Life got a little turned upside down last week. I ended up with a doozy of a cold and slept a lot of the week. It was a good reminder in letting go and just taking care of myself. Thankfully it was not Covid and passed relatively quickly. 

I'm so grateful for all the people who were understanding about having to be rescheduled. I'm grateful for all my husband's help. I'm grateful for the thousand ways he stepped up so I could rest. I'm grateful to still get to cook a little for my family while I was home. I'm grateful to finish a book and a puzzle on the last day as my energy began to return. I'm grateful for the return of my energy and my ability to breathe! I'm grateful to have gotten a lot of good sleep. I'm grateful to be finding times in my schedule to fit in everyone whose appointment was canceled. I'm grateful to move into this week with a renewed zest for life. And I'm grateful for one beautiful sunny day to enjoy today before it turns back to Winter.

What are you grateful for this week? How are you feeling? When was the last time you did a physical and mental check-in with yourself?

May today be a day of renewed gratitude and fresh outlooks. Have a beautiful day!

I talk a lot about balance and being balanced. Lately that has not been the case and I've been feeling more resonance toward a different word, planted or even rooted. 

The act of balancing is continuous work. If one thing lands out of place the whole balance can be shifted and topple. Which is exactly how it felt like things were going last week. The balance was off and when I tried to compensate, it ended up feeling like I was toppling a different way. 

We did some yard work this weekend. Our yard has been mostly taken over by honeysuckle. We cleared a couple sections and my husband planted a few little trees in one of the areas. 

Besides it looking nice, it really felt good to get out and work in the dirt. As I worked to uproot the large weeds a new resonance started forming. Honeysuckle is neat in that it's roots are connected to many plants. It is very strong and stable. While this is not great for the plans we have for our yard, it gave me a good metaphor for what I was looking for in my life. It wasn't balance so much as to be planted with roots deep and connected. 

This is exactly what I found this weekend. I drew on my "root system", my family and friends. I focused on being grounded. I looked at the nurturing we were giving to our new baby trees and I gave myself nurturing too. I am growing my roots deeper and wider to regain that stable foundation that has seemed rocked lately. I have planted myself.

I'm grateful for a new visual. I'm grateful to have some baby trees to show me the way. I'm grateful to feel more steady again. I'm grateful for all the wonderful friends and family that I get to see each week. I'm grateful for last minute zoom calls to have a quick chat. I'm grateful for the wonderful wisdom shared from all around. I'm grateful to start at the ground and work my way up.

What words are resonating with you right now? Perhaps these words have been ones you have used for a while or maybe there are new words calling to you. What shifts are you feeling? What helps you get back to balance or a sense of being planted securely?

May we take time to get our hands in the dirt. May we reconnect with nature. May we listen to the words that are resonating and let it guide us. Have a beautiful day!

I spent a good portion of my younger years searching for my voice. I mostly have a pretty good grasp on it these days. Kids have a good way of helping teach, both in projection and in voicing boundaries. 

Lately though, as I find myself rambling away with friends, I feel a longing to just listen. It took so long to get my voice going that now it feels like a runaway cart sometimes. I miss all that I learned and heard by just being quiet. 

In everything there is a balance to seek. This is mine for now. The pendulum has swung a little too far and I focus on bringing in back. 

It is interesting the thoughts and fears that come up as I lean toward this shift. It shows things I thought I had healed, still wounded on one level or another. It shows the challenge in this age of either overly engaging or completely checking out via media. 

But I feel the stillness calling me. I feel the quiet opening its arms to welcome me. And I notice the reactions of others as I do this. They have their own internal story, as I do, that gives them a context whether true or not. 

I'm grateful for the void of voices. I'm grateful to witness the pull and push of these two options. I'm grateful to have the different perspectives even as I move toward shifting to a place of better balance. I'm grateful to know my silence will be filled with beautiful sounds of the heart. I'm grateful to listen. I'm grateful for this practice that pairs so well with witnessing my breath. 

One of my favorite quotes is "Talk low, talk slow, and don't talk too much." Time to ease back in to that resonance. 

When do you find yourself talking more? When do you speak little? How do you find your balance in expressing yourself.

May we speak knowing we are heard and may we listen to gift others this same respect. Have a beautiful day!

The theme in our house seems to be "Poop" today. From the dog pooping on the floor because she doesn't want to get wet in the rain and my little one having a blow out to the opposite end of the spectrum where we are celebrating a poop after a week long boycott from my oldest; there is just no getting away from the topic here.

I remember before I had kids this was a topic I would not have dreamed about writing about. It was definitely not on my list of gratitude moments. Pooping was pooping, it was necessary but not worth mentioning. 

Fast forward to motherhood. My oldest frequently needs a cheerleader and encouragement in this area. My husband and I have songs we've "remastered" to be about poop. We do poop dances and poop exercises to get things moving. We have poop jokes and yes, even a poop game. We even have a doll that poops playdoh. 

While I do not enjoy cleaning up all the poop that gets on my floor (by the dog) or on clothes (by my kids) it is still somehow better than being built up inside. In that way poop is like a physical representation of our emotions. It may be a little messy letting it out, but it sure beats keeping it in. 

I'm grateful my daughters both pooped today. I'm grateful to be a cheerleader as best I know how for my kids. I'm grateful to push myself out of my comfort zone and befriend the process so I can help my girls see how normal and vital pooping really is. I'm grateful the rain is supposed to pass in a day or two so my dog can go back to pooping outside. I'm grateful to tone down my annoyance and give her some grace in her old age. I'm grateful my little one seems to have no trouble pooping. I'm grateful for poop. I'm grateful to let mine go. I'm grateful to see the message of emotions come through too and know that element is for me. I'm grateful to be vigilant of my emotions as I continue to move toward better self care.

When was the last time you pooped? When was the last time you spoke openly about poop? Are you done hearing and talking about poop yet?

May today remind us how amazing our bodies are and may we support our body in being its healthiest. Have a beautiful day!

There is something so nice about a nice hot shower after a chilly morning at swim lessons. My youngest is in a Mommy Tot swim class and brrrr! Luckily for my older daughter, the kid lessons pool is heated. 

It wasn't just the warmth of the water cascading over me; it felt like a mid-day meditation. I kept the lights off and just enjoyed the motions that are normally taken for granted in the morning rush. It was definitely the reset I needed. 

I'm so grateful to give myself these quiet few minutes. I'm grateful the kids were exhausted from swim lessons and resting in their rooms. I'm grateful to leave the lights off and move slow. I'm grateful to have that moment of peace before the phone was ringing and life's pace sped back up. I'm grateful to have warm water in our home and a private shower. I'm grateful for how it renews me.

What renews you? What are some ways you can have a mid-day reset?

May today remind us to take care of ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. May we cherish these moments of self-care that fall at unusual times, just as they are needed. Have a beautiful day!

This weekend provided a much needed getaway to the lake. There is something about camping that is not just enjoyable but a necessity to my soul. When life gets to spinning too fast, camping resets me. 

Most of my life I have had trouble sleeping. I wake in the middle of the night with my mind running circles, either about what happened during the day or what I need to get done tomorrow. Before kids, a simple short meditation could clear this out. I even keep a notepad by my bed to jot things down so I can let it go and think about it during the waking hours. 

Over the last couple months, these techniques have not been working as well. Part of it is that I am just retraining myself on meditation because it had become so sporadic since having kids. Part of it is an increase of anxiety and stress from some situations I couldn't control and didn't know how to respond. 

While my family and I were out camping this weekend I found myself still unable to sleep. One the one hand I felt a little disheartened because I had set an expectation for a mental reset and yet my mind was still running wild. On the other hand I got to experience this beautiful, quiet, peaceful secondary vacation. It was just me and the stars. 

I'm grateful for the reminder that some things take more conscious effort and commitment than just driving to a new location. I'm grateful to commit to bringing my meditation practice back to a daily ritual. I'm grateful for the weekend away with my family. I'm grateful for our camper and to find ways to use it even amongst busy schedules. I'm grateful for the opportunity to spend some time with the stars. I'm grateful for the beautiful clear view of so many of my favorite constellations. 

What is your favorite way to reset? How do you unwind at night to get a good night's sleep?

May today remind us that every challenge has its reward.  May we always remember to make time for self-care. Have a beautiful day!

Fire seems to be the symbol speaking to me most the last few days. As I truly dig in to my passions and how to best move forward, I am feeling ignited! 

This weekend my family sat out on the deck around the chiminea and had a little fire. At first the moisture in the logs made lots of dense smoke. It hung right around head height and felt a little disorienting the way it clouded our vision. Just as we were thinking we might have to change plans, the fire heated up enough that the smoke started rising up higher into the air. Suddenly, not only could we see and breathe again but we could sit back and relax as it burned.

It was a great metaphor for the changes. Life was kind of set ablaze the last couple weeks. It was easy to focus on the stress of it because it was clouding everything we saw. Now that the fire has been burning a little longer and I am adding passion's fuel and taking control; the smoke has cleared. I am watching as it is drifting up and away. 

I'm grateful for the way nature speaks to me in such beautiful terms. I'm grateful we waited long enough to let the smoke clear this weekend. I'm grateful the smoke is clearing in other ways too. I'm grateful to know that, like the prairie, sometimes things need to burn to give nourishment for the next thing to grow. I'm grateful to take a moment and just witness as the flames dance. I'm grateful to be taking steps forward and feeling so much more confident in how the next chapter will grow. I'm grateful for this beautiful life!

What needs to "burn" to give you a new perspective? What are you creating for your life today? Is it the direction you want to be going? If not, what would help move you in that direction?

May we remember the smoke will clear. May we ignite our passions and chase our dreams. Have a beautiful day!

Feeling energized doesn't really happen from sitting in a chair. It needs ignited and it needs the right fuel to get good energy. 

In some ways energy is like a puzzle. You need the right pieces, in the right place to complete the picture. For energy you need the right balance of rest and good foods to build up energy. But just those elements alone don't complete it; you have to physically DO something. The puzzle doesn't put itself together. Energy doesn't just appear. 

I am seeing all the signs that my girls and I are needing more movement in our day. We are needing physical activities. It is in the lack of energy I feel. It is in the rise in number of their meltdowns. It is in the boredom requests for snacks. It is in the climbing on everything that should not be climbed. And it is in the vibration of my body that is asking to move. 

This morning I woke up before the alarm again. I haven't been sleeping well lately so it has been tempting to just stay in bed gazing at the ceiling. Today I decided I needed to apply effort if I was going to get my energy back. I got up and worked out. It felt great but it was short. I can feel my body asking for more. 

If I put forth the energy I will see the improvement. I will feel the energy returning. I will sleep better. I will have a clearer mind and even more patience. I know these things from experience but in the cycle of things it gets put off sometimes. Not today.

I'm grateful to feel my muscles moving. I'm grateful to get some good deep stretches. I'm grateful to remind myself the effort is worth it. I'm grateful to offer this gift to my body. I'm grateful to know I sleep better on days I work out. I'm grateful to help guide my kids toward a more active lifestyle. I'm grateful to know we can get back energized together. 

What is your favorite way to exercise or move your body? How do you energize? How do you keep the balance?

May today remind us the effort is worth the outcome. May we find ways to get ourselves motivated for whatever it is we need to accomplish. Have a beautiful day!

My husband and I were talking over lunch about a study he had ready about that offered potential compensation. Participants have to surrender their smart devices and go for a minimum of twenty four hours without technology.

My first reaction was, it is absurd that this is considered a challenge to go twenty-four hours without your phone or television. Then as I thought a minute longer I asked what all constituted technology. Do the washer and dryer count as technology? If you have a newer refrigerator or oven that has wifi capabilities, are you provided basic ones to use during the study?

In my mind I was thinking of when we do tech-free days a couple times a year and spend time together as a family without distractions. It is a sort of vacation. Yet even our camper that is a fairly basic model has solar panels that communicate via bluetooth to let us know the battery charge. It's okay, I still enjoy a good tent camping trip. 

Then my husband added the part that made it a challenge; you are still supposed to go about your typical day, work and all. Suddenly this study just got a lot more complicated. I mean not too many people still have a landline phone. And wouldn't hooking your computer up to the internet in order to work remotely, or even at the office, break the technology free part? Yes. My husband said it denied use of computers and internet.

It got me thinking, how many jobs can be done without a computer these days? My job has minimal use of the computer for intakes and if someone uses a credit card. I would also have to dig out a cd player for music and put my mp3 player away. It could be done for some occupations at least. 

​Wait. What about cars? Even if we don't consider the car itself technology, newer cars with hybrids or engine assists or smart cars definitely seem like a technology to me. Then you add the fact that the dash is smart screens with apps and satellite radio. Do the cameras  and sensors for lane departure and blind spot monitoring count? 

What started as a "how is this even a challenge" mindset has blown my mind way open. Technology is all around us. As I think about all the facets of life that technology has become a part of these days, I can feel myself creeping toward technology overload. Obviously it is the fact that I am focusing on it in this moment, but take a moment to pause and think about all the technology we use and take for granted each day. If I turn it around a bit I can shift it from "overload" to "awe". It is pretty amazing the advances we have made in just my lifetime. 

I hope this study pushes the envelope as much as it can to see how people would fair in today's world if we lost our technology. I think it is a brilliant study. I also hope that moving forward we find new advances that help society come together and find healthier ways of living. Maybe in the process we can let go of some of the technology we don't need. 

I'm grateful for this fun, spirited conversation with my husband. I'm grateful when we get to bounce ideas back and forth and watch it grow and shift. I'm grateful for the people behind the study. I'm grateful to think that in the future I will get to read the results of this study, as that is a passion of mine. I'm grateful for the technology we have that makes life easier, safer, healthier, or "greener". I'm grateful to do my best to take breaks from technology and monitor when I feel I am getting too attached to things like my phone. I'm grateful to think back to childhood and see how much things have changed with a fairly neutral view. 

Would you participate in a study like this? What technology would be the hardest to give up for you? Would you be able to do your job without technology?

May today remind us to give thanks for all the technology we often take for granted. May we celebrate the technology that heals. And may we find balance in the use of technology as in all things. Have a beautiful day!

I returned today from a weekend of camping with my family. It felt so good to be back out in nature. It felt so good to be out of the house and away from the everyday to do list. Even when the temperatures dropped to freezing and the winds blew, it still felt renewing and revitalizing as I snuggled up with my family. 

Spending a couple days with nothing to do but play with my kids, take walks in nature, and fix some easy meals was exactly what my mind needed. I find myself more ready to face the work week and all the more excited to plan the next trip. 

I'm so grateful for a weekend to renew. I'm grateful to get to continue learning about and getting comfortable with our camper. I'm grateful for my girls' sense of adventure. I'm grateful for their ability to entertain themselves for hours just playing int he rocks and grass. I'm grateful to try to make peace with the wind. I'm grateful for the warmth of the sunshine. I'm grateful for all my husband does on camping trips that makes it go smoothly. I'm grateful for easy meals to make it an extra simple and relaxing trip this time. I'm grateful to have a smooth return and get things put away to start the week without additional tasks. 

What helps you to fully relax? When was the last time you had a good, relaxing vacation? What do you like to do when you go on vacation?

May today bring us renewal and relaxation no matter where we rest. Have a beautiful day!