Hey You, You're Okay!

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.

Love them anyway.

-Dr Kent M Keith

Today I am grateful for moments of clarity. 

I had a down week last week. I just felt off and a little sad. I couldn't figure out exactly why or what was wrong but, I tried to pay attention to that feeling. I began to insert reasons for that emotion - perhaps I need to see a few more friends, perhaps I need to work more, busy myself more, spend more time with my kids or my husband. I had a litany of reasons for my feeling. 

Then, it hit me. I didn't have to have a reason for feeling sad. I could just say, Okay Sara, I'm sad this week. Feel it. Let it in and move on. 

I think so often, as a culture of 'Why' we focus our energies on figuring every darn thing out. I often forget that it's okay not to have a reason, an answer and a fix-it solution. Sometimes we just feel things, just because and for no other reason than we are human. 

Once I accepted this, guess what happened? It went away. Magically, as if answering my own need for clarity I just loved myself despite my sad feelings and then they moved on. As if my emotions needed validation, got it and went on their merry way.

Obviously, if those feelings linger on a while and affect your functioning then you should seek out reasons, assistance and possibly therapy. But, if you're just having a sad week - it's okay. Hug yourself, love yourself and accept your emotions as reminders of your ability to feel.

What are you grateful for today?

Health Really Is The Most Important Thing

Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.

-Hippocrates 

This week was a little busy, thus the lack of gratitude posts (not a lack of gratitude in and of itself!).....

Today I am grateful for good health and healing.

 My 17-year old son was just diagnosed with a knock out dose of mono. As he lay sleeping at 4 pm for the fifth day in a row, I am surrounded by the sounds of laughter, followed by fits of coughing from both my 4 and 10 year old daughters watching Monster's University in the basement.

Ping! On my way home from the pediatrician with my two asthma girls my phone receives a text. My 14 year old is letting me know that she has a terrible headache. I am sure she will be home tomorrow. With her mono ridden brother. And her asthma recovering sisters. Party.

Putting in Mommy overtime is never easy and in the past it was just downright overwhelming. But, recently as my older ones get, well, older I know that these opportunities to care for them and enjoy them (even sick) will be farther and fewer between. So, today I have decided to be grateful for good health and grateful for the opportunity the healing is offering. A break for them from their stressful lives in school and a break for me from the monotony of our busy life.

To good health, easy breathing and healing naps.

What are you grateful for today?

Clearing Out The Noise

“We live, in fact, in a world starved for solitude, silence, and private: and therefore starved for meditation and true friendship.” - C.S. Lewis

Today I am grateful for space and solitude.

Sometimes life is hard, noisy, full of life traffic and obligations. It was so nice to let mindfulness fill the spaces of my mind and time today. All of my children were away all day and for hours, instead of minutes, I was able to consciously think, feel, accept and rest. Renewed start for a long, exhausting and stress-filled week.

What are you grateful for today?

Moment of Silence

If we will be quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every disappointment.

Henry David Thoreau 

Today I am grateful for my moment of quiet and sleeping children. 

This was one of those crazy, drama filled days where a mother spends worrying about every child in the house. There isn't enough love in the world to describe how I feel and empathize when my children have a hard day and hurt feelings. 

At the end of this day, sitting alone in a quiet room for just the briefest of moments, I contemplate the amazing gifts that lay on these soft pillows. Strong children, learned mistakes, anticipation for tomorrow and peaceful sleeps. 

Kissed cheeks, little nuzzles and whispers of I love you as I walk the rooms in this little warm home.

What are you grateful for today?

Sometimes You Bite The Bullet

Progress always involves risks.  You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first.  ~Frederick B. Wilcox

Today I am grateful for being brave enough to try new things. 

A few years ago, I bit the bullet and started my own business. It isn't a multi-million dollar penny maker yet but it's growing. I always wanted to be a writer and thought that you have to get some sort of plaque or award that declares you one, but turns out if you write and people read it and come back for more, then hey, you're a writer.

So, I took my skills to the pavement and grew myself some bid-ness.

 Today I had a meeting. No big deal. Except this meeting was for a larger client than I have had thus far and with five men. It's always a little nerve wracking for me to walk into a strange room filled with men and be the lil woman in the room. I guess I still have some growth to do on that part, but somewhere in my insecurities lay a little girl weirded out to be in a room of big scary men. 

I went in confident and prepared and kick some construction worker butt, if I do say so myself.

Sometimes we sit and pay too much attention to that beating heart of anxiety and let it hold us back. In the past, maybe in my 20s I would have probably had cold feed and been too afraid to go forward with my own thing. As I finish up my last year in my 30s I feel more confident and capable with each year. It's pretty amazing that bravery can come to someone who used to be afraid to go up to the counter in a restaurant alone and place my order.

I've come a long way baby.

What are you grateful for today?  

Getting To The Know

Knowing Yourself is The Beginning of All Wisdom – Lewis Carrol

So often you keep things inside. You build up resentments and tell yourself ‘its just not worth it’ to say something. You keep those emotions bottled up until they explode in the heat of an argument. A loud discussion about an oil change forgotten suddenly becomes about that time 10 years ago he forgot your birthday gift and that other time he didn’t remember to water the plants.

You say yes, when you really mean no. You become a version of yourself filled with regret and resentment, instead of peacefulness.

Today I am grateful for my ability to express myself.

I am not talking about a big mouth. Although I may get a little bout of verbal diarrhea now and again, I like to think I have a filter. When someone pisses me off, I say so. When I’m paying for service and not getting it, I express it.

Although I didn’t always, I have learned to say no gently, when I really don’t want to volunteer for something, help out with that activity at the school or watch your kids on a day that isn’t working for me. I have also bumped up my acceptance. I can now say yes when I really do want pie or another piece of pizza, instead of worrying how many people are watching me pig out.

Most importantly, I have learned to say how I feel. Share how I feel and listen to how others feel.

It’s not easy and I’ve not yet perfected these automated responses from my gut. But, I am much better at this than I used to be.

Recently, for fun, I took an online test my husband sent me from the New York Times. This emotion-reading quiz offers photos with just a pair of eyes. You have to examine those eyes closely to figure out what they are ‘saying’ with no other information.  Once I realized I got all of them right but one, I realized I have a gift for emotion reading (oh, and I beat out my husband!).

The ability to emote can be learned if its not innate to you. Teaching your children to express their feelings are some of the best ingredients for learning to trust, love and acceptance. Even when those feelings that are angry, disappointment or frustration they are all feelings that when brought out loud can allow you to feel and change the dynamic of an unhealthy relationship into a good one.

Being grateful for knowing yourself, strengths and weaknesses, allows us to hold up that mirror and like what you see.

  How are you grateful today?

Oh Happiness, Where Are Thou?

For the last 10 years I have started my morning with a cup of joe. I fought the addiction for years, but alas motherhood, insomnia and a very persistent husband made me cave. I have never regretted the move towards my pick me up and in fact have come to savor the solitude of my morning ritual.

Prompted by a quote I heard on the radio one morning, I began to think about incorporating yet another ritual but, at the end of my day. As life so often does, I got busy and put that idea on the back burner. Then today I saw this quote again:

If you want to find happiness, find gratitude.      

Cosmic message received.

Please follow me on my daily journey to the ends of the day and back looking for joy and thankfulness for all I have and all I am.

I am hoping this new cup at the end my day will offer inspiration into your own moments of gratitude.