The Write Stuff

From where I currently sit, I can see out the living room window into my backyard. I enjoy this view because it’s not a distracting one (no scandalous neighbourhood antics in these parts) but also, my living room makes me feel at peace. It’s a calm and cohesive space (especially

Let It Shine

Ever get the feeling that time is slipping through your fingers and all you can do is watch in motionless horror? It’s the second week into 2019 and already I’m in a panic thinking about all the things I still have to do before I return to work in October- after my luscious 18-month maternity leave. If I looked up studies on mood levels around this time of year, I get the feeling they’d likely note that this is the week when all the excitement of the New Year dips low and all the goals we made for ourselves start to go by the wayside. We start to get suffocated by the clouds rolling in and instead of the New Year “I can totally do this” attitude, we might slowly transition into the “but can I really?” phase.

When I feel these negative feelings creeping in I try to be proactive in recognizing it, calling myself out on it and doing what I can to practice gratitude in order to stay positive. This is, of course, easier said than done. Here are some ways I have found helpful to combat these impulses from dragging me under.

When Might It Be Appropriate to Punch Someone?

I found out this past summer that my husband and I are expecting and it’s been a crazy rollercoaster ride ever since (also because it feels like I’ve been pregnant since 1992). I haven’t written anything in a while for a few reasons: I have very low energy and drive; a bad case of writers block and mostly, the things I wanted to write about were off limits because not everyone knew I was expecting. But today, I’m throwing caution to the wind mainly because all of my people are sick of hearing my dramatic complaints and I need another avenue to channel my peace and writing has always sorted me out.

Being pregnant, like any other life altering event, is

Feeling Blue?

Something to think about the next time you are feeling low and stressed. I read the following in the paper:

Cultivate gratitude
Carve out an hour a day for solitude
Begin and end the day with prayer, meditation, reflection
Keep it simple
Keep your house picked up
Don’t overschedule
Strive for realistic deadlines
Never make a promise you can’t keep
Allow an extra half hour for everything you do
Create quiet surroundings at home and at work
Go to bed at nine o’clock twice a week
Always carry something interesting to read
Breathe- deeply and often
Move- walk, dance, run, find a sport you enjoy
Drink pure spring water- lots of it
Eat only when hungry
If its not delicious, don’t eat it
Be instead of do
Set aside one day a week for rest and renewal
Laugh more often
Luxuriate in your senses
Always opt for comfort
If you don’t love it, live without it
Let mother nature nurture
Don’t answer the telephone during dinner
Stop trying to please everybody
Start pleasing yourself
Stay away from negative people
Don’t squander precious resources: time, creative energy, emotion
Nurture friendships
Don’t be afraid of your passion
Approach problems as challenges
Honor your aspirations
Set achievable goals
Surrender expectations
Savor beauty
Create boundaries
For every “yes”, let there be a “no”
Don’t worry; be happy
Remember, happiness is a living emotion
Exchange security for serenity
Care for your soul
Cherish your dreams
Express love everyday