Mindful Monday: Simplicity of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is often an overlooked holiday. Let's face it, if you have stepped foot into any retail store since November 1, the only holiday you'd know is coming is Christmas. However, Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday of the year. 

Don't get me wrong. I love Christmas. I love the magic of it all. I love the twinkle lights and all the holly jolly music that encompasses the season. But at the end of the day, Thanksgiving is the best in my book. 

Hear me out. Thanksgiving is the best because of the simplicity of it all. It's all about food and family. And yes, I get that family is rarely simple. But generally speaking, it's a time to slow down and savor the moment, to take stock of our lives and reflect. It's a time to be grateful for all we do have. There's no perfect presents to go hunting for. There's little to no decorating to worry about, and no untangling of lights. Thanksgiving is simply about being, well, thankful.

I hope that you know next week when our students' families are counting their blessings, they are counting YOU among them for loving their child like your own. Next week, when your teammates or coworkers down the hall are reflecting on this semester, they are thinking of YOU and are thankful for your continued friendship and support. Next week, when you are taking stock of this season of life you find yourself in, know that YOU are blessing all those around you with your passion and talents, and we are all better off for it.

Happiest of Thanksgiving to You All!

Mindful Monday: Start

Starting something new is hard.

Changing up a habit can seem impossible. 

Branching out is scary.

However...

Never trying leaves you wondering what if.

Staying the same is boring.

Not changing can leave you with regrets. 

The first step is always the hardest. It requires you to be brave. It requires you to believe in something that you're not even sure is possible. It requires you to accept failure as a possibility. 

Being brave enough to try something new does not mean you're not afraid. Franklin D Roosevelt once said, "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear." If it's something that you can't stop thinking about, then it's important to you. And if it's important, then it's worth taking the risk.

Here's the best news of all. You don't have to wait to start. You don't have to wait until the calendar flips to a new month. You don't have to wait until the new year begins. And you certainly don't need anyone's permission to start. 

Start the new hobby you've been wanting to try. 

Start working towards a goal that is important to you. 

Give life to an idea that you've been contemplating for a while. 

Take that first step. Be brave enough to suck at something new. And frankly, that's usually the biggest hurdle you have to get over. You have to stop holding yourself to impossibly high standards. You have to give yourself room to fail and understand that it is a part of the process. Just start...you'll thank yourself later! 

Mindful Monday: Just Getting Through

How often have we told ourselves, "After I get through this week, things will slow down."? Or maybe you've said, "Once I see this commitment through, I'm not taking on any more." If you're in the same boat as me, too many times to count! 

Here's the thing...Life. Is. Busy. Period. It doesn't matter what phase of life you find yourself in. Life always seems busy! 

And the most unfortunate part of busyness, it often robs us of being present. When we are busy and just trying to make it through, life tends to pass us by. The saying, "The days are long, but the years are short," is so true! When we're grinding through, the days and weeks seem long. Yet somehow, when we look up, months have flown by and we're nearly the end of another calendar year. 

I can hardly believe we have officially changed the calendar to November. Where did this year go? Well, it passed me by while I was busy being busy. How many moments did I take for granted? How many moments did I let pass me by? 

I get we all have commitments, most of which we can't drop. Being busy often feels unavoidable. However, I strongly encourage you to take the time to be present. Stop and look up. Notice life. Appreciate the small things. Soak it in. Enjoy it all. Take a breath and just be. Try doing less. I know, I know, insert your laughs here. But really, try doing less and see how much more present you feel. If you have a moment, check out 5 Ways to Slow Down by Amy Senter.