures, seek them and enjoy their riches

Give more than you planned to

Hang on to your dreams

If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door

Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it

Keep trying no mater how hard it seems

Love yourself

Make it happen

Never lie, steal, or cheat

Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values

Practice makes perfect

Quality, not quantity in anything you do

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer

Stop procrastinating

Take control of your own destiny

Understand yourself in order to better understand others

Visualize it

When you lose, don’t lose the lesson

Xcellence in all your efforts

You are unique, nothing can replace you

Zero in on your target and go for it

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