This year I have challenged myself to read at least ten minutes each day. It seemed like an achievable goal that would bring me some joy and so far it is working. To add to the pleasure I have chosen a book called A Complaint Free World by Will Bowen. 

I will admit this book has been on my "want to read" list for a couple years now. The Complaint Free World movement started not too far from my hometown which makes it even more special!

The choice to start with this book came from a feeling of not really feeling like a gratitude "coach" anymore. I am great at digging gratitude out of regular days or even rough days but it was feeling like a lot of my words were negative. Even here in this blog I have noticed it goes something like "this went wrong and this went wrong and this went wrong but I am still grateful". While this ability is an important practical step of any gratitude practice, it is better if we focus on what is going RIGHT to begin with; as you may imagine this makes gratitude even easier to find too.

So I am taking the beautiful challenge to make it 21 days without complaining! According to the book this takes people, on average, four to eight months to be able to go 21 consecutive days without complaining. A reminder bracelet is worn and each time a complaint is voiced, the bracelet is moved to the other hand. It trains us to recognize when we are complaining. I imagine this also does a good job of making us mindful of the triggers or situations where we complain most.

Today I have moved my bracelet no less that six times. The eye opening part for me is that a lot of my complaining is actually to my preschooler. I am certain we will both benefit from my commitment to this challenge. I'm excited to bring more positive messages back into my conversations!

I'm grateful for this book. I'm grateful for Will Bowen that started this hoping to impact his community. I'm grateful to hear that so many people worldwide have now taken the challenge. I'm grateful to be learning about my communication. I'm grateful to be gaining mindfulness about my triggers. I'm grateful to see how it plays out within different relationships. I'm grateful to be taking simple steps to be changing my life, holding my power, and voicing my beauty. 

​What goals have you set for yourself lately? Are you interested in raising the vibration of your life? Are you ready to find more beauty, more joy, and more gratitude in 2021? 

​No matter what this year brings, I believe, there is beauty to be found. May we choose to view and voice our story in a positive light. Have a beautiful day!

Today has been a beautiful day! It has been full of some of my favorite "s" words.

It started off with SLEEPing in! This is rare in my family, especially on a day when my husband has to get up for work. 

Then my daughters and I sat on my preschooler's bed and had some SUNRISE SNUGGLES! I love those two words individually anyway but when they are together it makes for a pretty perfect start to the day.

Now that my little one isn't taking a morning nap most days we have had to get a little creative with schooling my preschooler. Luckily the SISTERS were happy to help each other learn today. Overall it went really smoothly!

While we were playing playdoh a deer came walking through our backyard. I think I was even more excited than the kids. We used to have lots of deer come through but it has been a while since we've seen one. I sat there SMILING and gazing out the window. I couldn't help thinking to myself, "it really is the SIMPLE pleasures in life that mean the most." 

When I am in the moment and focusing on the beautiful moments of life, it is easy to SOAR. It makes any little bumps so much easier to just float passed. 

I'm grateful for these wonderful "S" words that help describe my joy. I'm grateful to have enjoyed so many simple pleasures in one day! I'm grateful for the new book I have started reading to help me be more mindful of my words and focus on the positive. I'm grateful to feel my SPIRIT lifting. I'm grateful to witness the sweet bond that is forming between my girls. I'm grateful to have this time with them.

What are your favorite simple pleasures? What "S" words are your favorite? What letter is helping you describe the best parts of your day?

May we give credit to the little things that bring us joy. May we express our gratitude in whatever way fills our cup. Have a beautiful day!

This weekend was a great weekend. It was complete with some quality time with my husband, getting some yard work done, a bonfire, seeing family, and skeeball.

Hands down the best moments were when my four year old beat me at skeeball (my favorite game) not once, but twice! She also won against her aunt! I mean how does that even happen?! We laughed so hard!

Another beautiful moment this weekend was my 18 month old repeatedly asking to play with my Barbie. Yes, yes, I have my own Barbie doll. It is Breathe with Me Barbie and she has been a great tool in mindfulness to use with my four year old during our homeschool time. My four year old is okay with it but the baby LOVES it. She will say "Mommy, Barbie please?" Then she will take a deep breath in and let it out saying "ahhh", just like Barbie. It is adorable and such a good practice to start. 

There was plenty of external stressors that I'm sure were going on but for the most part we just tuned them out this weekend and found our center again. It was much needed and so very gratifying. 

Sometimes we just need a reset. While there may not be a physical button we can push to gain that reset; there are plenty of opportunities to achieve it. 

I'm grateful for lots of deep breaths in. I'm grateful for all the "ahhh"s we breathed out. I'm grateful to laugh some breaths out as well. I'm grateful for such a fun weekend. I'm grateful to take time and commit to resetting. I'm grateful for my kind, caring, and adorable children. I'm grateful to get to connect with my husband. I'm grateful for the smell of bonfire smoke and to get the yard cleared a little too. I'm grateful for Joseph Fourestier Simpson for inventing such a fun, family-friendly game and to my brother for his extensive and awesome game room.

How do you prefer to exhale? What is your favorite way to reset? When was the last time you took time to let it all "ahhh"t?

​May today remind us to take time to re-center. May we find bliss and gratitude waiting as we reset. Have a beautiful day!

I will admit I am finding some humor right now in writing a blog about finding peace as I am working through some seething anger. Yet this is exactly why I have chosen to write about it. 

Yesterday I watched the news as they recounted the Capitol building being breached. I listened to the people in the crowd call for something to be done, that something had been stolen from them, for violence. It was like watching another level of my confidence in humanity being peeled back. And as I felt the feelings of sadness, anxiety, and shock wash over me I felt something else creeping in too, anger. 

Outwardly I balked that this "small" group of people had lost their minds. I tried to convince myself that they are the rare few extremists. Yet over the last few years I can no longer feel confident in that ideal. I have witnessed the blatant racism and acts of violence. I have seen the swarms of people turn out to cause damage and chaos. It is not one side or the other because the violence has come from all around. We are in a war even without giving it the name. 

Why are people so angry? I could list a hundred reasons from at least three or four viewpoints. But only one matters. The only anger that matters is my own. If we dealt with what was causing our individual anger then we would have made great leaps to ending the violence and starting a productive step toward solutions. Anger is a great call to action. But it DOES NOT need to be a call to violence. It needs to be a call to look within.

Anger is often the result of fear or a feeling of lack of respect (a lack of being heard). Perhaps even in saying that I am repeating myself because isn't the feeling of lack of respect the fear of not being respected, not being equal, not being acknowledged? 

When I felt my anger creeping in yesterday I can't say I was surprised. I am not knew to this sadness moving to anger or fear moving to anger transition. I do not like to feel afraid. I do not like to question my beliefs, especially one so core as people being mostly good. (Though I do realize the duality the word "good" creates") I do not like to hear about someone being harmed, bullied, or killed by another person. 

Yet anger is not what solves the problem. Anger is just to get our OWN attention. It is then our job to look at that anger and make an action plan. This action plan is not one of violence, not of insults, not of retaliation. It is a plan to decipher what we need to feel at peace and what channels to go about making these changes happen legitimately and to bring understanding. 

We will not get World peace by pointing the finger. We will not get World peace by judging, accusing, and belittling. Peace comes in understanding. Peace comes in compassion. Peace comes in love. 

If you do only one thing this year, let it be seeking to understand your own triggers. Take the time to look at your anger and see what the root cause is and then start open talks about it. Be willing to hear the whole conversation. Be willing to readdress any anger that keeps popping up. Be willing to be the change. We only change the world by starting with ourselves.

I'm grateful to witness my anger. I'm grateful to see how one trigger can make other much lesser triggers more exposed. I'm grateful to know the things that feel like they are seething today are really the root of something much deeper that was triggered yesterday, and the last several years. I'm grateful to take time to breathe. I'm grateful to take time over and over again today to sit with these feelings and dig into the full scope of its roots. I'm grateful to know that we all have the choice to be kind and loving. I'm grateful to believe people want change and are willing to do so with their voices if they are given the opportunity. I'm grateful to ground and reground today so I can continue to make my own choices based in love. 

What makes you angry? What fears does it bring up? How do you respond when a core belief is shaken? How do you respond when you are not in control of something? How can you dig into the root of your feelings this year? How can you offer space to hear someone else?

May today remind us change starts within. May we find ways to give ourself a green light to flush old fears that are no longer our truth. May we heal old wounds so we can continue moving forward in love. May this year bring positive change and a chance for all voices to be heard without violence. Have a beautiful day! 

I'm feeling a little weary today as I learn of two more Covid deaths in my circle. Just yesterday someone was telling me there have been four deaths recently in her circle, three from Covid. Is it just me or have we been faced with a lot of death in the last several months? I hope for your sake it is just me but from the growing numbers of deaths recently I can't imagine my situation is uncommon. 

I am a gratitude coach. Shouldn't I be talking about happy stuff? Shouldn't I be wearing rose colored glasses that make everything seem ok? You may be surprised the number of times I hear this. I cannot tell you the number of times someone has balked at me when I have a bad day. I'm human. Gratitude isn't a magic bandaid, it is a practice to to help us focus on what is good. Some days that comes easier than others.

For all the power gratitude can hold, it does not instantly heal wounds. It doesn't make death easy, though sometimes it can help the sting just a little. 

Last year felt like a year of examining what was truly important. It felt like the year offered a lot of opportunities to see alternatives to our normal lifestyle. For my family that meant seeing what a blessing it was to slow down and spend more quality time together.

Perhaps this year is about facing fears, healing wounds, or even saying goodbye. I say this because it is hard to say it. I cringe writing the words and even more so reading them. I can feel my head scrunching down on my neck at the thought that more loved ones may pass before this pandemic is over. It would be easy to let my head swirl in anxiety even as I know it is beyond my control. 

I will never be good at goodbyes. It isn't in my personality. I get attached. I love easily. Most of my clients feel more like friends than just acquaintances that come each month. I take the time to get to know people, to ask questions, to wish them joy. 

In life there are times of growth, times of change, times of rest. Perhaps this year will provide opportunities for growth and reflection. Perhaps we will be offered the chance to heal old wounds or address old fears. I do hope that these opportunities will come gently. 

I am grateful. I'm grateful to  every challenge is an opportunity for growth. I'm grateful to breathe into this. I'm grateful for my health. I'm grateful for the health of my immediate family. I'm grateful to start asking myself some hard questions. I'm grateful for all the safety protocols in place to help keep me and my loved ones from getting sick. I'm grateful to have met these two special people who have passed. I'm grateful for the hope the vaccine will help slow this pandemic. I'm grateful for the reminder to allow my feelings and to be honest, even here.

What could this year's theme be for you? What lessons may be in store? How are you doing with all the changes this pandemic has brought? How is your joy and gratitude? 

This can be a tough time of year, even without the things going on this year. If you are feeling down, please reach out to someone you trust or to someone who can help. If you are struggling with a deeper depression or harmful thoughts, please seek help immediately. You are loved. You are needed. This world needs your light. If you would like to start a gratitude practice to help you find the good, please email me. 

Now, I do not want to close this blog on a heavy note. We will get through this. We all have a role to play and the world needs each one of us to shine our light. Tonight would be a great night for holding space, saying prayers, meditating, whatever you want to call it. Take some time and send some positive vibes into the world. Ask God to give you some comfort. Whatever you need, ask for it. Perhaps we will find we get everything we ask for...until then, feel hope and have a beautiful day!

The snow is beginning to melt as the temperatures climb above freezing. While the Winter storm was much milder than originally predicted we still got several inches. It made for several fun days of outdoor play.

This is the time of year when I frequently hear about generators. Stores run ads letting people know there are generators for sale if they need. I hear about people losing power and being so thankful that they had a generator to use as backup. Generators provide the energy needed when the normal power source isn't working. 

People are not like electronics. If our battery is running low we can't just plug in to an outlet and keep going. If something knocks out our personal power, we can't just drive to the store and replace it. 

Yes food helps or perhaps caffeine if we are talking about physical boosts. It's true that a "power nap" can help give us the recharge we need. But let's take this idea deeper.

What is your generator? What do you use when you are mentally or emotionally exhausted? What practices do you use to boost your energy before it even reaches that point?

What about your personal power? Who do you give your power to and how do you bolster your own personal power?

I'm not here to give you answers. For me finding ways to laugh, doing yoga or meditation, and getting plenty of sleep are pretty key. But everyone is different. I love doing creative art things and that gives me a boost emotionally. As far as personal power, trying new things is a good way for me to bolster that and yet there are plenty of times I give my power away to fears or doubts. 

What works for you? What generates joy and gratitude? What boosts your confidence? What makes you feel your best? Whatever it is I hope you can do more of it this year. 

I'm grateful for generators. I'm grateful I haven't had to use one to supplement my home in many years. I'm grateful to spend some time thinking about personal power and what generates my own energy. I'm grateful to take some time today to just rest my eyes and think. I'm grateful to be getting back into a routine this week. I'm grateful for meditation mondays. I'm grateful to spend time today getting creative with my girls. I'm grateful to recognize my need for more laughter today.

May today remind us to care for ourselves. May we choose generators that support our long term goals. Have a beautiful day!

I return from the holiday break with my light shining a little brighter. I can't say I caught up on any sleep or got much accomplished but it sure was nice to focus on family and just relax.

We all have things that help our light shine a little brighter, help us feel our best, and let us know we're loved. The possibilities are endless for what those things are for each individual. Sure we can break it down into basic categories like the Love Languages, just like we can break down a rainbow into basic colors; yet there is a blending, blurring, mixing too.

There are things that block our light. There are things that cast shadows or dim it. Sometimes these things are things we allow to be done, sometimes they are things we do to ourselves, and sometimes it is completely out of our hands. 

So how do we find a good place of balance? What is the balance for you to let your light shine its brightest? How often do you do the things that brighten your light and how often are you around the shadows?

I think it is an important question to ask, especially this time of year when the sun's light still hasn't returned to its full length. Perhaps this question can set the groundwork for what goals we need to set for the year to come. Perhaps it can help us reevaluate relationships that need to shift. Perhaps it can remind us to make that extra effort to increase our positive self-talk. 

I'm grateful to take a couple minutes to myself to paint my toenails. I'm grateful for the time normally spent doing such things with my preschooler and yet I was surprisingly grateful to have a moment to do this for myself, by myself, for the first time in over a year. I'm grateful to have had an extra set of hands around with my mother-in-law staying for the holidays. I'm grateful for all her insights and to continue to grow our relationship as she is truly an inspiring woman. I'm grateful for my husband reminding me to just sit. I'm grateful for wine and chocolates. I'm grateful for the abundance of good foods. I'm grateful for the true spoiling that my family received this year. I'm grateful to turn my sights to the year ahead and start planning how to make next year support this shining light.

May today give us plenty of opportunity to do something kind for ourselves. May we nurture ourselves and let our lights shine. Have a beautiful day!

As I busied myself making the final arrangements and tidying up for the holiday, it occurred to me that it is time for a well earned break. Everything that really needs done is done.

Sure there are a few details that still could be taken care. These tiny details are not important. The cob web in the upstairs hall will be just fine until next week. There is no reason to try and cram a weeks worth of cleaning into one or two days, especially at the holidays. 

It is larger than just cleaning. We have been doing homeschooling since the beginning of September and, aside from a sick day, have not taken any breaks. Part of the reason is my daughter loves the time together so much that she can hardly wait for Monday to roll back around again. But I think we have both earned a Christmas break and we can find some other fun way to spend time together like playing games and reading books. 

I have also gifted myself a week off work. Between the rising covid cases and the number of clients who will be celebrating the holidays with family it just makes sense to take a little break. It will be well worth the peace of mind and a good time for me to rebalance and return refreshed. 

I'm grateful to be reminded it is good to slow down and even stop sometimes. It is good to find the balance. I'm grateful to gift myself time off from work, teaching, and cleaning. I'm grateful for my husband's help in getting ready for the holidays this year. I'm grateful for the festivities that will begin tomorrow. I'm grateful to take a deep breath and just enjoy this moment. I'm grateful for the excitement of the season and to find a balance with rest and peace as well.

What are you giving yourself for Christmas? Does what you are receiving bring you joy and peace? How do you find balance during the holiday season?

May today remind us to be generous with others and ourselves. May we find balance in letting things go. And may we find beauty in the celebrations of the season. Have a beautiful day!

My body has had a lot to say lately. The messages have all been pretty subtle and easily tuned out, but I have tried to keep a mental note anyway. Today as I added another mental note to the growing list I realized it is probably time to start listening to all these little things before my body decides it needs to send a bigger, louder message.

Things like an itchy eye that has persisted off and on for days or my dry, cracking hands are easily written off as allergies and excessive washing. But as other things start ticking in I definitely need to stop writing off and start listening.

I have not been drinking enough water lately. My sleep had been doing better now that my littlest one is back to sleeping at night, but last night I was up with my preschooler's nightmares. One interrupted night made me realize how far behind on sleep I still am from the previous weeks (or maybe years at this point). 

My abdominals have been pleasantly sore as I try out a new exercise the last four or five days but now my back has a bit to say about it. I am tempted to mimic my clients and say "getting old sucks". Instead of accepting it as fate I would rather use these messages to make little changes.

The body is designed to work. It is designed to have checks and balances and be able to repair itself if it has the tools it needs. It is my job to listen, find out what it needs, and provide it. Even a fine tuned machine needs a little oil on the gears from time to time. 

I'm grateful to stop listing and start listening. I'm grateful to see I am not drinking as much water as usual and make conscious steps to remedy this. I'm grateful to see how that may be affecting my eyes and skin. I'm grateful to be working out again. I'm grateful for the beautiful feeling of sore muscles for a good reason. I'm grateful to be committed to decoding my body's messages. I'm grateful to do my best to balance sleep and be present for my kids when they need me. I'm grateful to receive subtle messages and make corrections before a bigger message is needed. 

What is your body saying? What can you do to fine tune your body and meet its needs? 

May today remind us our body is a temple...and the only one we have, at that. May we also find the messages our body speaks easily translated. Have a beautiful day!

This morning started with listening to a whole bunch of big feelings from my preschooler. As I listened to her I couldn't help but notice how my own feelings twisted and turned in response. Part of me wanted to "correct" her or diminish those feelings. Part of me wanted to just cry alongside her. But they aren't called diminish-ings or placate-ings or even bandwagon-ing; they are called FEEL-ings. So we sat there, feeling. 

We talked a little afterwards but not much. I have learned my daughter mostly likes to dump the big emotions she is feeling and then move on. I take a little more processing. I know they aren't called think-ings but for me part of feeling them is understanding the trigger. Unlike some days, I didn't dig in today. Today I observed and felt and noticed possible things that stemmed the reaction for me. 

Not every day is meant to be analyzed. Not every day can be deep and meaningful progress. Some days are made for rest and observation. Some days are made for just FEEL-ing all the feels that show up. That is what today is for me.

I'm grateful my preschooler shares her feelings with me. I'm grateful to have turned off the "fix it" mode today and responded how I wish I always would by just listening and being present. I'm grateful to respect her feelings and honor them. I'm grateful to honor her process of moving on. I'm grateful to honor my own process of observation as I feel. I'm grateful to take time this afternoon to just rest and simply be. I'm grateful to feel deeply and know this can be a strength. 

What triggers your big emotions? What is your process for moving through and FEEL-ing your emotions? 

​May today provide time and space, the rest is up to us. May we feel deeply. Have a beautiful day!