now i get it {fall 2018}

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Emily P. Freeman’s quarterly habit of recording what she learns during the season is something that I strongly recommend for everyone. And this fall has made me get one major thing.

Intentional, thoughtful, and present decisions are a must.

Last month, someone asked me to do something that I have been wanting to do for a long time.  But the timing was not right.  It would have been on top of everything that I had going on in my life at that time: my parents’ coming into town; the Buddy Man’s birthday party; and previous commitments that I had made to others, and more importantly, to myself.

I struggled with it, wrestled with whether I should go ahead and do it even though it would have taxed my mental, physical, and emotional strength.  I have an innate desire to please people and make them happy and not doing this thing would have certainly not made everyone happy.

Finally, I decided to test my “personal decision-making template” that I have been working on for some time. I had put this template together to try to decide between two things that are neither right or wrong.

  1. I looked at my priorities – which was most important?
  2. I looked at how I have decided that I wanted to feel (via working through Danielle LaPorte’s Desire Map) and the way I have chosen to live my life (via Gretchen Rubin’s concept of Personal Commandments).
  3. I identified my attitude about each choice. Would I carry any anger and resentment with either one?
  4. And finally, my ultimate decider, which decision would give me peace.

I decided not to pursue the opportunity. And, to be honest, I wasn’t sure I had made the right decision until I realized that because of my mild (to me) obsessing, I had forgotten to make the chili for the dinner. I gave myself the mental and emotional space necessary to be fully present for my family, my son, and his birthday party.  I was true to the previous commitments I had made and present for those closest to me. I am so grateful that I was brave enough to make that choice.

enjoy life…

And head over to the Emily’s Link-Up to see what others are learning also.

happy thanksgiving

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Today, it’s time for my annual grateful list of 2018. I have made a habit of writing down the things that I am grateful for each year – as many as I am old.  I won’t share my entire list here but I want to share some of them with you to encourage you to think about what you may be grateful for also. Take some time and write them down.

  1. Of course, I must start with my family: the Hubby, the Buddy Man, my sister and her family, my parents, my in-laws, GG, aunts, uncles, you get the idea!
  2. My friends
  3. The Florida sun
  4. My Writing Peeps and Supporters: my mom (my biggest writing fan), Taralyn, Stephenie, Angela, Toya, Lucas, Eva, Ms. Harpe, Dr. Hyman, Kem, the Dream Plan Create fam,…
  5. Books, books, and more books
  6. Playing Dominos with my brother-in-law
  7. Tuesday Morning Play Dates for the Buddy Man and me. Mostly for me.
  8. Clean sheets
  9. Lower blood pressure measurements
  10. Barnes & Noble, Bridgstreet, Huntsville
  11. GG’s 80th Birthday Surprise
  12. #write31days: This Bookman: Meditations & Miscellany. I didn’t think that I could write for 31 days straight on the blog but I did it!
  13. My home
  14. The 15th Annual Liz Hurley Ribbon Run. I am so glad that I didn’t skip it this year
  15. Dental cleanings
  16. Katie & Travis
  17. Jigsaw puzzles
  18. The whispers of my soul, “the voice of God”
  19. Sister, Sister phone calls
  20. Trips to Daytona Beach, Miami, and Las Vegas
  21. The power of a story
  22. Meeting Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Anne Bogel, in person!!!
  23. Rocket City Mom Book Club
  24. Time and space to breathe

I’m grateful for this creative journey – writing through the fear. I’m grateful for the lessons that I have learned and the progress toward living the life that I feel called to live this year.  I am grateful for all of you, my readers. And I leave you with my favorite quote for this time of year.

Given the amount of unjust suffering and unhappiness in the world, I am deeply grateful for, sometimes even perplexed by, how much misery I have been spared.” -Dennis Prager

Happy Thanksgiving!

quick lit – next page, please {october 2018}

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My reading has taken a back seat this month due to preparations for the wedding I helped coordinate. I did manage to finish three books, so I guess that’s not too bad. And I also completed my Goodreads Reading Challenge of reading 38 books this year.

Currently Reading

  • Shadow of the Night by Deborah Harkness. This is the second installment of the four books of that rabbit hole Leigh Kramer led me into. Must admit, I didn’t get any further with this one.
  • Transformational Speaking by Gail Larsen. Still working through this one.
  • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I have got to finish this one before the year is out.

Read

  • This Messy Magnificent Life: A Field Guide by Geneen Roth. I have enjoyed this one so much, I am currently going through it again. Geneen asks a lot of questions that I have been taking the time to journal my answers.  Very eye-opening.
  • Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson. This was a Rocket City Mom (RCM) Book Club pick. And boy! Was it a good one! It was humorous but poignant and very relevant for the times in which we find ourselves. Here’s the full review link in the RCM website.
  • Indestructible: Leverage Your Broken Heart to Become a Force of Love & Change in the World by Allison Fallon. I had the pleasure of attending a workshop that Allison presented two years ago. She is one of the reasons that I began writing again.  And her new book is a great read for anyone who is wanting the courage to listen to the voice within. I wrote a full review for the #write31days project: This Bookman: Meditations & Miscellany in October.  Check it out.

So, what have you been reading this month? 

Every month, I highlight what I’m reading in these posts: Quick Lit – Next Page Please. And per usual, I’m linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy.  Head over there see what others are reading. Maybe you will find something that will pique your interests.

enjoy life…