Sometimes we all just need time to sit alone with our thoughts. Even my daughter, who normally acts like time alone is the worst thing in the world, chose to spend time by herself today. We need time to unwind. We time to let our thoughts drift. We need time to do the little things that bring us joy. 

I'm so grateful for some time alone. I'm grateful to see my girls needing their space today and help them find it. I'm grateful for separate bedrooms that gives them their own space. I'm grateful to just sit and breathe. I'm grateful to let my thoughts wander. I'm grateful for a new art journal. I'm grateful to take time for me and know my whole family benefits. 

How often do you take time for yourself? How often do you sit alone and let your thoughts drift around? 

May we choose to care for ourselves and see the benefits. May we take time to just be still. Have a beautiful day!

It's mowing season again but the yard isn't the only thing in need of tending. At work I have been working with my colleague to give a fresh look to an older space. At home I have been working to clear out some of the clutter, both organizing and donating. And I have been trying to add a bit more movement into my day as well. 

I have noticed I tend to go in cycles with cleaning and organizing. It definitely spurs me more in Spring and Fall as the weather is cooler. But with my focus on doing things for myself and seeking balance I am finding the fresh looks to be very energizing too. 

I'm grateful to clear out some stuff that needed taken care of for a few months. I'm grateful to cross of a couple things from my husband's list in the process. I'm grateful to tidy my workspace so I don't feel so crowded. I'm grateful to file the stack of papers that needed filed. I'm grateful for my little one's patience and ability to entertain herself. I'm grateful to take frequent breaks to play with my kids or do something for myself. I'm grateful to be feeling more energized the more I get done.

What is on your to do list? What fresh look would you like to see in your space?

​May we move into the next season with a fresh perspective and renewed motivation. Have a beautiful day!

Two of the most powerful words we can tell ourselves is "I Can". I have been listening to my self-talk lately and there has been a lot of "I can't" statements. It comes from being tired and overwhelmed but even then, these statements aren't true. I can. I do, every day. I will continue to do. So why do I bother telling myself the lie of can't?

Today I can. Whenever I hear my inner thoughts trying to say can't, I am changing it to "I can't quit now when I'm so close." I've got this. I CAN do these tasks.

I'm grateful to be tuning into my internal dialog. I'm grateful to recognize I'm tired. I'm grateful to see tiny ways I can help relieve some overwhelm and do it. I'm most grateful to just be turning around the negativity and reminding myself "I can".  I'm grateful for all the tools I have as a coach that I can use on myself at times like these. I'm grateful to admit I am human.

What are you saying to yourself? What encouragement are you needing to hear from yourself?

May we remember to speak to ourselves as friends. May we keep encouraging ourselves. Have a beautiful day!

Life has stages. Some of them blend and blur and transition smoothly. Some transitions feel a little more like Frogger on the highway. 

My life is on the cusp of several big changes and, while the full effect will not transition until Fall, I can feel some of the blocks quivering with the upcoming shift. The foundation of the schedules we have become accustomed to are beginning to shift now as we attempt to prepare for the big changes. (And no, I am not pregnant.)

This stage feels a little uncomfortable and a bit stressful. I'm doing my best to move forward gracefully, for myself and for my kids. 

This stage is also exciting as it is providing a bit of "light at the end of the tunnel". I'm confident there will be so many blessings and gratitude in this next stage.

I'm grateful for the amazing stages of parenthood I have traveled. I'm grateful to be coming up to a new stage to grow into. I'm grateful for my amazing kids that teach me so much every day. I'm grateful for all the loving support I have found as we begin the transition to this next stage. I'm grateful for carving more time for family, for listening, and for creative solutions. I'm grateful to sit with all the emotions. I'm grateful to move forward with the things I can and let other things be. 

What stage are you in? What helps you move through transitions with grace?

May today be a reminder to be gentle with ourselves. May we do what we can and let the rest go. May we give ourselves grace that we are doing our best. Have a beautiful day!

I spent the weekend painting the office I share with a colleague. We looked at paint swatches and agreed that something light and fairly neutral would be best to accommodate the variants in each of our decor and supplies. We agreed on a very light silver color with the slightest hint of blue. It was similar to the hue in our old office so it made sense to keep it similar.

As I drove over to the store to pick up the paint, I silently hoped that the blue would come through a little more than it looked riding next to me on the passenger seat. Lighting is everything when it comes to paint and the bright sunlight made the color look washed and drab. I reminded myself that it looked fine in the room and that it was the color my colleague and I had agreed. 

When I got to the store I handed the helpful, young paint-mixer the page of color swatches and, pointing, told him the name of the color I wanted and which size and sheen. He marked it with a star correctly and went off to find the base paint to start mixing. I wandered off down a different aisle to get additional supplies and came back just as he was finishing up pulling them out of the shaker. We talked for a few moments and put the cans in my cart and walked to the register. As I was checking out I was pleased to see that in the light of the store it did have a little more blue hint to it. 

I painted the office and was so thrilled to see it was a very nice dusty blue color. My colleague arrived saying how she liked the color too and how much more blue it was that expected but in a pleasant way. I pulled out the swatch to hold it up to the paint and as I did I realized even though he had put a star next to the one I said, he had written the sheen info on a different color swatch. Sure enough, he had tinted the paint a different color than we had picked. Yet it was more blue just as I had hoped and we love it on the walls. All I can figure is the universe stepped in to share my soul's request instead of the one I spoke in words. 

I'm grateful to laugh at the plot-twist. I'm grateful my colleague and I love the color. I'm grateful to get fresh paint on the walls. I'm grateful for my soul's voice. I'm grateful to spend some time exploring why my physical voice and soul's were not in sync. I'm grateful for the lessons to be gained. I'm grateful for the beauty and joy the color brings to the space.

What is your soul asking for today? Is it something you can voice? If not, why? 

May we find ways to bring joy to our soul. Have a beautiful day!

More changes are on the horizon! I am excited about the new but as usual have turned into a bit of a stress monkey over the details. I want to see the change, now. 

In the midst of my distraction and anticipation I have made some silly blunders. Now is a great time to pause, take a deep breath, and remind myself to go one step at a time.

I'm grateful to feel the excitement. I'm grateful for the confirmation it gives me to feel like I'm making progress and moving forward. I'm grateful for my husband and colleague's input. I'm grateful to keep putting myself in check to slow down and not monkey-mind it. I'm grateful for deep breaths and afternoon quiet time. I'm grateful for a new season, new growth, and new changes!

What changes do you feel like making this season? What changes make you feel excited to move forward?

May today remain balanced as we look to the future and still celebrate where we are today. Have a beautiful day!

Flowers are blooming and the rain is steadily coming down. It is Spring! I am so ready for it this year.

The Spring cleaning bug bit a little early this year. I have been stacking things to donate, clearing out closets, reorganizing, and cleaning. It feels so nice to have energy flowing! It feels so nice to have clutter clearing out!

I'm so grateful to see another Spring blossoming outside. I'm grateful to be in full cleaning and clearing gear. I'm grateful for my husband's help in organizing. I'm grateful for some time this weekend to drop stuff off. I'm grateful to donate the stuff we no longer need. I'm grateful to be eyeing some fresh paint. I'm grateful to feel myself blooming with rebirth in this beautiful season.

What do you love about Spring? When was the last time you intentionally went through your home to clear it out? What do you no longer need?

May today be a blessing. May we give ourselves the gift of space, the gift of rebirth, and the gift of Spring! Have a beautiful day! 

Do you know the best part about trying something again? It is the faith and hope that it will go better this time. When we try again, we are telling ourselves, "I believe in you!" Plus, as long as we are still trying; we haven't failed. This is true no matter how many tries it takes.

I'm grateful to try again. I'm grateful to have a little ditty I sing to my kids about trying again. I'm grateful to be honest with my kids on where I have fallen short of my goal and how I plan to try again. I'm grateful for the amazing, supportive people in my life. I'm grateful for a very patient family. I'm grateful to believe in myself and have faith that I will accomplish each goal I set. 

What are you trying to accomplish? Which goals have you already had success? How often do you give yourself encouragement to try again?

May today be a reminder at where we have succeeded. May we always keep faith in ourselves and our ability to grow and achieve. Have a beautiful day!

This Winter seems to be enjoying sending curve balls. Mostly we have been having a very mild winter here with little precipitation. It got so warm last week that the Spring flowers in my garden started coming up! 

Tonight, we are supposed to get a good size snowstorm. After watching the squirrels out playing and frolicking the last week it seems strange that they will have to go back into their warm nests to wait out the storm. While I'm sure they are used to crazy Midwest weather and probably have plenty of food stores tucked away, my husband decided to boost their stash a little. 

He placed some walnuts out for them and after a while one of our squirrel friends came for a nibble. He gobbled up all but one and we didn't see who came back later for the last one. 

As a human, a white human, I am starkly aware of all the taking and greed in our history. We moved in and took land from people and animals. We made a habit of thinking things that were different were somehow "less".

I can't say I have all the answers to turn it around and start repairing what was taken. But every little effort we give moves us in the right direction. Whether it be helping out some wildlife when food and land is scarce, donating food and blankets to the shelter for those going through hard times, or having the difficult conversations on how to truly respect and love each other; every step forward matters. What steps can you take today? Who do you know that could use a little help? How can you recognize and shift one false belief you hold? 

I'm grateful for my generous husband. I'm grateful to see the sweet little squirrel happy to nibble his food. I'm grateful for our neighborhood holding a Winter clothing drive for the homeless. I'm grateful to all who participated. I'm grateful to try and keep extra blankets and snacks in my car in case I see someone in need. I'm grateful to be really digging through beliefs, this month especially, to find hidden racism and weed it out of my thoughts and actions. I'm grateful to be open with my children so they can grow from my mistakes and those of our ancestors. I'm grateful to know we can make this world a better place.

May today and every day bring us closer to that better world we have dreamed of for so long. May today be full of generosity, love, and understanding. Have a beautiful day!