When life squeezes
Good morning. I’ve been thinking about what comes out of us when life gets hard. Not when everything is going well. Not when we’re rested and patient and feeling our best.
But when we’re tired. When plans fall apart. When someone says the wrong thing. When life squeezes us a little.
Those moments reveal what’s really going on beneath the surface.
And maybe that’s not something to feel guilty about. Maybe it’s simply information. A reminder that we need more rest. More grace. More laughter. More of whatever helps us become the person we want to be.
A story I came across recently answered better than anything I’ve ever read. Plus, today’s table has a patriotic game, a gift guide for the people in your life who are feeling squeezed right now, summer jokes, and 90 ways to refill your cup. All free.
So pull up a chair and let’s begin.
One word can change everything.
200+ readers have downloaded it this week. (The download is highlighted in yellow and has a blue button next to it)
TABLE WISDOM
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
― Viktor E. Frankl
Perfect for this week.
When laughter fades, and life gets heavy again, this is what I keep coming back to.
STORIES FROM THE TABLE
The Orange Squeeze: Get Honest & Correct
Once, while giving a talk, renowned author Wayne Dyer brought an orange onto the stage. He then asked a 12-year-old in the front row,
“If I were to squeeze this orange as hard as I could, what would come out?”
The boy looked at him like he was crazy and said, “Juice, of course.”
“Why? Why, when you squeeze an orange, does orange juice come out?”
“Well, it’s an orange, and that’s what’s inside.”
Dyer nodded, and then said
“Let’s assume that this orange is you. And someone squeezes you, puts pressure on you, or offends you.
It’s one of the great lessons of life. It doesn’t matter who does the squeezing–your mother, your brother, your children, your boss, the government.
If someone says something about you that you don’t like, what comes out of you is what’s inside. And what’s inside is up to you. It’s your choice.”
So, what’s coming out of you lately? Love?
If not, it’s a sign that something is off. It’s time to re-balance. It’s time for self-care. So that the next time you get squeezed, you can react the way you want to.
It’s an idea worth sitting with.
90 Engaging Hobbies for Women to Unplug, Enrich Life, and Find New Passions
🎨✨ One of the most powerful ways to refill your cup is to do something purely for yourself. 600+ readers have used this list this month to do exactly that. Pick one to try this week.
What’s better than sunshine?
Laughter that costs nothing and lasts all day. These summer jokes deliver exactly that →
CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK
Practice daily self-care.
AFFIRMATION OF THE WEEK
I choose what helps me feel my best.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
When life “squeezes” you, what do you wish came out more often (patience, gratitude, joy, kindness, courage, or something else)?
MORE FROM THE TABLE
WHEN YOU’RE READY Here are a few ways the table goes deeper:
1.Visit the free pantry — A game, a checklist, coupons, and more, all free and ready to grab. Access here → Password is HHI
2. Grab a 4th of July game from the shop — PDF games your family will actually play, delivered to your inbox in minutes. No setup, no screens, no ads. Hundreds of families play these every month. Shop the games →
3. Take better care of yourself – If today’s newsletter landed for you, this is the practical next step. Goal tracking. Wellness habits. Self-care practices. All in one planner.
The Deluxe Self-Care Workbook is $19 today, it’s going up to $27 next week. Karen says, “I am loving the self-care planner! It is so packed full of good resources/ideas! I am especially enjoying the self-care kit idea.” Here’s what’s inside →
SOMETHING TO CHEW ON
How tall was the tallest ice cream cone?
A. 4 feet
B. 9 feet
C. 10 feet
One of these answers seems impossible. And it’s the right one. Find out at the bottom.
TABLE TALK
Trivia answer: C: 10 ft 1.26 in. (See more where this came from)
What’s inside you is up to you. Today is a good day to choose.
Thank you for sitting with us. I hope you enjoyed today’s edition. If you have anything at all you’d like to share, ask, or say, just hit reply. I’d love to hear from you.
See you tomorrow at the table,
Jenn Kropf
Founder of Healthy Happy Impactful