What still stands

This thought has been on my mind a lot lately.
Any time we're faced with a difficult season, experience, or time in our lives we can focus on what still stands and shift from worry and stress to gratitude. It isn't necessarily easy, but it feels so much better. And what we focus on grows.

A friend of mine told me this last week that in some of her hardest times, she would focus on things as basic as running water and a stove to cook on. There are days that it can be hard to find the positive, but it's there. It's always there. :)

For me-in a time of stressful and very necessary change, I'm looking at what still stands in my world. Just a few of the many on my list: my beautiful, happy children. Amazing friends-my tribe. 🖤 My family. Hard earned peace and stability. My health. And the knowledge that what lies ahead is far better than anything we leave behind. 🖤

Here's to the journey, and being thankful for what still stands!

Worthy

There's such a deep-rooted longing for home. Feeling accepted, safe and loved. I am really familiar with the feelings of inadequacy that try to pull us down and make us less than who we are. "Did I try hard enough?" "Am I doing enough?" "Could I be prettier, thinner, a better wife, a better Mom, a better friend....."  "What if what this person says about me is true..." and the list goes on. It haunts you if you let it. Nothing will hurt you more than someone you love telling you that you're nothing.

If you're one of us that struggle....let's stop. Let's believe that we are WORTHY. Worthy of a King's love and blessing, and that we are not what people who have hurt us would have us believe. Don't be destroyed. Rise above it. I don't know any person who isn't capable of being amazing if they have enough faith in who they are, and who know that they are worth more. I don't know of anyone who isn't able to do amazing things, if they choose to open their hearts and minds and be better than their scars and hurt and the rejection they've gone through.
You are NOT what you've gone through. You are worthy. There are brighter days ahead, and please....don't let anyone make you feel like you're nothing.

I'm realizing more daily that most people have goodness in them and don't mean to damage others. But they do. Sometimes they will realize what they've done, and they will make it right. And some...don't. Ever. But that doesn't make you any less, just because you're not on the same steps in your growth.Deep breath and let it go. If it's meant for you it will be.
It's not easy, and it hurts so much more than people know. But let this journey make you grow.
You are worthy.

Summer love

I'm not usually a big outdoor kind of girl. ;)
But it has been really lovely spending lots of time grilling outside, eating fresh fruit, watching Katie master her new bike, and spending time with our neighbors.
It's been really peaceful and happy and very, very warm! ;)
I love watching the sunset through our open blinds. I love seeing fireflies dance around outside.
I'm feeling more in tune with you, Summer 2014. You're not so bad after all. :)

Learning it.

                                                                           source

This past week I've taken on a massive retraining in myself to be very conscious of what I'm eating/drinking. ;) I'm a very busy working Mama, and the truth is I have been depending on processed, empty calories and caffeine to fuel me when I am absolutely exhausted.

I've started using MyFitnessPal to log calories and journal every single thing that I'm consuming. It was a rough, rude awakening the first couple of days! I actually felt so hungry and shaky a few times that I felt ill! But I'm learning...I'm upping my water intake, I'm eating more raw veggies, I'm not drinking caffeine first thing to fuel me when I have slept oh...4 hours less than I need.
It's been really, really good for me.
Oh and today a sweet client of mine gave me a little bag of Reese's chocolates (one of my favorites!) and I gave them to a co-worker so I wouldn't be tempted to eat them. That's progress people. ;)

Self-care is the best way to take care of those around you, too...that's what I'm realizing. :)
And if it helps me feel like a sexy Mama? Bonus! ;)
Small steps!

The power of purging :)

 

Clothes that I never wear, forgotten cards or papers from a toxic past relationship, home décor items that aren’t my style, excess “stuff”.

I am in an ongoing processing of ridding myself and my home of this stuff and I am more and more drawn to a minimalist approach! It frees up energy. It gives space for better things.

 

It may seem like a lot to take on, but it feels SO GOOD to get rid of things that are literally and physically or even emotionally and figuratively taking up space. :)

I thought this was such a great reminder. And any quote that can inspire me and get me excited about purging the excess is a favorite of mine!

Dear Etsy, I love you!

In my house, I like my walls to have some personality. ;)
My favorite home décor pieces are always prints. I bought the "Our kitchen is for dancing" and "So fresh and so clean clean" pieces already from Eat Say Love and they are proudly displayed, but the other two (among others!) are calling my name. :)
You can see other favorites of mine here. I love supporting smaller companies, especially handmade.
If you have any favorites link me up in the comments! :)

Charin

100 Happy Days update!

I'm just about halfway through the 100 happy days challenge , and it has been so fun!
I've always been the type to take lots of pictures (lately my iPhone has been my go-to and all of the pics above were captured with it, although I'm trying to remind myself to pull my DSLR out more often) BUT this is a great reminder to focus on things that we're grateful for.
If you look through my Instagram account of pics tagged #100happydays I am apparently most happy about my husband, children, rest and FOOD! Lol
It really has been a fun experiment and a great reminder to be thankful . In the past 45+ days there have been a few days that were very sad, hard days. I was determined to post my happy day anyway, and it didn't take too much to see that there is always, always something to be thankful for.
<3

Happy weekend!
Charin