Put a Smile on YOUR Face

What can fill your cup right now? What can you do to put a smile on your face?

What can you think about? Watch? Remember? Plan? Eat? Listen to?

Who can you call? Visit?

Where is your happy place? If you can’t visit physically, go on Google, find it on maps, and choose street view. And visit virtually.

Go on YouTube, search for, and watch your favorite movie scene. Listen to your favorite song.

Make/buy your favorite sandwich. Have a fun smoothie. Have a cup of…

Meditate for 17 seconds… Listen to water sounds or birds chirping… (you can find both on YouTube if not right outside).

At work? Sneak to the bathroom and play your favorite game on your phone for 5 minutes. (I used to do this at a soul-sucking job. FYI turn the volume off. 🤣)

Set a timer. Take a nap. 😴 If you get caught, say, “Amen.” 😂 Then continue with your day. 🤣

We have to find small ways to bring more joy into our days.

I’m about to make myself a cup of matcha and enjoy half a sleeve of mini donuts I grabbed at the gas station yesterday WHILE I watch TWO of my favorite scenes from The Wiz. 🥰

What about you? How will you bring more joy into YOUR day?

Blessings!

Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist

BTW The goal is to feel good. So any questions above that send you pondering down a meh or painful path, SKIP. Remember the goal. Feel good. Skip over what feels bad. 😘

Be YOU to You

Super short episode….

Some of us do so much for others. We remember their favorite foods, favorite colors, favorite characters. We go out of our way to get the gifts we know they’ll love, or to remember to pack the medicine they’ll need.

Meme: Image closeup of someone offering a gift tied with red and white checked ribbon. Text states: “Some of us do so much for others. We go out of our way to put smiles on their faces. But how often do we put the same effort into delighting ourselves?” —Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist Share & Let's Live! podcast logo watermark in bottom right corner mdillondesigns.com/blog
Tap the play button to listen to today’s podcast. Tap & hold first if necessary, then tap play.
FYI I cuss so wait ’til the kids and elders aren’t around. Press play to listen to today’s podcast. Blessings!

But how often do we put that same level of care into how we treat ourselves? How often do we drive to the other side of town to get that special meal or dessert that we love? How often do we spend our last dime to put a smile on our own face?

If you do this already, good for you. There are some of us, however, who are so used to gaining our sense of self, our worth, our value, and even our joy from what we do for others. And we need to start to give that same level of care, effort, and attention to ourselves.

Check out today’s podcast, “Be YOU to You.”

Blessings!

Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist

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A Lady in the Streets

Meme: Image: Close up of a woman in dark lingerie wearing sensual handcuffs Reddish hue to the image as if standing in a room with a red light. Text states: “Let’s talk about the shift from women are here for men’s pleasure to women are free to cultivate and experience pleasure without shame.” —Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist mdillondesigngs.com/blog Share & Let's Live! podcast logo watermark in bottom right corner
Tap the play button to listen to today’s podcast. Tap & hold first if necessary, then tap play.
FYI I cuss so wait ’til the kids and elders aren’t around. Press play to listen to today’s podcast. Blessings!

I said it all on today’s podcast so I’m gonna let it speak for itself. Listen above.

Blessings!

Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist

Write Out of Your Head

So you may know this if you’ve listened to my podcast/read about it in my blog…

I occasionally use poetry to help me get out of my head. I have a tendency toward worrying that I am actively working around as often as possible. Today, I chose to use a journaling style that works for me. It’s similar in structure to haiku, as it is a 3 line “poem” using only 5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second, and 5 again in the last line.

I’m no pro on haiku. I just found it fascinating when I learned about it in high school, and over the years (well, I guess decades 😩) I’ve used it as a way to help me get ideas out of my head concisely. Using this style to journal helps me get to the point and figure out what’s going on when I feel off.

So today, I was motivated one minute, and sitting at my computer feel down the next. So I chose to employ this tool and here’s what happened.

Oh, quick backstory. I had a craving for fancy waffles like they make at the brunch spots. And I wanted to have chili for lunch…

Why do I feel off?
Am I thinking it won’t work?
Don’t know where lid is

I could look around
I’m not sure which pot to use
Just go with crock pot

Where are mixer things?
I have enough heavy cream?
What if all’s ruined?

Gonna take too long
Might not have enough for this
It’s a bad idea

One. It brought me bliss.
So it IS the RIGHT idea.
And we’re doing it.

No one dies, Karen. 
It’s just waffles and chili
Live a little. BREATHE.

Okay, so that’s where I landed. I use this style often as a journal exercise because I get in my head A LOT. Between ADHD, being introverted, and overthinking sooo much, I find myself feeling off or uncomfortable a little too often. I now do this to help me transition through those moments quicker and get clear on what’s going on and what I need to do next.

Sidebar: I guess technically “idea” is 3 syllables, but not the way I pronounce it. Those last two kinda run together. AND sorry if your name is Karen. Just needed a two syllable name. “Darlin'” works well, too (now that I think about it). Just wanted to post the authentic piece. See. I told you I overthink. Why was this disclaimer necessary? 😂

Hope this helps you!

Blessings!

Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist