happier 2023!

The days are long, but the years are short.

– Gretchen Rubin

Normally, I agree with Gretchen Rubin but I am not so sure about 2022. Whew! What a year! It was a rough one. I started this blog ten years go, and one thing has been consistently true. You can always tell how I am doing by whether or not I am posting on this site and it has been about 10 months since I have posted anything.

I do this thing where I literally forget unpleasantness in my life. I have a difficult time remembering two years of college because I was suffering from undiagnosed depression. It’s only when I talk with friends with whom I have shared experiences and they remind me that “this happened” and “that happened”, that all those events come screaming back to me. 2022 was like that.

It has taken me years to learn that I am the only thing I can control. Which I often find it hard to believe and then don’t do very well. But I am determined to have a happier 2023, even if the only thing that makes it happier are the changes I make in how I move in the world.

These changes are not mind-blowing: more intention, being present for the Hubby and the Buddy Man, reading more, playing the Sims, cooking food I love, running, basically anything that allows me to enjoy life more, all things I have talked about before here on this blog. My issue is consistency so I took 2022 investigating (with the help of my licensed therapist) what is my major hang up to making any lasting change. Hopefully my new understanding will be a catalyst to a happier 2023.

Here’s to happier 2023 for us all.

enjoy life…

hello 2020!

Happy New Year

“Take nothing for granted.  LIVE.” -Kyrzayda Rodriguez

In August of 2018, my family took a road trip (a 14-hour road trip) down to Miami with the then 3-year-old Buddy Man. Road trips remind me of a passage by May Serton: “One arrives through the uproar of one’s anxiety and panic, exhausted at the start.” That’s essentially me on a trip, especially with a toddler.

However, the Buddy Man was awesome.  With his iPad playing Blippi and other randomness about trains (which he is still obsessed with), we didn’t cry once.  Correction, he didn’t cry once.  I came close. You see, I had forgotten to get baby wipes (he still wasn’t potty-trained) and milk. What mother forgets those essentials? The plan was for him to stay with his grandma upon our 1 AM arrival while the Hubby and I were to have honeymoon-of-sorts in a hotel with a king-size bed.  I doubted the Buddy was going to go along with that plan. My anxiety was high: no wipes for his bottom, no milk, and I wasn’t going to get any sleep that night. I was fretting.  I was worried.

Then I realized that I was fretting and worrying.  I tried a few deep breathing exercise.  I thought “what’s the worst that could happen?”. I thought, “I haven’t slept before. So I will have a massive headache.  That’s what Tylenol is for. And as for wipes and milk, there are stores where we were headed. That’s what the Hubby is for.” That relieved the pressure. Somewhat.

Screen Shot 2019-12-23 at 11.48.15 AMAngst relieved.  Somewhat.  I went on social media.  There I saw Kyrzayda Rodriguez post (I had been following her for years) about starting her 5th round of chemo. FIFTH round because the other four didn’t take. She was wondering whether it was time to give up. The post was undeniably somber. She closed it with these words: “Never take anything for granted. LIVE.”

I was properly chastised.  We were on a 14-hour road trip to Miami – to sun, to water, to the wind coming off that water.  I was determined to make it a good trip. And I did.

Kyrzayda passed one month later. She was 40 years old.

I’m determine to make 2020 the year that I take nothing for granted.  The year that I live. Let’s do it!

 enjoy life…

 

enjoy life interview: becky glaze {part I}

Becky Glaze

I am so happy to feature another Enjoy Life Interview (the first in a long time), and this time with a free give-away (keep reading to find out how to enter). Becky and her sister were my sister and my very close friends while we resided in the same neighborhood over thirty years ago and it was through the marvels of social media that we all reconnected (Facebook can be good for some things).  Becky spends her days going on adventures with her two littles (ages 2 and 5) while guiding clients into cleaner living and healthier living habits. I have been noticing her Instagram posts lately and found her content inspiring. I wanted to ask her how she enjoys life.

I love your Instagram (@Becky.Glaze) account.  What inspires your post?  My life, what is happening around me at that moment: books I’m reading, food I’m feeding my family, how I maintain a healthy, clean, toxin free home and all the randomness that comes with that. I also intentionally follow accounts that breathe life into me, so I wanted the same thing with my own account. A place where, when I scrolled my profile, I would smile. I also use Instagram to keep myself accountable. If I share with the world that I’m working out, reading a book, drinking celery juice, using healthy products etc., I’m going to keep doing those things, because I want to always stay true to who I am and always be transparent, honest and authentic- a what you see is what you get type of authenticity. This outlooks seems to just get better and better with age. I love it!

Yes, I’ve noticed that your posts seem to focus on a passion for clean living.  How does that translate in day-to-day life for you? It is TOTALLY my life. I live and breathe finding ways to live a healthy life in this crazy world. I am passionate about simplifying the day-to-day by sharing the simple things I do on a daily basis without even thinking about them to care for myself and my family. I know too many people that just have no clue that the products they’re using every single day could be harmful for them. Most people have made the connection that food and how we fuel our bodies matters, but it’s rare to find someone who actually understands why they should be cautious about the products they clean their home with or what they use ON their skin every.single.day without a second thought. I hope, in some small way, that the content I share opens people’s eyes enough that they start asking questions. Knowledge is power and an empowered consumer can change a marketplace for the better when they understand why the change is needed. I love the Maya Angelou quote, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better”.

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Becky is a Senior Director for Beautycounter, a company whose mission is to get safer products into the hands of everyone.  They do that by going beyond what is legally required. Over 80% of the ingredients used are organic, natural, and derived from plants. I use the Cleansing Balm and it is amazing.  You only need to use an amount the size of a fingernail and it works wonders. In fact, in honor of my birthday this month, every single one of my subscribers has an opportunity to win a small jar of the Cleansing Balm. Just make sure that you are subscribed to my blog. Double your chances of winning by liking my corresponding post and following me on Instagram as well.  Drawing will end at midnight CST, February 4th. Winners will be announced the week of February 4th.  Watch your email or direct message on Instagram. Check back on Friday for the rest of my interview with Becky. And tell your friends about the give-away.  Then again, maybe not! LOL