Do you know that feeling where you are cruising downhill and suddenly the bike gets a little wobble and you realize you aren't fully in control? Today snuck up on me that way.

The summertime schedule has us rushing a little more than we are used to since before Covid. There are swim lessons every day and holidays, birthday, playdates, trips and more all lined up on the calendar. It is the first time ever that we have had to be somewhere every single day by a certain time with me and two kids all ready. 

It is good practice for me since this will be our routine all next year once my oldest returns to school. Yet in this minute it is new and I will admit the anxiety of it got away from me a bit today. It is definitely time to hit pause, not on our calendar so much as just me shifting my perspective and taking a breath. 

This summer has the potential for a lot of fun. I just want to make sure my mind perceives it that way and not as chaotic and stressful. This is an opportunity for growth, an opportunity to take time for self-care, and an opportunity to see a lot of our friends and family we have been missing.

I'm grateful to feel that "wobble" of anxiety and recognize it. I'm grateful to apologize to my kids as I recognized myself feeling crabby. I'm grateful to model taking a deep breath for them. I'm grateful to take that deep breath and then several more for ME. I'm grateful to begin creating a new perspective around our activities. I'm grateful to push pause and slow my mind.

How do you reset? What opportunities are available to you right now?

May today remind us that perspective is important but breathing is even more important. Have a beautiful day!

Last night we took our family pictures. In preparation I did something I never do; I bought a dress. It is a simple white, full length summer dress but has a beautiful sort of lace adornment at the chest. 

As I walked through the park with my family and our photographer, I felt different. I felt like a proud mama as always. But I felt like a beautiful woman as well. 

It is interesting how I didn't feel NOT beautiful before. Yet suddenly I felt like I was just glowing in this new dress! 

My husband, mom, and photographer all commented on how nice I looked. It was interesting to realize that, even though I enjoyed their compliments immensely, I didn't care how anyone else felt about it. I felt gorgeous. I felt glowing. I felt sexy and amazing. 

I'm grateful to reignite this feeling. I'm grateful to receive compliments that voice how I feel. I'm grateful for a new dress. I'm grateful to love my body, even with the changes of having two kids. I'm grateful for beautiful family photos. I'm grateful for an amazing photographer and her fast editing! I'm grateful to recognize that how we feel about something is often times more powerful than any other perception of reality. 

How do you feel? What makes you feel amazing?

May we find ways to feel our best every day. May we take those extra moments to give ourselves the best confidence. Have a beautiful day!

After getting a decent night sleep last night I was up before the sun and ready to get the day started. Thankfully, my husband took today off so he is around to help with the kids while I run errands and get tasks crossed off my list. I love starting the week on a productive note!

I'm grateful for an early start this morning. I'm grateful my husband has the day off to help with the girls while I tend to work. I'm grateful to feel like all the hard work and waiting is paying off and I am on the verge of flying. I'm grateful to have a great colleague by my side, as we fly higher together. I'm grateful to keep exploring ways to grow. I'm grateful for all the awesome tools I've found. I'm grateful for all the second-hand stuff we've been able to find to make a beautiful new space to work.

When do you feel most productive? What gets you motivated?

May today remind us to find passion wherever we can. May we find ways to make even the mundane tasks fun. Have a beautiful day!

It is beginning to feel a lot more like June this week. After a very rainy start to the month, the rain has moved out and brought some scorching heat. It has been a big adjustment but not unwelcome.

For weeks I worried my vegetable garden was going to drown and now I am out having to provide water every day or two. Isn't it funny how things shift? I definitely got the sunshine for which I was asking.

There are camping trips planned, Fourth of July celebrations in the planning, and all combined with a new business up and running. I am loving all the blessings this summer brings!

I'm so grateful to have had such a productive week. I'm grateful to have a little down-time starting tomorrow. I'm grateful for all the ways things are lining up and falling into place. I'm grateful for the sunshine, even with the heat. I'm grateful to have air conditioning to keep my family, and dog, comfortable. I'm grateful to have a little time to rest before jumping in full scale next week. I'm grateful to take time to meditate and center myself. I'm grateful to keep a watchful eye on balance. 

What are some of the blessings June brings to you each year? What do you love about the summer months?

May we always remember to count our blessings. May we find joy in the simple pleasures. Have a beautiful day!

Okay so the picture is not a cheetah but it could still probably out run me. This week feels like we are back to a nearly pre-pandemic pace. There are playdates at the park, campgrounds to explore, and all the festivities of summer; and the schedule is filling up quickly!

Part of me is so energized by the sunshine and the fun activities. The other part of me is wondering how I ever kept up this pace every week pre-pandemic. It is amazing how much perspective can change in fifteen months. Although... the other part of that probably has to do with having two mobile, brave kids instead of one tucked in a stroller asleep. 

Even as I try to catch my breath, I am loving all the fun we are having. It is so great to see friends and family again. It is so great to have summer sunshine back and places to explore. While I am still not all in on most activities as my family chooses to hang back and continue watching pandemic numbers, especially child-affecting variants; it is great to still have so many options for fun.

I'm grateful to have so many fun invites. I'm grateful to have such great friends that honor each person's different comfort level. I'm grateful for so many fun activities to do outdoors. I'm grateful for the area we live in that has so much to offer. I'm grateful for my kids' ability to adjust to all these outings. I'm grateful to notice how my body feels, both the excitement and anxiety so I can be proactive about staying in balance. I'm grateful for deep breaths and joyous smiles.

What perspectives changed for you over the last year? What did life look like this time last year versus this week? What is one thing you enjoy doing that brings you joy?

May today remind us to live life to the fullest, as best we feel comfortable. May we respect each other's perspectives and find ways to enjoy in compromise. Have a beautiful day!

I have found myself watching the bees a lot lately. Perhaps this is because it is the time of year when they are out in mass collecting pollen from the flowers or perhaps it is just the mode I am in right now.

Each day has moments of slow, in the moment, strolling along with my kids. We explore and observe a lot. Then there is my brief work time that is a flurry of key strokes and emails and phone calls. It is exhilarating but also a little chaotic.

I feel a connection to the bees. I watch how they gather the pollen slowly and methodically then fly with their wings moving so impressively fast to find their next flower. I feel that. It resonates. But what am I gathering?

I am gathering joy. I am gathering beautiful moments with my daughters, husband, colleagues, clients. I am gathering confidence. I am gathering skills. I am gathering all the little pieces that keep building me in to who I am becoming with each step. And all these things are joy- my joy.

I'm grateful for joy. I'm grateful for the bees for so many reasons. I'm grateful to them for how they assist vital processes. I'm grateful to them for the connection and resonance I feel at this stage of life. I'm grateful to just watch. I'm grateful to see the reflection. I'm grateful for all the knowledge and experience I am collecting right now. I'm grateful for this journey and for those whose journeys are moving in step with mine. 

What are you gathering? What brings you joy? What do you resonate with at this stage of your life?

May we all find something to connect us to nature. May we gather things that enhance our lives. Have a beautiful day!

There was a moment yesterday when I found myself thinking "okay, I've got my battle plan." I was crossing stuff off the list and pushing emails through with a clear picture of what I needed done today. But when that thought crossed my mind it gave me pause. Do I need a "battle plan"? 

I will admit the last couple months of frustrations with the city and former employer and all of that has kind of put me in what feels like a war. It isn't a war of physical fighting, just a war to fight to get back to the surface and back to work. What if this thought, this energy is exactly why it is a struggle? 

What if I changed it around the same way I try to model and encourage for my girls? What if this isn't a struggle but an adventure? What if I don't need a battle plan but rather an adventure plan? The energy of that feels so much better to me.

So I move forward today with an adventure plan! It is also freeing other areas I didn't realize I was limiting myself. I feel bolder, braver because I am moving in a positive direction. 

I'm grateful when I am able to identify limiting beliefs. I'm grateful to notice a phrase that isn't sitting well and change it. I'm grateful to find a better phrase. I'm grateful to remind myself that I am an explorer of this life adventure. I'm grateful to keep exploring this trail with sure steps and even excitement. I'm grateful to know the path is worth the effort.

What phrases do you prefer? What imagery is helpful to you and which does not feel helpful? Are there any phrases that may be holding you back?

May today remind us of our power to create our story. May we choose the a path consciously and with excitement. Have a beautiful day!

Today is Memorial Day, a day to honor those who gave their life in service. I will admit, for myself, it is a day to reflect on all those I love that have passed away. I do not mean to belittle in any way the amazing sacrifice those in service have given. For me it is more an acknowledgement that people can make an impact on the lives of others in many different ways.

I think about the people like Martin Luther King Jr. who gave his life for a cause we are still fighting. I think about George Floyd whose life was taken and ignited the century old battle back to the spotlight for change. I wish that we lived in a world where it didn't take death, tragedy, and murder for human rights to be recognized. I hope that we will not need to lose any more lives to this war. But on this day I give my respects to all who have lost their life for this cause.

I think about Dominique Lucious and Chyna Carrillo. Unlike Floyd they received little press time and yet lost their lives just for being themselves. There are so many in the LGBT community that have been targeted only for being exactly who they were created to be. It is a quiet war that often goes without acknowledgement. On this day I would like to acknowledge their tragic sacrifice.  I hope, again, that no more lives need be taken to stop this war and accept people for who they are. 

I think about the homeless that have passed. I think about the children that have lost their lives in unfit conditions. I think about all the people who had to lose their life in order to spark change. And yes, military is one demographic of that. But to me, this day is to honor all who gave their lives in a way that hopefully makes the world recognize a problem and make changes.

I'm saddened for lives lost. I'm saddened for those who did not get to witness the effect they had on the world. I'm saddened for the loved ones that are left to fight that battle while carrying that pain. But I hold hope that change can be made.

I'm grateful for the small steps of progress we have made. I'm grateful for those pushing to make big changes NOW so we don't have to continue the war for civil rights another decade. I'm grateful for those who march. I'm grateful for those who put up flags. I'm grateful for those who speak up and for those who remember. I'm grateful to keep the conversation alive until change is truly made. I'm grateful for a day to make me remember, no matter how uncomfortable it is so that I do not become just another white person with my head in the sand. I'm grateful to do my best to remember every day, as many people as I can, and work towards a better world for all.

Who do you remember? What determines which wars count? How do you define "dying in service"? 

May those of us blessed to spend today with the ones we love recognize how special that is. May we not let it distract us from remembering those who need remembered, who need spoke of, and who need us to keep pushing for change. Have a beautiful day.

Did you know that physically writing something down is more effective in transforming thought and releasing distress than typing or just thinking the same thing? I don't know why this is, but many studies have been done. 

Typing a blog on my gratitude is great. It is a reminder to come back to gratitude during the day and it is a nice way to share something positive with the world. I hope that it helps, in some way, to bring some positivity to your life as well. 

My actual gratitude practice, however, is not here on the internet. It is in a journal next to my bed. I have debated switching to my reusable, wipe-clean notebook just to give the environment a little break from all the writing I do. For now, my gratitude remains on paper. 

Often I use a pen but I am big on coloring. There is something so soothing to just coloring in a picture. While I love the textures and tones I can make with a good colored pencil set, I still prefer markers. I love the steady streak it leaves. So it is only natural that sometimes I choose to write out my gratitude in marker.

My daughters love to color. My eldest drew this lovely picture for me right before Mother's Day. It is a picture of my standing next to my favorite tree with her and her sister climbing up me to give me a hug. I love the imagery of my love for trees whilst also being climbing tree for my children. 

I love sitting and coloring with them. I love sitting and coloring by myself. I can't help but wonder what physically happens in my body and brain when I color. Is it like when I write out my gratitude on paper? Does it settle deeper that I am doing it physically instead of on a screen? Even if it doesn't I will keep on coloring for my soul's joy. Please hand me a marker!

I'm grateful for this beautiful drawing by my daughter. I'm grateful for all the time we spend coloring together. I'm grateful for adult coloring books. I'm grateful to have a wonderful set of markers. I'm grateful for how coloring makes me feel. I'm grateful to write my gratitude in marker to add a little extra joy. I'm grateful to recognize the importance of still using a pen and paper to write out my thoughts, process my emotions, and celebrate the beauty in my life. I'm grateful for erasable notebooks that can be used again and again to help the environment. 

What brings you joy? When was the last time you colored? When was the last time you sat and wrote something in a physical journal? If you want to start, may I recommend a gratitude journal?!

May we remember to celebrate. May we do the things that bring out spirit joy. Have a beautiful day!

We may be nearing Summer but it feels like Spring is just arriving here. I'm not talking about all the rain we have gotten this last week. The last month has been roadblocks and hold ups at every professional turn. It has been a time of stress and frustration but also a time of exploration and expanding my dreams. 

This week finally feels like the wheels are starting to roll again. It is tiny steps forward but it's something. And at this point I will take any forward progress!

I'm so grateful to feel the energy building as I prepare to bloom into this next phase of life. I'm grateful to know I am not a solo flower in the garden but am surrounded by other beautiful buds ready to bloom as well. I'm grateful for those who have gone before me and paved the way. I'm grateful for those who will follow that I may be able to guide. I'm grateful to feel movement again after this time of stillness. I'm grateful to see now that I wasn't stuck as I felt but rather just building the energy to burst into something more. I'm grateful for the process and all it taught me and even more grateful to be moving on to the next phase!

What phase are you moving through right now? What does the energy of this phase feel like to you? 

May we remember every journey has different phases and cycles. If the space we are is uncomfortable, may we remember it will pass and a beautiful new phase is waiting. Have a beautiful day!