Tag: What I’m Into

what i’m into – keeping me sane {january 2019}

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 I would love for Leigh Kramer’s What I’m Into community to live in this space now that she has decided not to host the link-up.  I invite everyone to share your link to your What I’m Into blog posts in the comments. And let your community know that you are doing so.  We’ll do this every month, next on Friday, March 1.  Please spread the word.    

 In addition to our monthly practice of recording what we’re into, I’m also linking with Modern Mrs. Darcy, listing the things that are saving our life right now.  It is the middle of winter, and a lot of individuals find winter difficult.  I know I do. But Anne believes (and I happen to agree) that “by pausing at its halfway point to share the things that are helping us through it, we’ll lighten the load.”

January is my birthday month – a highlight in the middle of the depressing weather. But the circumstances (cold, dreary, wet, filled with sickness, colds, flu, etc.), have a way of making everything difficult.  So, I have tried very hard to incorporate strategies and events to keep things interesting throughout this month.

I hosted my first New Year visioning party, Enjoy Life 2019, with a few close friends in my home. I combined all the different exercises that I have done over the years into something that rang true for me. While thinking about what I want to accomplish this year, this quote by Danielle Laporte inspired me: Humanity is depending on you doing what is meaningful to you.

This month, I featured Becky Glaze on the blog, with my first Enjoy Life Interview in a long time.  It was so much fun – check it out here.

Additionally, this month I took the opportunity to go to my parents’ condo in Daytona Beach for a personal writing retreat.  A friend accompanied me and we had a wonderful time.  There was lots of laughter, discussion about books, writing, and warm beverages.  I was also able to run outside on two different days and enjoyed the glorious Florida sunshine, which is always good for someone who is susceptible to seasonal affective disorder.

Unfortunately, I returned home to realize I had developed a serious cold and my son had contracted pink eye.  On the up side, I had to stay inside: drinking lots of peppermint tea and orange juice, reading, and, of course, playing the Sims 4.

What about you? What have you been into?  What’s keeping you sane? What’s saving your life right now?

Be sure to link to your posts here and head over to Modern Mrs. Darcy to get some more ideas.

enjoy life…

P.S. This is the last weekend to enter to win a travel size of Clean Beauty Cleansing Balm.  I LOVE this cleanser for the winter. It keeps my face hydrated through these very drying months. Enter by subscribing to my blog and/or following me on Instagram.  Winner will be announced next week!

what i’m into – keeping me sane {november 2018}

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The first time I linked up with Leigh Kramer’s What I’m Into posts was October 29, 2015. And I was sadden when she decided to no longer host the link-up.  She encouraged us to continue writing the What I’m Into posts, however.  

I had the pleasure of meeting Leigh during Anne Bogel’s author event at Parnassus last month.  I told her that I missed the link-up and asked if I could be responsible for continuing the practice.  She encouraged me to continue my version of it so now I invite everyone to share your link to your What I’m Into blog posts in the comments.  We’ll do this every month and we’ll share our next list on Tuesday, January 2. And please spread the word to others. I would love for the community to live on in this space.    

I have been pondering rhythms recently.  Ebb and flow.  In and out. Especially as it pertains to the seasons of the year. the fall, the earth slowly sheds its weight – trees shed their leaves, crops are harvested, the earth becomes fallow.  The earth rests.

I have seasonal affective disorder.  During the fall and winter, I am easily moody and depressed and generally unenthusiastic.  Gray cloudy days are the expressway to gray and cloudy thoughts. Until I started thinking about the seasons of the year, I thought I SUFFERED from SAD. I am beginning to think that isn’t the case.  Perhaps, it’s my body signaling the time for rest.  I have a friend who goes into “hibernation” this time of year. That may not be such a bad idea.

So what’s keeping me sane right now? The fact that I am not into anything really.

I completed the wedding; it went well. And after that, it was a trip to my parent’s condo in Florida where there was absolutely no agenda besides watching my Daddy’s alma mater, Bethune Cookman University, play their final home game of the season.  That was really cool because I got to see the band. They call them “the Pride” of BCU because the 300+ member band is one of the best bands in the country.  They have been in commercials and in movies.

I had heard this band practice every time my family visited my grandparents, who lived across the street from the University.  It was such a pleasure and so fulfilling to see them performing live. And the Florida sun does wonders for SAD.

We came home to temps in the low 40s, high 30s. Cloudy and rainy.  Just the thing to set SAD off.  But I have turned on my solar lamp, streamlined my agenda by making a list of what absolutely has to happen and ways I can enjoy this season this year, and I am focusing on that. I can become alive again in the spring: new life, new energy, producing new things, accomplishing stuff.

What are you into?

enjoy life…

what i’m into – keeping me sane {october 2018}

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Whew! What a busy month!

  • The Buddy Man turned 4-years-old. I can’t even believe it. As Gretchen Rubin says, “The days are long but the years are short.” We had a Blippi-themed birthday party and it turned out very well.  My extended family was in town and the Buddy was thrilled beyond belief.  The cake was amazing!
  • I was so happy to assist a friend with the planning of her wedding this year (stepping back in an old life as an Event Planner). The wedding is this upcoming weekend. Yay! But it’s been a world-wind of preparation.
  • I rose to the challenge and participated in the #write31days for the month of October. The series, This Bookman: Meditations & Miscellany was a lot of fun. Thank you for reading!
  • I ran the 15th annual Liz Hurley Ribbon Run. I didn’t participate last year and I hated that.  I am so happy that I chose to participate this year. Even though it was cloudy.  It was cold.  It was raining.  It did reignite my love of running in races. I’m already thinking about my next one.

I stayed sane by focusing on the priorities and letting go of things that would have taken my focus away. It was hard and I had a few lapses. But I am proud to say that, for the most part, I was able to do it. I think the 5:30 AM runs and pretty good eating habits helped.

AND I met the Anne Bogel of Modern Mrs. Darcy and the author of the book I’d Rather Be Reading. It was awesome.

What have you been up to? What’s keeping you sane?

enjoy life