{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.- Soule Mama

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.- Soule Mama

 

Advice

Perhaps I need to start receiving some of the advice that I've been giving as of late. I gave this to a friend who's going through a really hard time, and yet, I keep find myself reading it over and over again...

It was then I realized, maybe this isn't just for me, and someone else needs to hear it as well... and so, I'll share...

((HUGS)) Go outside. Feel the sun on your face. Take a deep breath. Life happens.
And when things happen that leave us feeling knocked down and dragged out, it's time to find moments that enable us to rejuvenate, if not in big ways, then small ones. And don't be afraid to feel it.
Let yourself feel the disappointment, anger, and frustration - cry, work through it and get it out -
don't hold it in.
And then let yourself feel, really deep-down feel, a hug, a breeze on a sunny day, the flowers blooming around you, the laughter of a child... because it's all there. It's all life. Feel the sorrow, let it go.
Feel the love. The love, it's always there. And helps to get us through the other stuff.
Thinking of you... wishing you moments of peace amidst the challenges.
"This too will pass."

Ten Good Things...

This idea came from SouleMama today.


And though I don't have pictures... I do have words... and a desire to do this with as crazy as my life has become these last few months.

That being written...  my ten good things at the moment are...
- grace - where and when I least expected it.
- a kiss from a 2.5 year old
- watching my eldest twirl in a sundress
- realizing that I'm not alone
- the embrace of my husband
- giggles - mine and theirs
- pink tutus
- snuggling with my eldest
- a good book
- clean sheets

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

- via Soulemama

Welcome 2011 - The Year of Connection

For 2011, I have chosen to focus on connection and connecting. 2010 left me feeling rather disconnected, especially from myself. So, this year, I want to reconnect with myself, deepen my connections with my husband and children, spend more time in nature, and reconnect with my spirituality.

Here's a breakdown of the micro-actions for each (Thank you to the book Stop Screaming at the Microwave: How to Connect Your Disconnected Life for the idea of micro-actions. :) )

1. Myself 
- Make a list of things that recharge me. Do 2 or more of these a day. (Journal, dance, move, sketch, paint, etc.)
- Get away on my own (sans kiddos and hubby) at least every other month for a few hours or more.
- Respect my body through awareness of what I eat, movement, sleep, and respecting what it needs by taking time to tune in with it before bed.
- Making it a point to really pause when feeling overwhelmed or rushed, to just breathe regardless of that "voice" that tells me I don't have the time too. (Wait... Think... Count...)
- Connection with my inner child through laughter, play, dance, exploring (planning a few adventures), reading more, sketching and painting.
-Create a list of challenges, and determine how and when to complete them, including a big one I've been pondering.

2 Family 
- Daily hugs and "I love yous" with each with a connection to the eyes and a pause to focus.

Hubby - Plan an overnight trip sans kiddos this year.
- Go on at least 3 dates this year - without the kiddos.
- Making a conscious effort to really connect with each other at least once a week.
- Do something special to celebrate our 10 year anniversary.

Kiddos - Plan special Mommy and kiddo dates.
- Get down to their level to listen, making eye contact.
- Create a new bedtime ritual.
- Choose to connect over "to do".

3 Nature- Reconnect with nature by aiming to spend 5 minutes a day (at least) outside or focused looking outside (window).
- When outside, taking time to engage my senses: breathe it in, really look at it, listen, feel it.
- Sketch and draw it.

4. Spirituality
- Remember my blessings, count them often, and bask in gratitude.
- Really listen and respect those "pings" and feel them out if I doubt them.
- Surrender my fears over, be open to receiving and new ideas.
- Let go of perfection, and focus on connection.


To Complete for the year :
- Clean up and declutter the basement.
- Find a good doctor and get a physical.
- Find new dentist.
- Plan something special for our 10 year.

Reflection on 2010

In 2010 I have realized a quite a bit:

- I have not been taking the best care of myself, and it's taken a toll. I am, however, very aware of this.
- I have not been eating the best. I am also aware of this.
- I have some seriously amazing people and friends in my life who've amazed me and supported me beyond expectations, hope, and dreams. There are some really great people in my life.
- I took a chance and found a new "home".
- I have been making the most of quite a few things in my life, and it's been great.
- Creating personal policies is a good thing.
- We took a chance, and had an amazing, simple, yet rich and thoroughly enjoyable month and holiday in December. It was perfect for us.
- I can never seem to get enough of PJ days. I love them.
- I gained a new, truer perspective in a few aspects in my life - and though some were painful, in the end, it's been a blessing. 
- I've become more aware of the blessings in my life. 
- Reading, journaling, painting and crafting bring me joy - and I would like to do more of these.
- I have been feeling disconnected from quite a few things. It's time to reconnect I think. 

2010 has brought sorrow, joys, delights, disappointments, and a bevy of emotions to go with the ride. I've almost felt as though it's been a year of stagnation in many ways. Leaves me feeling rather positive about 2011 at least. :) Which reminds me... will I create a focus for 2011? Or will I venture something a bit different. I need to ponder this for a bit.

For 2010, this is what I planned to focus on, and which, as you can see, I didn't really do such a great job of it:
1. Myself .I honor myself and recognize that I deserve time to regroup. I am taking time out for me so that I can be a better mom and wife. I can do this through massages, time with friends that really nurture my soul and help to relax me, getting out of the house, reflexology, and doing things I truly enjoy - even if it's going someplace where I can read or paint. <-Looking over the year, I realized that I did more of this than I thought, yet still realized that what I was doing, wasn't enough. I did do the massages and spent some amazing time with good friends. However, I have learned that I need to do things on a weekly basis.

I exercise on a regular basis, focusing mainly on strength training with a side of yoga, walking, dancing, pilates, and cardio. <-I slacked off on this big time, but picked it up again, then it slid, then picked it up again. I'm going into the New Year exercising though. :)

I am eating healthier by starting clean eating and trying new recipes and foods. <-A good plan, that went awry. Very, very awry.

I plan to get a physical and eye exam this year. <-Eye exam, yes. Physical, put it off and still haven't found a doctor I like.

2 Finances <-Room for improvement.
Buy only what we really need. If we don't need it, we won't get it. <-Um... well, in terms of big things we stuck to this... other things... we could've done better... Continue to save up. <- We've actually gone into savings a bit this year. Donate to Heifer.org.<-This is on hold for the moment.

3 SimplifyI'm taking it to the next level. <-I changed my mind.
- Stuff - Declutter and purge project throughout the entire house. Organize. Something comes in, something goes out. <-We started this wholeheartedly in January. And then it pittered off as things came up, life happened, and we decided to spend out time doing other things - like traveling and time with friends. We didn't get the Good Will pile out until summer, and within a week, there was another pile... this time with leftover flooring bits, and there are still boxes we need to go through, as it's not all Good Will stuff. But, maybe it should be.
- Time - New calendar with less space, thus less room to schedule things. Keep scheduling to a minimum. Respect boundaries and keep things uncomplicated. <-Oh! Oh! Score on this one for the most part! We really rocked it for the month of December. We did have quite a bit going on in the Autumn, but a good chunk was for Squeak's therapy.
- Homeschooling - Make time to breathe. Determine what is really important. <-This one still needs work. We still haven't found a good balance. We did stick to what we felt was most important though. At least... I think...
- Food - Clean eating. <-Well, we made some of the recipes...

4. Living consciously with awareness and joy.
I am slowing down and stopping to smell the flowers. I am present in the moment. I enjoy the moments and life. I am basking in laughter, gratitude and joy, and I am willing to encourage, inspire and share these with others.<-I have had moments of this through the year. It wasn't a constant though. And really, I'm okay with that, because I've made the most of those moments I've been aware of.

I continue:
-to respect my inner voice and listen to it.<-I have indeed gotten better with this...
- to hear and listen to what I need. <-and this...
- to bask in joy and gratitude. <-and this...
- to maintain a home environment of peace, love, nurturing and joy. <-this one could be better


To Complete:
- Get Information book updated and completely <-Didn't even start this.
- Huge decluttering/purge of the house <-Started it, and completely lost momentum when spring hit.
- Find a good doctor and get a physical <-That would be a no.
- Get eye exam and new glasses <-Score!