Thank you to Beth Kempton and the Winter Writing Sanctuary for this piece. January has me cleaning, organizing, settling things from the old year before I get into the new. (Because as far as I’m concerned, February and March actually start the New Year.) And as the dust settles from December, I notice there is SO MUCH stuff. I get nervous with too much stuff around. It piles up and all of a sudden, I have to get rid of it. All of it. More than I probably should. It’s like a light switch goes off. And I “MUST DEEP…
-
-
It’s the weird space after Christmas and between New Years. I used to work during this time. It was actually my busiest time of year since no one else wanted to work. This is the second year I’ve been off during this week’s holiday. And it is a LOT of space. I find myself discombobulated. I have plans, things to do, and I’m still “working” (on my own things.) It’s this weird space of “do all the things you can’t normally do while you are working FT” and “it’s a vacation not using your PTO days – make it count!”…
-
There has been much more talk and coverage about mental health, emotional health, “it’s okay to not be okay” than ever before. And yet, it still seems to be only the mild “unacceptable” emotions that have been accepted – sadness, depression, “not feeling okay.” I have yet to see a campaign showing anger, grief and despair being acceptable – though these are perfectly acceptable, healthy and sane emotions for anyone living here on planet Earth. I am always amused (ironically amused) that emotions heighten and get more insistent (ie: harder to hide) the closer we get to the end of…
-
And the sometimes not so positive consequences “When we have the courage to let go of the dream we have now – the dream and drive and trance to accumulate more – then we have the space to envision and create the new dream, a dream that sees us engaged in respecting, preserving, honoring what we have.” – The Soul of Money Lynne Twist I am baffled that within 3 years EVERYTHING has gone back to the way it was in 2019. It’s like 2020 and 2021 never happened. Am I the only one that has whiplash? Am I the…
-
This is a random post from my archives. Written in 2016 but still relevant today. Scarily relevant actually. With some updated tweaks of course. In the midst of the decorating, cooking, cleaning and prepping for the holidays, in true marketing fashion, it’s also the time to figure out… “What amazing things (Lose weight! Get organized! Get your finances in order! Pay off debt!) What are YOU going to do in the new year?!” OR “Who do you want to BE this year?” (That wonderful “don’t think you have to DO anything” just decide to work on yourself and be someone…
-
(and why how we think and talk about it all matters) Today is Thanksgiving day in the United States and I’m still ambivalent and frustrated…So today’s post comes from my pent up frustration and anger at the stories we tell ourselves that don’t serve us or the people around us. If the words “I am” are so important…(and they are) Why are we putting them before jobs, before roles, before hobbies, before things we prefer, when all of that can disappear in a heartbeat? We know that “I am” is so much bigger, so much larger and encompasses so much…
-
I am asking myself this question about my cozy mission. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, I got ALL the feelings. Trying to be cozy has definitely soothed my system. Though, I think sometimes I think I can ease and soothe my way out of any and ALL emotions. Well, that’s not honest. Honest Truth: Holidays are a disastrous free-fall for me, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I have a strong desire to turn toward the warmth and light at home, imagining simple holidays that I can, if not enjoy, then at least be present and somewhat comfortable. I have…
-
Every year the holidays come around and every year, I just want to opt out. Not because of trauma or bad memories – those are there – they just aren’t the reason. It’s all just TOO much. Even a hermit such as myself who tries very hard to distance herself from the news, the ads and the pressure, I just want to throw up my hands and give up. I want to consciously opt out. I know of many people who just mention it like they are brushing their teeth or getting gas in their car. I want to know…
-
Many people know and live a “multiple lives” reality. This is above and beyond “Don’t mention politics or hot button issues” in certain situations. Or by just not saying anything because it doesn’t matter and/or to keep the peace. It’s not just refraining from sharing certain parts of yourself. It’s knowing you truly have to put on different pieces for every part of your being to “be presentable” and “go out into the world.” It’s like putting on a spandex costume three sizes too small. Yet, millions do this every day – to support themselves, their families, in avoidance of…
-
“Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are.” Although this quote is widely attributed to Theodore Roosevelt, he credits it, in his Autobiography, Chapter IX, to Squire Bill Widener of Widener’s Valley, Virginia. I rephrase this a bit to myself all the time. (It’s what I do. And what we should do – make things work for YOU.) I rearrange the phrasing Do what you can, where you are with what you’ve got! We ignore the middle parts of the sentences. Not because we want to or even realize it, but because our brain actually doesn’t care…