Magic

I haven't been able to read much lately, but I found this one a couple weeks ago, and decided to go through it finally.  It's been sitting on a shelf, lonely and unread, waiting to work it's magic on me.  

And it has.  

Now, if you've read The Secret, you know it can be somewhat repetitive.  That's not necessarily a bad thing when dealing with a life-changing subject, so it didn't surprise me that this one reads similarly.  You get a small introduction, and then you're set on a 28-Day Challenge based solely on gratitude.  It's not the usual write 5 things each day either.  You're given a different subject every day and a list of to-do's.  

I've tried to do things like this before, and gratitude is always on my mind, but there is something about this book and being ready to really go through the process.  It's different this time, and while I still have some habits to break, I can feel a difference every morning that passes.

I think after so many years of living with my depressing limited thoughts, this is literally a breath of fresh air.  Is it for everyone?  Probably not, but that's okay.  

The one thing I've learned this past year is that what works for me isn't necessarily going to work for everyone.  If there is one thing you can take from my recent posts is that gratitude really can change your life.  How you get there is completely your choice, but this book will definitely help you.  I know I touched upon this in my last post, but never mentioned the book and after reading this morning, I thought I'd share it with you.

And that is my #MondayMotivation for you. 

Happy Monday :)

Happiness is...

It feels like I've been chasing happiness for so long that I was beginning to focus on the chase and not ever realizing that it was here already.  Always looking for the next book that would ensure happiness in 5 easy steps.  Writing about it.  Blogging about it.  Watching Oprah for God's sake.

Somewhere between changing diapers and endless bottle feedings, I have started to feel like myself again.  I'm walking and writing, setting crazy-unrealistic challenges, and above all, dreaming again.  My life feels like my own again, and just like that, happiness isn't something to chase anymore.

What I've learned is that happiness is a work in progress, a never ending intention at the beginning of every day.  For me, happiness comes in and out of my life like a season, or perhaps more like a sunny day in Michigan.  It has always felt as if I only noticed it when the moment has passed.  I haven't always enjoyed it when it graced me.

Life and/or work has always gotten in the way, but now it seems to be the catalyst for my lighter demeanor as of late.  One thing I know now is that happiness is a choice, and when your brain has a moment to slow down and actually make the choice, it comes to you more clearly.

Gratitude is another reason for the mood shift.  Happiness and gratitude should go hand in hand, because where there is one you'll always find the other.  I started a 28-day gratitude challenge 10 days ago (yes, even before the November gratitude month), and have found myself moved to tears most days.

In a nutshell, I am a bumbling idiot.

But a happy and grateful bumbling idiot.

It isn't perfect yet, but I am not worried about it.  My life is unfolding as it should, and I'm not going to miss any of it any longer.

I'm thankful for the messy days, because it makes the other days (okay, my days off) seem so much easier.

I'm thankful for the lazy moments, because I deserve them.

I'm thankful for kids that make mistakes, because that is how they learn.

I'm thankful  to live in a world with Blake Shelton, Ryan Gosling, and Bradley Cooper.

Seriously.  That is a given.

So what are you grateful for?  What happened today that was great, or even so-so?  What did you do today that made someone smile?

Answer these questions every single day.  And don't stop saying thank you.

This world can be a little unforgiving, and we can be really hard on ourselves.  The best thing you can do is start every day over with a grateful heart, thanking God for whatever you can think of.

Yes... even for Zac Effron :)

Who could forget about him?

Now, that is happiness.

For the Love

Every now and again a writer comes along and makes everything you're going through completely normal and almost (gulp) alright.

Every good thing.  Check.

Every bad thing.  Check.

Every embarrassing thing.  Check.

Everything you wouldn't tell your best friend.  Check!

Reading this book is kinda like sitting down and talking with your best friend.  The chapters are basically essays on love, marriage, friendship, motherhood, balance, all wrapped in faith.  Her honesty and logic are refreshing at a time when I seem to need them most.

I've needed someone to tell me (for a while now) that everything is as it should be.  I had a feeling it was, but it's nice to hear it from someone else.

It's funny - I've always believed in book karma... When you receive a book that you need at that very time.  Many times books can speak to us and teach us more about ourselves.

This is that kind of book.

Do yourself a favor and buy this book.   You won't regret it :)

Happy Monday!!

Time

If wasting time was a full time job, then I would get paid over time.

Possibly every week.

I could write books, train for marathons, and have a clean house if only I took my time more seriously.

Now this isn't supposed to be a guilt trip to get you to stop watching the Bachelorette.  Nor will I try to stop you from flipping on Facebook for the tenth time today.  

Just notice it.  Notice the time slipping away every single day.  How many times do you see someone post photos of their kids asking where the time goes?  It happens all the time.  

So, just for today, commit to stopping for one minute and just paying attention to what is going on around you.  Don't try to change or fix anything, just notice it.  The one thing I've notice this past week is that the problem isn't that I don't have enough time... I don't make enough time.  

I don't take my priorities seriously and haven't for a long time.  I'm too busy trying to comfort myself from daily life instead of getting on with what I'm supposed to be doing.  

The best thing about a birthday (or any big event) is the clarity that comes along, and I really try to make each year better.  I know this year's focus is going to be on time management and paying attention to what makes me feel good and what things can go.

It's a little like New Year's Eve for me tonight, without all the winter and regrets.  I look forward to 47 29 again this year and looking forward to making it the best one yet.  

Happy Birthday to me :)

Back to the Beginning with Grace

“Like a blinking cursor on an empty page, it was just the first thing. The beginning of the beginning. But at least it was done.”  ~Sarah Dessen

Back in 2008 I started a blog called Words to Live By, and it was one of my favorite things I had ever done as a writer.  I wasn't writing for anyone in particular - I don't think I even shared the link with anyone - I just wanted to start writing consistently for myself.  

And then something happened along the way.  People started reading, and seemed to like it, and suddenly I was feeling the pressure of writing for other people.  While I was flattered that others liked what I was doing, I also started to doubt the content I was posting on here.

Insert inner critic (I call her Sap after my incredibly mean high school lit teacher.)

Well, that's stupid.  Who wants to know about that?

You just did a post like this last month.

WHY CAN'T YOU COME UP WITH ANYTHING CREATIVE?

Fun fact about myself... I am only driven by positive words, so when I start listening to Sap, I completely and creatively shut down.  When I start writing for other people, even my people, I suddenly become the writer with nothing to say.

So I gave myself a time out and tried to figure out if I even wanted this anymore.  Is it worth the extra time and hassle of putting my heart on the internet for anyone to read... and even worse, judge?

The answer is yes.  The answer is always yes.  

Yes, please!

"Grace is available for each of us every day - our spiritual daily bread - but we've got to remember to ask for it with a grateful heart and try not to worry about whether there will be enough for tomorrow.  There will be." ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach

I bought this necklace in Nashville this past weekend to remind myself to make my writing habit a privilege and not a chore.  Being my birthday week, I often go back and see what's working and what's not.  This past year was one unlike anything I could've ever imagined (or maybe I did), and good, bad, and ugly, I am here now, looking forward to starting a new year and filling it with more words.  Should my words inspire you, well then I am grateful for that.  If not, that's okay too.

Feel free to share :)

Have a wonderful Monday...

Sunday Inspiration

Happy Sunday!

I am not going to bore you with any of my own thoughts today.  I know some of you like them, but lately my thoughts are boring myself.  I need to get out of my own head start something different.  

Youtube to the rescue.  

Here are the things that made this week inspired...

I get to take pictures like this at work.

I saw this in someone's bathroom at an open house.  Consider myself inspired.

This woman is my new hero...

My girl Lori has done it again.  Read this!!

So that's my week in a nutshell.... hope this helps you get through yours!!

Happy Father's Day to all those amazing dads out there :)

Endings and Beginnings

“All endings are also beginnings. We just don't know it at the time.”
~ Mitch Albom

So yesterday was my last shift ever at the rink, and it's just hitting me now that it was the last weekend I'll have to work.  The last shift I'll have to dread.  The last time I'll have to answer the same endless questions.

I know there will be other endless questions in my future, but we have a couple years for that.

For now, I am surprisingly content with the feeding-diaper-make faces cycle I have going on every three hours.  I actually feel like I have my life back for the first time is a long time.  Too long, if you ask me.

The past two months have been a whirlwind of changes.  Changes for my kids, for me, for seasons, and for my family.  Some are good changes and some are a little more difficult, but since I am here to find the #dailyinspiration in life, we are going to find the good in all of this.

The biggest thing I've learned in the past two months is that more than anything I need to write for myself again.  I spent a lot of time last year trying to figure out what anyone needed to hear.  Writing for an audience is the quickest way for me to procrastinate.  I will clean out junk drawers, do 5 loads of laundry, and bake a batch of cookies before I could figure out what to write to you.  (Yes, I've done all of that today).

The best thing you can do is immediately stop worrying about what everyone else expects from you.  Do your best in whatever comes your way and use your own judgement.  If something makes you

happy, keep at it.  If not, find a plan b, c, or d.

Which leads me to the next thing I've learned about change:  There are no rules.  Nothing in this world is permanent, and you can start over at any time.  Sometimes we are forced to start over, but hopefully it's your choice.  Either way, make up your own rules as you go.  Don't let anyone tell you how to do something, because nothing else matters other than how you feel or what you want.

Lastly, take your time.  Good things take time and by forcing or rushing change, you're just making it more difficult to see clearly.  If something doesn't work out, then it wasn't meant to be... trust me on this.  It has taken me years to get to this point where I feel like stars are actually lining up for me.  I'm not feeling that anxiety that says things like, "When this week is over, I'll relax."  Anxiety is a bitch and will always make you feel bad.

I left my anxiety in the left bottom drawer... the one with the candy :)

I also know that life is life and won't always be rainbows and butterflies.  But, for the time being (and a long time coming), I am happy with the changes... even the hard ones.

Are you ready for a change?