Lovely. The only change I would make is to work like you've found your passion. To me, money doesn't matter if you love what you do.

Nice Cammie and definitely agree with the passion idea!

The last reminder sounds allot like a song from my instrument therapy. It is the reminder I sing when I am trying too hard and turning myself into a control freak in the process. Here is Don William's version. Warning: Don Williams is as country as it gets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta2BVIL0c6c

does yelling at my kids for not cleaning up the room (and noticing in time to get them to do it ) count as mindfulness?
sorry but whenever I think in that mode, my g-d I get such an earful at school (not really just the kids but the teachers too) so I get sarcastic sometimes.

and it is hard to shut the in touch with myself mode on and off but I must try yet again

In my own mindfulness, yelling at anybody is a sign that I am slipping. Double for sarcasm. Beating myself up for slipping does not help me. I simply keep in mind that I am stressed out so that I can factor it in and maybe even spend 10 minutes meditating instead of yelling unproductively at the most irritating target. I NEVER turn off my "in touch with myself mode." The goal is to be self-aware at all times. No exceptions. Sometimes I make it. I always keep trying.

My thing is when I am mindful..my mother will ask "are you off your medication". My family feels like I can't have any opinions, feelings or emotions and if I do it is a psychosis. I am sick of it, plus my mother is a real life theif that pretends to be a christian. I am sick of the anixiety when I am with her in a store or around other people, because she comes up with these elaborate lies and expect me to back her up. Or try this one...I used to get in fights all the time and she used to say I was deviate, ignorant and an embarrassment but she got disrespected by a family member and took me over her house to kick in the door and kick some ass. I fee like the movie with Jet Li "Unleashed". I am gonna snap if I don't leave the situation. Sorry for venting!

Hi Rashika. I was venting too.
Sorry your mom is dragging you down into the mud with you.

Arfie, yelling is slipping. Can't stand it but I did it today. Don't have any more lithium (orotate version) and I can't seem to get anyone at the school I work at to get that my class has some order. Announcements were late today, then a new child came and the secretary was taking her sweet time to introduce her, then the classroom teacher interrupted because I put a child out of the class and she did not wait for the note so she found her teacher to come talk to me. I can't really say I am being mindful or successful at the moment but I am trying.

I really am trying to meditate but can't seem to.

Today is better than two weeks ago, I tried meditating last night after taking liquid vitamins for a couple days.

I need to meditate again. Thanks for the inspiration, Arfie.
I really needed it.