"Happiness is a state of mind. It's just according to the way you look at things." Walt Disney
When Things Don’t Go As Planned
I had a doozy of a morning this week. It was not Monday, but it felt like it!
Today my car was in the shop, my husband left for work, and Matthew wasn’t home with his car because of spring break. This left the minivan.
Our minivan is 18 years old this year – she’s an old lady. And frankly looks it, but she has served us well. But like many older things, she has her issues.
I’m sure you know where this is going.
It’s Not About the Peeps: Thoughts from a Recovering Overachiever
Recently I gave myself permission to give up on something that was not giving me joy. In fact, it was causing the exact opposite…the dreaded unnecessary stress.
This decision was inordinately difficult for me and I went back and forth for days.
I felt guilty for wanting to quit something I had committed to.
I felt weak for giving up something that I’ve been doing for years.
Carpal Tunnel Surgery: A lot of pain, A Little Anxiety and Not Enough Chick-Fil-A
I had carpal tunnel release surgery last week and no one was more excited than me to get it done and over with. No one except my husband who has been hearing me complain incessantly for the past year that my fingers are numb, and the circulation is cut off in my hands. This happened a lot when I was pregnant. As if I needed to be swollen anywhere else in my body and then my hands started...Thanks, baby Will!
My family has officially joined the Pickleball craze
It’s official - my family has joined the pickleball craze.
Lessons from the Great Purge
Like many people do this time of year, I did my change-of-season closet switch over where I put my tank tops and summer dresses away to make room for my sweaters and warmer stuff. I also did one of my favorite activities: The Great Purge.. Who knew a woman’s closet could stir up so many big emotions? Isn’t it all just…stuff?
Adventure race anyone? Why endurance racing calls to me
On my 50th birthday I chose to compete in a 10-hour adventure race with my husband and 16 yo son.
I can’t tell you how many people looked at me funny when I told them this was my choice for how to spend my day, but those who really know me understood. There is something about pushing myself physically and mentally that makes me feel alive.
Aging gracefully: Is that really a thing?
It’s important to grow older gracefully right? Whoever said that certainly was ignoring our society’s obsession with looking young and being youthful. I’ve been thinking about this a lot as I approach a milestone birthday – the big 5-0.
My Lifelong Obsession with Size and Shape and How I am Slowly Achieving Peace
Pants. Just the word makes me cringe. I’ve spent the past 25 years stressing about my body; the size, the shape, the weight, the height, etc. That’s 9,125 days worrying and stressing about the same exact thing
“If It’s Not a Hell Yes, It’s a No!”
One of my favorite and most inspirational Peloton instructors is Robin Arzon. She’s not only a top notch instructor (with amazing funky personal style) but she is also a VP of the company, a new mom and a totally motivational, positive human being. She left a career in law to do something she was far more passionate about and she has established herself as a fitness celebrity. I was recently listening to a podcast where she was being interviewed about life as a new mom and she said something that really resonated with my soul and I thought I would explore it with you all.
National Park Travel log 1 - Montana
Did you know that to-date there are 423 National Parks, National Historic Sites, National Battlefields, Seashores, and National Monuments in the United States?
Years ago, I made it a life goal to visit all of the national parks. You can see from this list that that is a lofty goal. I also needed to define what I considered a national park-not always easy. .
Perhaps you can use my tips to plan your own trip or just enjoy the stories I have to tell.
The Joy of a Time Out
I took an impromptu staycation last week and it just may have saved my mental health.
Juggling stress: Trying to keep all the balls in the air is hard!
What happens when you have too many balls in the air? I’ll tell you, you start to struggle to keep them up and maybe some even fall to the ground. That’s where I am right now.
I know we’ve all been there.
We’ve all taken on varying or new responsibilities and had them all come to fruition at the same time. It can be overwhelming. It makes it easy to forget things or make mistakes. It can be frustrating and even a little embarrassing. Plus, I hate feeling disorganized or forgetful.
I’d rather be camping
I just spent the weekend in a small one room cabin in the woods with my husband and two sons and loved every minute of it, even when it wasn’t perfect.
I know camping isn’t for everyone. I have plenty of friends who think we are crazy for wanting to sleep in the woods in a tent. They would rather be in a hotel and I get that. But we love being IN nature and camping is the best way to do that by far.
Stress: How Can I Manage Life When It Feels So Unmanageable Some Days?
For those of you keeping tally, you probably noticed that Amy has written the last two blogs in my absence. I wish I had some great excuse like I was backpacking in Europe with no Wifi , but I don't. The reality is that settling into my working-mom routine is harder than I thought and writing our blog, something I typically enjoy, felt like a chore.. I did a lot of thinking over the past few days off work and over this weekend and I've realized that stress is inevitable, especially as a working mom, but there are things I can do for myself to manage my brain and my life better
“I’m good enough, I’m Smart Enough and Doggone it, People Like Me.”
Negative self-talk floats around my head more than I like to admit and I consider myself a pretty positive person. But it’s still there. Often.
I have heard so much from other women about the thoughts they fight on a daily basis, it’s heartbreaking. We need to learn to be kind to ourselves during our journey.
Buy Nothing: More than just Free Stuff
Spring cleaning? Before you load up the car and make a trip to Goodwill, I suggest you consider joining your local Buy Nothing Project as a way to purge unwanted items and get to know your neighbors.
Oh, gym how I missed thee
Oh, gym how I missed thee. Let me count the ways…
All kidding aside, I really did miss the gym during covid. For me the gym was always more than just a place to workout it was part of my social scene. I met people there for classes, talked to friends in the hallway or just waved and smiled at acquaintances. I’ve met some of my dearest friends there. I use the local community center for my gym and found that It truly was part of my community and when it was missing I felt the loss.
Breaking up from a job is hard to do…
I did something huge this week. I left a job that I have been with for over 20 years. This was not at all an easy decision, and it took me months to even get to the point I would say I was looking. Then more time to take the next step and send out the first resume.
In many ways leaving a job you once loved but don’t anymore is like a breakup. It is human nature to hold on to things for longer than we should because change is SO hard and we get so comfortable with routine.
How full is YOUR bucket?
This really makes a difference in your happiness level! If you are unfamiliar with the concept check out the book “How full is your bucket?” by Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton (it even comes in a kid’s version). We both read this book and greatly agreed with the general concept that each of us has a bucket that is constantly being filled or emptied, depending on our interactions with others. When our bucket is full we feel great, but when it is empty, we feel awful (p 15). How do we keep it full? Spend some time thinking about the things that make you happiest and check back here for tips!
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Remember that being grateful actually makes your brain happy!
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Ralph Waldo Emerson