Mindful Monday: The Universe is Talking, Are We Listening?

I feel like the universe has been yelling at us, at society as a whole, to slow down, spend more time with our family, and learn to be content with being still. I mean, wasn't that the "takeaway" of 2020? 

And only two months into 2021, we found ourselves trapped at home again. Only this time, the absence of power, water and food were thrown into the mix. 

Were we too quick to forget the lessons from 2020? Did we just rush into finding a new normal that we didn't take away anything we learned along the way? 

This last week was a huge wakeup call to refocus on what's truly important and a startling reminder to focus on what we can control. 

Saying I'm exhausted is an understatement. And while my week was no picnic, I know good and well others had it worse. Yes, we lost power dozens of times over the course of four days; however, I know many lost power for days and days. Yes, we have had to boil our water for the last several days and will have to continue to do so for the foreseeable future, but I also know that many have had no running water. At the end of the day, I just want to say that  I. See. You. 

To say this last week as been hard doesn't begin to describe what we went through and experienced. At this point, I would imagine that many of you may very well be in a similar headspace and are just trying to make it, just trying to get our footing, trying to figure out when groceries will be back in stock, and when I don't have to worry about running out of clean water. 

I do want to leave you with this thought. Over the course of the last year, we have talked a lot about the importance of self-care. Perhaps we need to shift to the importance of overall wellness, as sometime self-care can seem indulgent. Please, please make your wellness, both physical and mental wellness, a priority. Continue to give yourself grace, allow yourself time to process, and don't feel guilty when you make you and your family a priority. 

​As for the universe, we hear you loud and clear. We need to care for each other more. We need to continue to keep our family and friends our true priority. We need to slow down. And we could all live our lives with a little more gratitude.

Mindful Monday: PTSD

We're four days into this most bizarre Arctic weather phenomenon with the prospect of several more to go, and if it were any other year, I'd be enjoying this great moving watching, snuggle up with a good book and stay in your comfy jammie weather. 

However, just coming off 2020, the PTSD is real. The kicker this time around is that not only can we not go anywhere because the roads aren't safe, we can't even go outside, as it's simply too cold. Being cooped up at home is hard enough, but being cooped up at home while your whole life happens under one roof may just be my tipping point. 

With this Arctic blast, we are being asked to work virtual from home, my son's school has converted to virtual learning through Thursday in an attempt to wait out the weather, and of course, daycare is closed, so my 2 year old is also home. Meanwhile, my husband is trying to work from home among all the chaos.

The stress of it all, trying to keep it all together, trying to keep it all going, it's just too much. I share this with you hoping that if you, too, find yourself at your limit, know that you are not alone. I find myself longing for the days when a bad weather day was just an unexpected day off to spend with your family, not an unexpected day where all aspects of your life have to happen under one roof simultaneously. The overwhelming exhaustion is real! 

Hang in there and stay warm! 

Mindful Monday: Just Breathe

Has anyone told you recently, "What's wrong?, Is everything okay?" or my personal favorite, "You look tired!" It's code for: Whatever you are doing, it's not working. 

Each week, I try to share a tidbit that I hope lifts you up or encourages you to reframe whatever may be happening in your life. Today, I come with nothing but the raw truth. I'm tired. 

They say it's not healthy to "burn your candle at both ends", that you need to prioritize your responsibilities and take time for yourself. And I agree. 

However, the reality of it is that not only have I been burning my candle at both ends throughout this pandemic, my candle seems to be in full meltdown mode at this point. I've been powering through, doing what needs to be done, taking care of business, telling myself that this can't last forever. But at this point, I find myself running on steam. My tank is empty. 

I can hardly wrap my head around the fact that we've been living in crisis mode for 11 months, almost an entire year.  Just the idea of it makes me tired. 

So I ask you today, when was the last time you stopped and took a moment to just breathe? My guess would be, it isn't nearly often enough. So, do it with me now. Close your eyes and Just. Breathe. And again, Just. Breathe. I don't know about you, but the simple act of quieting my mind and taking in a deep breath is completely relaxing. It's quick, it's free, it can be done anytime and anywhere and yet, I don't do it often enough. 

I challenge you this week, when the stress is creeping in, when your frustration level is on the rise, and when you find yourself just plain tired, do yourself a favor and Just. Breathe! Slowly but surely, you will start to blow out those flames. 

Mindful Monday: Make the Time to Be Kind

 "Each day is filled with missed opportunities. Don't let today be one of those days." -Jimmy Casas

How often do you get to work and hit the ground running? How often does lunch roll around before you realize that you haven't said hi to the teacher down the hall much less had a restroom break? How often is our day filled with "urgent" matters that we don't make time for the "important" stuff? My guess would be, far too often. 

Don't let the grind of each day, the urgent tasks that await us and the pressing matters in our inbox fill our days so much so that we let opportunities pass by us. 

When was the last time you sent a "thank you" email? How about an "I'm thinking about you" text? If you can't remember the last time you checked in with a co-worker not in your hallway, then there is no time like the present. 

With February being referred to as Kindness Month, let's start spreading some kindness! 

What if each and every one of us started our day by sending a quick positive email, a short handwritten note, text, or phone call? 

No, really! I challenge all of us to start our work day a little different. Instead of starting your day off focused on your never ending to-do list, take the first 60-90 seconds to start your day with an attitude of gratitude. Not only would you start your day on a bright note, think of the impact you are making on the recipient. There is no time like the present to let someone know how special they are to you. You will never regret the opportunities you take, only the ones you miss. 

Here's to making more time for the important things in life!