Yesees and Noees

Life Lessons From Shel Silverstein

from: Huffington Post

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The stress and strain of constantly being connected can sometimes take your life -- and your well-being -- off course. GPS For The Soul can help you find your way back to balance.

GPS Guides are our way of showing you what has relieved others' stress in the hopes that you will be able to identify solutions that work for you. We all have de-stressing "secret weapons" that we pull out in times of tension or anxiety, whether they be photos that relax us or make us smile, songs that bring us back to our heart, quotes or poems that create a feeling of harmony, or meditative exercises that help us find a sense of silence and calm. We encourage you to look at the GPS Guide below, visit our other GPS Guides here, and share with us your own personal tips for finding peace, balance and tranquility.

Poetry has a magical way of simplifying complicated and seemingly indescribable emotions into comprehensible beauty. While there is poetry appropriate for every age, the best lessons may come from the lines intended for children. With stanzas that make us laugh and reflect, Shel Silverstein wrote for kids -- and the kid inside all of us. Click through the slideshow below for words of comfort and inspiration that will remind you of the simplest life lessons.

• amazon.com

  "No teacher, preacher, parent, friend or wise man can decide what's right for you - just listen to the voice that speaks inside." -- "The Voice"

  "All the woulda-coulda-shouldas…layin’ in the sun, talkin’ ‘bout the things they woulda, coulda, shoulda done…but all those woulda-coulda-shouldas, all ran away and hid from one little did." -- "Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda"

• amazon.com

  "Draw a crazy picture, write a nutty poem, sing a mumble-gumble song, whistle through your comb. Do a loony-goony dance ‘cross the kitchen floor, put something silly in the world that ain’t been there before." -- "Put Something In"

  "How much good inside a day? Depends how good you live ’em." -- "How Many, How Much"

• amazon.com

  "The Yesees said yes to anything that anyone suggested. The Noees said no to everything unless it was proven and tested. So the Yesees all died of much too much and the Noees all died of fright. But somehow I think the Thinkforyourselfees all came out all right." -- "The Yesees and Noees"

• amazon.com

  "It's amazing the difference A bit of sky can make.” -- "Sky Seasoning"

  "Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be." -- "Listen to the Mustn'ts"

Janus January

Do you know what this coin is picture above?   Where have you seen it?  Or, maybe like me, it is a new image for you - I was only introduced to it a week ago.  It is called the Janus head.  
Janus is the Roman god of beginnings and transitions.  This why the first month of the year is January - in honour of Janus. As we think about January we consider transitions, beginnings and endings as well as a time people use to consider the past and the future.   The Janus head represents this as well - with it's two faces, he looks forward and backwards. He also conjures thoughts of gates, doors, passages, endings, timing and transitions. 

September often has the same feelings - a time of transition for many people.  We hosted another blog about transitions in the fall. 

Are you always looking in the past?   Are you worried about the future?

Coaching might help you pass through endings, create bridges and help you make sense of when to look each direction. 

Sometimes we are unsure which direction to face.  In September, we tend to meet families and potential gappers that are unclear as well.   Taking a gap year can help you find a direction by looking at the past and looking to the future.