Gratitude

It’s the 1st week in November my most favorite time of year. I love the holiday season it brings me so much joy to know that I will get to spend time with my family, get an extra few days off of work, and maybe get a nice gift or two. If you ever wanted me to do something or even give you anything if you ask around this time of year and you just might get it. I love the holidays right down to spend my Sundays watching Christmas Movies on Hallmark and Family Channel.Gratitude is something we often leave out because we get some complacent in our everyday lives that we forget that our lives could have been totally different. When do we stop and be thankful for the multitude of things that we do have and our blessed with. Do we complain about our jobs? (My hand is held real high on this one) Do we complain about our bills? Do we complain about being overwhelmed due to the many activities we chose for our lives(or our children’s lives)? But, think about it what if you didn’t have a job how would your survive. If we have bills that means we have lights, shelter, water, gas, and other necessities for life. We are blessed to have the ability to be overwhelmed and engage in many activities and place our kids in activities. It’s somewhere right now praying for your jobs, your bills, and your life.

Gratitude: “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.”

I’ve been working with a client on Mindfulness exercises and many of them have been about stopping and paying attention to things in our surroundings we normally ignore. To focus on what we hear, see, and smell. “Stop and smell the roses.” We spend so much time focused on what we’re buying for Christmas and so upset if we can’t afford things for our kids. But, is that really what the season is about just what we purchase. We need to stop and really focus on the true meaning of the season and be more giving of ourselves than of our money. We should challenge everyone try to do at least one thing this holiday season to do at least one act of kindness for someone else. Especially our children challenge them to think of one kind act they can do for others. They must decide on their own and make a plan to put it into action. This bring back the true meaning of the Holiday season.

 

 

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What’s your vision?

What’s your vision? Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Can you picture? If you can what exactly would you being doing  at this exact moment 10 years from now? This week in church my pastor discussed taking action in your life and start to make things happen. I realized that I have been slacking in so many areas that it is just pitiful. However, I also know it’s not too late to finish what I started and move on. My first step in this is creating and writing out my vision for my life. If you speak with any successful person many of them will tell you they set some goals and went for it.

So I’m going to do this I’m going to provide some vision to my thoughts and dreams. I’m going for it all the way. What’s the worst that could happen? The worst thing that could happen is that I FAIL. But, guess what? You can’t fail if you don’t try. Is there something on your heart to do? What is your dream? What is standing in your way? I’ll tell you what it’s “You.” Self-doubt and fear kills us all the time. It’s stops us from trying and moving forward in life. It’s why we stay in bad relationships, stay at terrible jobs, and settle for things in life. As long as were okay and things appear to be stable we fear taking that extra leap of faith and follow a hearts to true happiness.

You may be content with your life but, what if you could be more than content? What are willing to do to be extremely happy with a life full of meaningful acts?  Don’t be so quick to break you back to help others build their dreams when you can put the same effort into your own dream.

My Journey: Taking Care of Me

I think sometimes we get so boggled down with our kids and our marriage that we forget about us and what we need to do for ourselves. I try to be a firm believer that everything happens in ours lives happens for a reason.  This is easier said than done sometimes. Like right now I’m obsessing on how it is taking 7 years to complete a 2 year graduate degree. This is something I want (I think I want it) and it’s something I need to move further in my career.

I’m sitting here trying to figure out how I managed to get a 4 year degree while having toddlers and here it is my kids are teenagers and I can’t seem to find the time or focus to finish this degree that can expand my career and take it to another level. Where did my drive and ambition go to I focus so much on my kids that it just slowly left me and now I’m just focused on how to get them through these years and off to college themselves.

I’ve given myself until the Spring 2016 semester to return to school not only because it’s important but, because I will be dropped from my program. I’m starting to think that I’m letting the fear of failure hold me back from achieving my goals. It’s hard when you have this nagging voice telling you to give up. And then it’s a little voice telling you to push forward.

So, here today I plan to focus on moving forward and I will finish my degree and accomplish something that I hold near and dear to my heart. If that means the kids will have to take a back seat for a semester so be it. I’m determined to finish what I started.

If you have a dream, goal, or a push to do something. Get off your butt and do it because the only way to fail is if you try. You can’t fail if you never tried in the first place. Join me in putting on our big girl/boy pants and making things happen in our lives.

“Fear is a self-imposed prison that will keep you from becoming what God intends for you to be.  You must move against it with the weapons of faith and love.” (Rick Warren)

Crazy Lady

Setting the Bar

As the new school year approaches I find myself thinking about what are the expectations I’m setting for my kids this year. I have added some components to help us be organized such as a Family Command Center

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/356136283011453760/ . This is not my actual command center; however, it is what I am working towards. I often get a lot of my peers on Facebook inboxing me about how do I keep my kids on track (honor roll, high test scores, and athletics). My answer to that is I set standards and expectations for my children. This has been something my husband and I have done since they entering preschool. This goes for school work and behaviors.

If you allow your child to think that “C’s” are acceptable than you will start to get “C’s.” I have high expectations for my children because I am fully aware of what their capabilities. If they struggle I remind them of the importance of working harder. We live in the world where nothing is impossible but, it is all a matter of how much effort are you willing to put into it. Have confidence in your children and be aware of their needs. Children will see your confidence and they will learn to have confidence within themselves. Praise your children when they meet your expectations and offer them assistance and encouragement when they do not. Once you set the bar it goes pretty far in raising hardworking children.

Just a reminder teachers can not do it alone. It’s the love, support, and participation from parents that take our children to the next level.