I need to apologize…
It has been a ridiculous amount of time since I have posted and I feel like I owe my few loyal readers an explanation. All excuses aside…I simply got overwhelmed. It would appear that starting a 50 hour a week job, starting grad school, and moving was a bit much for me to handle! Unfortunately, that meant the blog got sacrificed. But…fear not…I have not totally forsaken my little online home and hope to be making more regular posts in the near future…I can see the end of the chaotic tunnel! I think I just about have hubby trained as my housework sidekick and I feel a rhythm coming on! All it takes is a little more effort in the planning department and I should be back in the saddle again (Aerosmith anyone??). I really appreciate...
Big can be Beautiful
I was sitting out in my backyard the other day staring around at the different trees and bushes that are blooming and I had a thought…”the bigger tree really is the most beautiful”. Then, as someone who struggles with weight and body image I started to create an analogy in my head, related to my trees. This tree is huge…it has a big trunk, a big system of roots, big branches and it covers a big section of my backyard. But you know what else it is? It’s beautiful. It has beautiful, green leaves and it provides wonderful shade in the heat of the summer. It is the picture of strength and confidence. No little wind is going to knock down this tree – it is going to stand strong. And even though it might lose some...
On the Road Again – Part 1
My parents are on a soul-searching trip across the eastern part of the US, and they agreed to share some of the more poignant moments of their trip. I’m so excited that they’re able to do this trip and I am hoping that they are able to experience a sense of freedom and peace while they explore and contemplate their places in life. They are driving and stopping whenever they feel the urge, doing some hiking, beach strolling, camping and general sightseeing. I’m so glad they agreed to share some of their photos and stories…I know there are a lot of people who wish they could do what my parents are doing and enjoy living vicariously through them! Here is their first update from the Shenandoah River State Park in Virginia: An Owl...
Wanna Stay Married? You Gotta Talk!
I’ve discovered, again, how important communication in a marriage really is. It’s amazing how easily it is to slowly stop talking about what you deem “the small stuff” until one day you wake up and realize you don’t talk about anything, big or small. You each go about your days engrossed in your own jobs, your own friends, your own experiences and feelings until eventually you feel like you are living with a roommate. You forget what it was like when you actually focused on your relationship instead of focusing everything on your future, your finances, your career, etc. You forget what it was like to get excited when your partner came home from work, or took you out to a movie…the excitement, the spark, the connection is...
Embracing the weirdness
I was having a conversation with the hubby the other day and it went something like this: “I know this is dumb, but I…blah blah” then I said “I know this is lame but I feel like…” then I told him “this is really weird but I want to…”. Finally he interrupted me with “why do you think everything you think, do or want is dumb, lame or weird??” Huh. I was speechless for a minute because I hadn’t realized that all of those insecure thoughts in my head were coming out in my conversation. I was actually a little ashamed to realize that I was criticizing the part of my personality that essentially makes me who I am…the weird and quirky, yet fun and loveable side of me. I was...
Women, take care of yourselves!
Whether it’s a perceived lack of time, lack of worth or lack of support, many women feel that it is impossible to concentrate on taking care of themselves in addition to everyone else they feel they must take care of. Mothers and grandmothers have an especially difficult time feeling generous toward themselves, often neglecting their own health and boundaries in order to indulge others around them. What these women must understand is the profound impact that self-care can have on their bodies, their relationships and their peace of mind. Self-care can include anything from a bubble bath with candles, to simply practicing positive thoughts for five minutes a day. Studies have shown that self-care greatly reduces stress, thus improving the...