Mindfulness...

My life has changed.
That's a pretty powerful first sentence. I mean, of course things are different. Everyone goes through moments and seasons and life. If we never changed because of that..well, I suppose we would be doomed to repeat all of our past mistakes and relive all of our failed chances.
That sounds depressing.
Here's when it happened for me.
I made a mindful decision to stop. To stop living in anger. To stop welcoming fear. To stop worrying and wondering and waiting. To stop the cycle of emotional abuse I was inflicting upon myself. I stopped trying to "keep up with the Joneses". I stopped explaining. I stopped making excuses. I just stopped.
I practiced a mindful routine of peace. I participated in a daily ritual of calm meditation. I let life happen. I released my need to conspire for control. I accepted who I have become. I made allowances for my imperfections.  I stopped sweating the small stuff.
Because it's ALL small stuff.
And, somewhere along the way, I realized that I was writing here less and less. The reason why? Because I didn't need the world to participate in all the little things that had hurt me. Because they STOPPED hurting me.
Of course that doesn't mean that I have nothing else to say to the world.
I want to share my journey with all of you. I want to give you the tools to stop floundering in the world and start LIVING in it. I want to experience this NEW season of my life out in the open...completely raw and exposed. I want you to celebrate success with me...and dust off the stumbles with grace. I want a different ending to my story, and I want YOU to want that too.
So we carry on. I will dedicate myself anew to this small corner of cyberspace. I will make it a daily habit to write, to create, to study, to live, to share and to love.
Will I make mistakes? Of course. Will I get caught up in the hustle of the everyday? Probably. Will I forget the way from time to time? Yes. Will I give you all the ugly, inconvenient, painful truths that I encounter? Always.
A new season of mindfulness. Because it's time.

Namaste and Blessings.
XOX

Yo, Winter..

I am SO over you. Move along.
I really want to blog...but I'm just too cold to form words.
Wait for it.....


XOX

A New Year and Other Nonsense...

Sweet Fancy Moses...what happened to the last year? How is it possible that not only is it a NEW year...it's already 16 days in?! No matter, I will fill you in.
Last we spoke, I had moved into a new home (which I LOVE...finally starting to feel like we LIVE here.), had started school (which right now I DO NOT love...), and were preparing for the holiday season. Well, the holidays are over (thank goodness!) and I think it's safe to say that everyone was pleased with the outcome. We scaled back quite a bit this year (minus a super expensive..but so very thoughtful new Mac computer from my husband.) and supplemented with homemade gifts and such...but everyone was together and warm and happy. And that's really what it's all about. We went to the candlelight service at church and I felt renewed and ready to take on a new year.
I received a beautiful journaling Bible for Christmas and have been so immersed and engrossed in it ever since. I started a year long study on January first...and have been doodling and lettering my little heart out! Funny the things you think you aren't very good at are the very things you find enjoyment in. I don't pretend to be artistically inclined...but I am learning and loving the journey.

I've also been hard at work on setting up my new planner for the new year. It's full of inspiration, words of encouragement, oh...and appointments. There's always plenty of those. I don't feel the need to be quite as forthcoming with it as I was last year..mainly because this year is a little more personal and low key. Remember that comment about scaling back? Well that has applied to the rest of our lives as well. We are living a much quieter, simpler, family oriented way of life....and I, personally, am loving it.
But I might share a FEW things with you. You know, the important stuff.
I'm hard at work on my Bachelors degree. Just started a new semester with an invitation to join the Honor Society. I'd say that I'm on the right track. Motivation has been a little lax...because it's cold and wintery outside and I really just want to hunker down and read lots of books. But, I'm getting there. Psychology is completely fascinating and excruciatingly boring....at the same time.
We have a new puppy addition here. Tobias. He's an adorable nugget of evil. Having a puppy is much like living with a toddler, a tsunami, and a speeding bullet train all at once. Everything important (read pretty, valuable, or just likable) has been relocated, removed, or replaced. And he loves his hooman mama....so I guess we'll keep him.

How could you not?
So there you go. I don't know what else to say. I started working on some really deep enlightened posts...guess I'll get back to encouraging the universe and imparting my immense wisdom. HA! But seriously, be on the lookout for those posts coming soon. And I promise to update you with new house pictures...as soon as I tackle the sink full of dishes and the basket full of dirty laundry.
Let's chat again soon.


Peas.
XOX