One Small Positive Thought

Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.

Dalai Lama

There was a time when I didn’t think much about how I started my day. I think how you finish your day is equally or even more important than how you start your day. I haven’t been focused on my nightly thoughts lately. And I’m just remembering that right now. Affirmations are great to start your day but what helps you start the day remembering your affirmations is saying them before bed!!

Oh my goodness. I can’t believe I forgot about that.

I’m Proud of Me -Yay!

A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.

Jane Austen

When I think about how far I’ve come, I get so proud of myself. It feels weird at first to be so proud of myself that I’m close to tears. But I’ve learned to let myself have these moments. In the past, I’d quickly take away the pride that came from my own growth and accomplishments. I’d tell myself that none of it was me and that I should be humble. I think there’s many reasons I took those moments away from myself but what’s interesting is that I never had to take those moments away from myself to learn that it was ok. We don’t have to suffer to be proud. You can be proud of yourself right now. But if you’re anything like me. then you’ll need a little more explanation.

What did it take for me to learn to be proud of myself?

Validating all of my feelings. You can’t be proud of tasks you’ve overcome if you don’t allow yourself to label them as tasks. If you gaslight yourself in times of struggle, you won’t allow yourself to see how powerful and resilient you really are. That leads to my next lesson, forgiving myself.

Stop shaming myself. When I wasn’t trained to validate my own feelings, I didn’t know how to find pride in my accomplishments. Now that I know the things I went through were hard for me and that it’s ok that they were hard for me, annnd that all my feelings were valid and welcome, I can look back and appreciate myself, rather than shame myself for not knowing better. My focus naturally shifts away from shame and more toward acceptance once I allow myself to validate my feelings in those past experiences.

Forgiving those around me for shaming me. Some people shamed me indirectly or unknowingly. Some directly. Either way, I know now that their shame is directly connected to their own limitations of self acceptance and have nothing to do with who I am or what I bring. I’m worthy regardless if someone sees my worth or not.

And so there you have it. The steps it took for me to have a healthy sense of pride in my accomplishments.

Cezanne on Emotions

Genius is the ability to renew one’s emotions in daily experience.

Paul Cezanne

I love how artists can find the genius is everyone. There’s something so accepting about artists with this mentality. It feels inviting to know that genius can be found simply by renewing your emotions. I say simply but truly it can be quite hard to renew your emotions. We can accidentally bombard ourselves with things that take us out of our element. I have a couple ways I’ve been renewing my emotions. Here’s a couple examples of how I allow myself to play with things that bring me joy.

I have this game called Kotodama Diary and it really just lifts my spirits. The goal is to make as many different creatures as you can by feeding them a different combination of words. You slowly gain more word options as you progress. It’s fun and cute and lights up my life.

My other current joy is the Bento box lunch ideas for kids and the pink gamer side of IG.

Annnd the one thing I try to do every morning is listen to Abraham Hicks. Most of her youtube shorts are reminders on how to welcome joy, find joy, get back on track type of conversations.

Daily evening routine is writing and that of course is so consistent, that I often forget how much joy it can bring me. Thankfully, I’ve found this cool new website called WordPress that let’s me write to myself daily and so the magical thing is when someone likes one of my older posts it’s like a little reminder to myself about writing.

This post will make a come back over the years and remind me to renew my emotions.

Thanks Me!

Case of the Sleepies

We count it as a certainty that everyone naps in paradise. 

https://www.shuteye.ai/sleep-well-quotes/

I appreciate a good nap, especially so today. Feeling a strong case of the sleepies. Today it was ok though. Got things done. And more.

It always amazes me how on sleepy days, I get as much or more work done. It’s like having exuberant energy just makes us feel better but it doesn’t always help us preform better. Then again some days it feels like things are much clearer when I have a cup of coffee. Feeling accomplished vs Seeing the Results hmm I’m gunna think about that.

Chicken Soup

A first-rate soup is more creative than a second-rate painting.  

Abraham Maslow

Chicken soup from my partner means the world to me. I’m not sure when it started but every time he makes it, it lights up my life. Today we celebrated our wedding anniversary and I found the night very peaceful and comforting. Our time together felt like chicken soup for our souls. I’d definitely call our date first rate soup date.

What’s it Mean Today?

We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.

Mary Dunbar

It is, isn’t it. I love this adventure of discovering myself. This quote means more to me today than it would have 10 years ago. Makes me wonder what it will mean to me ten years from today?

Hot Baths

I am sure there are things that can’t be cured by a good bath but I can’t think of one.

Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

Oh how I loves baths. I like to put on relaxing vibes, exfoliate my face, and wash my hair first then I sink into a hot bath with not a. worry in the world Well, sometimes. If it’s rough week, I put them hold during my bath if tried my best to release them and can’t quite shift. Either way, the bath is one of my favorite ways to disconnect.

Vulnerability

In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.

Phil Collins

I like that we’re made this way as human beans. I always learn when I teach (which isn’t very often). It can be a vulnerable thing, teaching. Especially when you’re new but what’s great is that it goes both ways. It can also be a vulnerable thing learning something new. What makes for the greatest connection is when both parties are vulnerable with healthy boundaries. Here’s a quote about vulnerability to close.

People who wade into discomfort and vulnerability and tell the truth about their stories are the real badasses.

Brene Brown

Climbing Mountains

“You never know what’s around the corner. It could be everything. Or it could be nothing. You keep putting one foot in front of the other, and then one day you look back and you’ve climbed a mountain.” 

Tom Hiddleston

I love how Tom’s quote (above) says one foot in front of the other. I like how it’s simple. Just one foot in front of the other. I think that sometimes we can complicate things with how many ways things get done but like this quote says, all you have to do is put one foot in front of the other. Some days just moving forward one step can be our best effort.

Where I tend to shift away from this quote is where I feel it’s less of a mountain, and more like we’re in a river. Because on a mountain if you don’t take a step you’re not going anywhere but life isn’t like that. Life continues on whether you’re making an effort or not. Then one day you look back and realize how much has gone by. Either you were present and you’re already away of how much has passed or you weren’t present and you have no idea what you missed unless someone tells you. From another perspective, you’re not going to be able to capture everything. The great thing about life is that we get new days and new beginnings to shift our focus toward the things we do desire to see along our journey.

I’m no sage but there was a point in my life where getting out of bed felt near impossible for me. The only reason I’d get out of bed was for my kid. I missed out on important things. I dreamed of being where I am now. Now that I’m here, all I can think is how happy I am that I allowed myself to REST!! I was so ashamed and sad that I was resting but this current Saschia could not be more proud of the woman I was and all that I went through during those times.

So it’s less about taking one step at a time, and more important to learn to appreciate the things passing by.