Last week was all about change, including my good friend leaving to embark on a trip to chase her dreams. The concept of goals and dreams has been on my mind lately - with the statement "one day" following each thing I daydream about.
One day.
Has anyone else used this statement extensively - so much so that you don't even believe yourself anymore when you say it? Where is this one day? Does it actually exist?
Today has been a reflective day, where did goal setting and action plans go? I was that person that had the to do list for each day, week, month and year. I was always moving towards something. Now I have spent time trying to focus on the now. Throughout 2014 I was focused on myself and living in the moment. It was a great year with 2 great adventures. Now, here in 2015 - I am realizing I don't know how to set the next goal and action plan and have reverted to the "one day" statement to answer every question thrown at me.
So - turning "One day" into "Today"
After reading an article about a woman I went to university with (a friend of a friend) who will be embarking on a solo hiking trip this summer - I was inspired. I am switching my "one day" to "today" - my "someday" to "today" - my excuses to actions.
Oh and did I mention - I am absolutely terrified?!?
I am an amazing cheerleader - if you have a goal and want someone to support you in taking that leap - I am your woman! However, to do it myself is terrifying. I know how to cheer on the leaper, not be the one that jumps. The only problem is, as the cheerleader living in the world of "one day" I watch others achieve their goals, while remaining in the same place. Anyone that has stood on the sidelines likely knows what I am taking about.
So, although I don't have a plan or action steps or anything yet - I am making the declaration that I am moving from "one day" to "today." I am dusting off my dreams, deciding which ones still fit and making an action plan.
Stay tuned to find out what I am going for and how I am about to turn dreams into goals!
Sunday, 3 May 2015
Sunday, 22 March 2015
A lesson from the Cupboard
With the start of Spring, comes the desire to clean ones home from top to bottom. I am not sure why it is that spring cleaning seems to be something I actually find myself doing each year, but I guess it is because I love the feeling after it is done - the freedom, the space, the freshness of a place.
This year I started spring cleaning a little bit earlier. Part of my thought process was to start looking at and getting rid of those things I don't use around the house, in order to prepare for finding my own place again. I love the neighbourhood that I am currently in, which means I will have to sacrifice space for location, so it is time to start taking inventory.
When I got to my bathroom cupboards, I opened up one of the doors and as I was pulling things out, I realized I had THREE partial bottles of lotion on the go. So, to some this might not seem like a big deal, but when thinking of living in a small space this just isn't going to work. I looked at each of them, true they were each a different scent, but why did I need three different lotions on the go? When I sat them on the counter, I realized I had one more right there. A glance at my shower was even more embarrassing, two sets of almost empty shampoo and conditioner bottles as well as the two sets I currently use. (Why I am admitting this all online, I am not entirely sure).
Then I hit the kitchen and opened the fridge door to find 2 partially eaten containers of hummus in the fridge. One was almost done, and the other one was about half done.
I kind of giggled at myself and asked "So why can you not finish anything before moving on to the next thing." BOOM - right there, it hit me. After all the personal development workshops I have gone to and the books read; the lesson was in my fridge and cupboards - why can I not finish anything before moving on to the next. The saying that is repeated in almost every personal development type workshop I have been in is, "How you do one thing, is how you do everything." So if this is true, my inability to complete a task before moving on to the next is a pattern, not only in my lotions and my hummus, but in my life. As something is coming to an end, I start looking for the next thing to fill the gap - not providing space - or time for an ending.
So I have been challenging myself to finish things around the house, whether it be a bottle of lotion, the container of hummus, the task at hand, or the to do list. My goal for March is to start finishing things and then get rid of the empties and create space.
I have managed to get rid of the empty bottles that have been piling up in our storage locker by donating them to charity.
I now make sure that one jar is done before another is opened in the fridge.
I am still working on the lotions, but two of them are decreasing in volume, depending on if I shower in the morning or evening.
And I am almost down to a reasonable number of shampoo and conditioner bottles in the shower.
I have learned:
that things can come to an end and it is alright,
that if something needs to be replaced, I can replace it,
that the extra space does not need to be filled - especially if there are three more items that do the same job in the cupboard, and
to focus on what I need, why I want things and what is important.
All these great lessons, that started from spring cleaning and a few extra bottles of lotion.
Insight can be found anywhere - you just have to be open to it.
This year I started spring cleaning a little bit earlier. Part of my thought process was to start looking at and getting rid of those things I don't use around the house, in order to prepare for finding my own place again. I love the neighbourhood that I am currently in, which means I will have to sacrifice space for location, so it is time to start taking inventory.
When I got to my bathroom cupboards, I opened up one of the doors and as I was pulling things out, I realized I had THREE partial bottles of lotion on the go. So, to some this might not seem like a big deal, but when thinking of living in a small space this just isn't going to work. I looked at each of them, true they were each a different scent, but why did I need three different lotions on the go? When I sat them on the counter, I realized I had one more right there. A glance at my shower was even more embarrassing, two sets of almost empty shampoo and conditioner bottles as well as the two sets I currently use. (Why I am admitting this all online, I am not entirely sure).
Then I hit the kitchen and opened the fridge door to find 2 partially eaten containers of hummus in the fridge. One was almost done, and the other one was about half done.
I kind of giggled at myself and asked "So why can you not finish anything before moving on to the next thing." BOOM - right there, it hit me. After all the personal development workshops I have gone to and the books read; the lesson was in my fridge and cupboards - why can I not finish anything before moving on to the next. The saying that is repeated in almost every personal development type workshop I have been in is, "How you do one thing, is how you do everything." So if this is true, my inability to complete a task before moving on to the next is a pattern, not only in my lotions and my hummus, but in my life. As something is coming to an end, I start looking for the next thing to fill the gap - not providing space - or time for an ending.
So I have been challenging myself to finish things around the house, whether it be a bottle of lotion, the container of hummus, the task at hand, or the to do list. My goal for March is to start finishing things and then get rid of the empties and create space.
I have managed to get rid of the empty bottles that have been piling up in our storage locker by donating them to charity.
I now make sure that one jar is done before another is opened in the fridge.
I am still working on the lotions, but two of them are decreasing in volume, depending on if I shower in the morning or evening.
And I am almost down to a reasonable number of shampoo and conditioner bottles in the shower.
I have learned:
that things can come to an end and it is alright,
that if something needs to be replaced, I can replace it,
that the extra space does not need to be filled - especially if there are three more items that do the same job in the cupboard, and
to focus on what I need, why I want things and what is important.
All these great lessons, that started from spring cleaning and a few extra bottles of lotion.
Insight can be found anywhere - you just have to be open to it.
Tuesday, 3 February 2015
Getting Focused in February
At the start of each year I like to pick a theme to focus on for that year. As others are making resolutions that are specific, I tend to lean to the more open concept of a theme. This year, I struggled to determine what I wanted to focus on, there was just too much. And then - it hit me - right between the eyes - BALANCE. With everything going on in my life, with all I wanted to do in the next 12 months and beyond, what I truly needed to seek was balance.
The interesting part was where imbalance was showing up in my life. Not only was I unable to focus on multiple things and get through what I wanted to achieve in different aspects of life; but I have been continuously falling over in balancing postures on my yoga mat. So with Wanderlust Festival in August I am determined to find BALANCE, both on and off my mat, before joining others in Whistler.
So as I went through what I wanted to accomplish this year - I giggled at the fact it all started with "F". I spent January clearing out the clutter (I hope to write about that soon) and although there is still more to do - I figured with February being an "F" month - I would use it to launch into my Fabulous year of Focusing on F.
What do I want to FOCUS on this year ....
Relationships - with Family, Friends and Fellas
Myself - Food, Fitness and Faith
Lifestyle - Finances, Fashion, Fun and Fulfillment
Last year I focused fully on ME - I went on a retreat to Bali and then spent a week hiking in the Canadian Rockies. 2014 was a great year - and 2015 is going to be Fabulous! I am ready to focus on each of these elements to build a BALANCED life.
As February gets started I am exploring how to find balance among all my "F's". I feel super focused and ready to take on the year!
Monday, 12 January 2015
Exploring the Kitchen
It is a new year, which means taking a look over the year that just ended and the new year that lays ahead. Upon reflection, I realised I really want to explore what I am truly passionate about now. This realisation came to me last Thursday after a night out with the girls eating pizza and talking about life. One friend has become totally aware of what she loves, her last trip was based on it - and much of her free time is focused on the subject. It was so much fun to listen to her talk about her trip, the excitement and passion just bubbled over. Later that night I got to thinking about the last time I was that excited and on fire about something.
It seems like it has been awhile, though I am sure it hasn't been as long as I think it has. There have been moments throughout 2014 where I felt excited and passionate about life, about what I was doing; however, it just seems that life has become routine and focused on the "have to do's."
So here I am, on an adventure to reignite my passion - find support and go for something bigger than a nightly routine of searching the Internet.
Tonight, was an exploration in the kitchen - making a meal, getting back to cooking and enjoying what I make. The meal was simple, a spinach salad with homemade dressing, a veggie burger and potatoes.
Although it was a rather simple meal - it was tasty!
For January, I am focusing on Meatless Mondays (hence the vegetarian meal tonight). This is partly to see if I feel better, but mainly to try and get out of the food rut I have been in for the last month or so. For me this journey is about searching for something that works and finding the spark that used to ignite when I walked into a kitchen.
I sat down at the table and enjoyed my food. I tried my best to ignore the Internet, though I did put on a short video to watch. Even though I had something playing in the background, I took my time to really enjoy each bite and completely indulge in fulfilling my burger craving.
I find with being single, cooking and eating alone can be difficult. However, I really like food - delicious food in particular.
I finished the evening off by making a chia pumpkin pudding off of Kris Carr's website. This will be my morning snack for tomorrow. I tried a bite (or two or three) tonight and it is really good. Sometimes, I have to remind myself that it is not about making a complicated dish or a gourmet meal - it is about making delicious food that I enjoy.
I feel just a little bit more energized and uplifted tonight; and that is what this adventure of discovery is all about. As I look through recipes, I know the graceful (and not so graceful) exploration to find my spark has once again begun.
It seems like it has been awhile, though I am sure it hasn't been as long as I think it has. There have been moments throughout 2014 where I felt excited and passionate about life, about what I was doing; however, it just seems that life has become routine and focused on the "have to do's."
So here I am, on an adventure to reignite my passion - find support and go for something bigger than a nightly routine of searching the Internet.
Tonight, was an exploration in the kitchen - making a meal, getting back to cooking and enjoying what I make. The meal was simple, a spinach salad with homemade dressing, a veggie burger and potatoes.
Although it was a rather simple meal - it was tasty!
For January, I am focusing on Meatless Mondays (hence the vegetarian meal tonight). This is partly to see if I feel better, but mainly to try and get out of the food rut I have been in for the last month or so. For me this journey is about searching for something that works and finding the spark that used to ignite when I walked into a kitchen.
I sat down at the table and enjoyed my food. I tried my best to ignore the Internet, though I did put on a short video to watch. Even though I had something playing in the background, I took my time to really enjoy each bite and completely indulge in fulfilling my burger craving.
I find with being single, cooking and eating alone can be difficult. However, I really like food - delicious food in particular.
I finished the evening off by making a chia pumpkin pudding off of Kris Carr's website. This will be my morning snack for tomorrow. I tried a bite (or two or three) tonight and it is really good. Sometimes, I have to remind myself that it is not about making a complicated dish or a gourmet meal - it is about making delicious food that I enjoy.
I feel just a little bit more energized and uplifted tonight; and that is what this adventure of discovery is all about. As I look through recipes, I know the graceful (and not so graceful) exploration to find my spark has once again begun.
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