One Balanced Life

Day Fourteen: Non-negotiables
Renee Trudeau in a recent posting (for some reason I can't make a link but you can find it under my Personal Renewal Group information under my services page) talked about our self-care non-negotiables. The things  in a do to take care of ourselves. For me it is sleep. Something I tend to neglect. My husband and brother-in-law left a few days ago and it has been a ton of work taking care of the three boys and helping my sister-in-law with the baby (which is why I’ve posted all of these in one post and have taken no pictures). I’m exhausted and unfortunately look so forward to a few hours of alone time in the evening. What I should be doing is sleeping. So I’ve recommitted to getting to bed a little earlier. How about you - what are your non-negotiables?

Day Thirteen: Letting Go
Today for the second time this week I was drenched during my afternoon run. In the same spot - on a hill in an open pasture with no trees for cover. It led me to reflect on how much we don’t really have control over…our kids, our partners, other people’s reactions, the weather. We can only control our response and reaction to the world around us. A great reminder to let go of what we can’t control. What do you need to let go of?

Day Twelve: Today’s Lesson
As the sun warmed the grass on the hill, I took the boys outside to play. While I sipped my morning coffee I watched them play…for two hours. Of course I’ve “watched” my children play most days but today was different I really watched them and lost myself in the observation. Here I don’t have work, the phone, email, or my own housework to distract. I realize how much I am always moving and doing. Grateful to stop and pause. The morning was a wonderful lesson and blessing.

Day Eleven: Holding Back
Over the river (actually had to stop so Mike could kayak it while I found a delightful coffee/bakery/wine shop with kids toys!) and through the woods we went to barbecue at an old friend’s house. I say old friend, because I’ve seen him once in the last decade and a half. He and I were sweethearts in the 9th grade and remained close friends throughout high school. As the years passed, we drifted apart only to reconnect in the last year. I was a little anxious to meet up again…would his wife like me, would I like her, would our kids get along, would he and my husband connect? In the past this anxiety may have stopped me from pursuing the unknown. But I figured what the heck! We had a wonderful time, loved his friends, the boys enjoyed themselves, I loved his wife and home, and my husband and he became fast friends.  It was all I had hoped it would be and so thankful I didn’t let a little fear stop me. What fear have you had recently that has held you back from something you wanted to do? As my husband says a little anxiety is good for you it just means you are going to grow.

Day Ten: Farmer’s Market
Again, some food gratitude:
Strawberry jam
Olive Bread
Homemade pretzels
Snap peas
Bluegrass music

Day Nine: Being
“At the center of your being you have the answer, you know who you are and what you want.” Lao Tzu

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