Back-to-School brings “all the things!”

From new shoes to new backpacks and new teachers to new friends.

From new schedules to new routines and new classrooms to new teachers.

And, as much as this “newness” can bring about all kinds of emotions for our kids, it can do the same for us, too, as their Mom!

I had no clue about Wabi-sabi until I googled “imperfect nature” in a quest to illustrate to my daughter that things can be beautiful even if they aren’t perfect. In my searching, I discovered Wabi-sabi, a Japanese worldview based on the concept that emphasizes finding beauty in imperfection.

Picture this. My daughter and I were sitting at the table and I had given her a matching letters activity. Her job was to find the matching letter, I would put down some glue, and she would stick on the matching letter. Several times after sticking the matching letter on the page, she started crying and exclaiming, “No, it’s not perfect, I want it to be perfect”.

You aren’t crazy! Many of us are feeling a little crazy right now. Listen as a great friend and counselor explains why you might be feeling “off” emotionally and physically! Is it triggering past loss? betrayal? grief? trauma?

“ Almost all trauma occurs under a certain set of circumstances. Victims are unable to escape. The circumstances or perpetrator invoke(s) fear in the victim. There is a power struggle that the victim loses – against another person, system, or nature. At some level, a betrayal occurs (I’ll have to explain that one in another blog!).

So often, we live lives of numbing.

It’s no wonder moms are typically left speechless when asked “What do you dream about doing with your days?”.

I recently sat (kid free) with my dear girl friend and the topic of the future landed in our laps. She and I are both at a point in life where our full time job includes raising littles. I wasn’t going to let this opportunity pass us by. I simply asked her, “What do you dream about doing? What feels life giving to you?”.

She paused.

A long pause.

“I don’t know, I can’t remember the last time I thought about it,” she said.

How many times has your little one asked you to slow down?

My poor kids. I am a power walker. It’s just how I grocery shop and walk to the car. I forgot when they were small that their little legs couldn’t keep up. Bless their little hearts. How they endured me, I’ll never know.

I sure wish I would have listened.

Grief.

Grief is an enemy and a friend. That is why when you have experienced extreme grief you feel connected to others who have as well. You feel part of the same “club”.

This “grief club” knows that grief is like a torturous villain that surprises you with his presence. When you least expect it fills your heart with so much pain you feel like you could die.

This “grief club” knows that grief is like riding a roller coaster in the dark. You don’t know when you’re going to go up and then plummet down without warning.

How are you doing?

We are so united as a human race right now! I can safely say every single person has just had their life altered in some way!

How are you doing?

No, how are you REALLY doing?

Are you so busy taking care of so many people that you have forgotten to take care of the basics? We all need to take care of ourselves if we are to get through this time of intense trial healthy and with our relationships in tact.

I’m feeling the need to check in with you!! How are you doing!?!? Are you checking in with yourself each day?!? I”m concerned for you all!!

We are a few days into a semi-quarantined state. COVID19 has landed on our globe. Kids are going to doing virtual school and will be home full time. We aren’t going out.

We aren’t going to sports.

I have to do my own grocery shopping and not order them to be delivered. (torture, am I right?!?)

I can’t hire a babysitter.

This is just like the difficult and sometimes miserable old days when I was a stay at home mom.

Yep, I said it.

Let go of control and do what you need to recharge!

Don’t think for one second that I am not pinching myself in gratitude that this is where I live. I have chosen to live in Florida because I learned as a very young adult that I had to be in the sunshine in order for me to thrive. I went back to college in Cleveland Ohio and really struggled in the winter when I didn’t see the sun. I knew at age 20 that I had to design a life that I loved and moved to Florida. I promised myself that I would always appreciate the palm trees and the sunshine. 

With Valentine’s Day (love in the air!!) and winter and fighting cold and flu season February brings “All the Feels”! Here is our list of monthly “must haves”. Put oils in your diffuser, focus on positivity, enjoy time with your kids and stay well!! Happy Love Month!

Back-to-School brings “all the things!”

From new shoes to new backpacks and new teachers to new friends.

From new schedules to new routines and new classrooms to new teachers.

And, as much as this “newness” can bring about all kinds of emotions for our kids, it can do the same for us, too, as their Mom!

Stuck in your life?   There’s no movement, there’s no momentum. And I’ve been feeling it.

I want to go through what I’ve been feeling and how I pull myself out of it.

First, this will have to be consistent behavior that’s chosen, so that it can become habit.  When it becomes a consistent behavior of choosing to have the right mindset about being stuck, then it automatically becomes habit.

This post is for you!

Yes, YOU!

Believe it or not, you can have financial freedom.

Why do we think that financial health just means we need to make more money?

Maybe you have chosen a career that does not typically pay well. Maybe you didn’t grow up in a household that taught financial freedom is possible. Did you grow up with financial stress as a constant topic of discussion? Have you lived paycheck to paycheck your whole life? Does financial strain feel like the norm and the stress feel comfortable? Do you think people who have financial health are either lucky or selfish somehow?

No matter what you think you are searching for, you will find it.

We, as humans, are complex creatures, yet, so simple. We think about complex things, yet we don’t look at the whole picture.

We dream AND we limit ourselves at the same time.

It is all possible … and probable.

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” - Theodore Roosevelt

Others are saying it.

Others are doing it.

But, they aren’t part of your tribe.

They aren’t serving your people.

Only YOU can do that!

Why did you start your business? I’m guessing that there was a little voice inside that said, “This is it. This is what you’ve been waiting for.” It resounded deep in your heart. It measured up. It aligned fully to your heart of service, your belief in what makes life make sense. You knew you wanted to share or serve or teach because you had to do this work. You could never stop because every other thing would feel empty in comparison. You would do it even if you didn’t get paid! You love it deep in your bones.

The holidays provide a great excuse to get together with friends and family!

Many times, our get togethers are themed around food and drink. What we are really craving is relationship and feeling good, though! Let’s use the holiday season to move the needle towards wellness.