Jan 28th, 2010 Posted in Family Life, Healthy Mama, Nurturing Mama | 3 comments »
A dear friend recently announced her New Years intention with a gleam in her eye:
“I’m going to do things just because I want to.”
So simple, and yet so complex. Another good friend once shared this wisdom: “The baby comes out, and the guilt goes in.” Based on our observations from supporting thousands of new mothers, we have to agree. Our capacity for guilt is astounding.
Why not do exactly what you want? There are many good reasons – safety, responsibility, obligations… We of course live in relationship with loved ones, work, and countless other responsibilities. However there is an inner voice that sometimes emerges that perhaps we shouldn’t listen to – the one that says:
“That would be selfish” or “I’d feel too guilty taking time away” or “What if they need me?”
Now I’m not suggesting that life become “All My Needs All the time.” This isn’t about neglecting the world around us, it’s about listening beyond our guilt voice and gifting ourselves with moments that are lived from the heart.
It could be a simple as sitting down with a good book instead of washing the dishes. Or as grand as going on a weekend retreat simply because you need some me time. Either way, you will reap the benefits. Go ahead, do it Just Because You Want To.
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What do you want to do? Just because.
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Jan 17th, 2010 Posted in News | 6 comments »
Of all the good intentions for a new year, one of the most effective ways to bring change into ones life is to simply clear the clutter, one of the most important and yet least acknowledged aspects of self-care. When we are surrounded by remnants of our busy lives it is hard to find a way to live in a way that allows us to be whole.
On the Mothering.com forum one woman posted a challenge to clear 5 items a day for 30 days = 150 items gone from your life. We agree that this is a prime time of year to clear the clutter – with the colder weather we spend a lot more time inside surrounded by our stuff…
Our family began the quest to clear clutter in the beginning of January. It has, not surprisingly, gone in spurts, with wild days of clearing, and moments of feeling like we’ve released enough. We’re finding, though, that after a few days of feeling “done”, a new awareness settles in of readiness to dive into yet another corner of our home.
Is there such a thing as “done” or “clear”? As a talented hoarder of things that I “might do something with one day” I recognize that there will always be things in my life that I’m just not ready to let go of. And I’ve been through enough clearing binges to know that each time I reach a new level of clarity on what I truly want to have in my life.
While we may not be “done” quite yet, the kitchen feels infinitely more manageable these days with clear counters and room on the shelves. And the hallway cabinet even has a few empty drawers that I don’t even know how to fill. We can see the floor in the basement again. And it feels Good. Tonight? The craft collection…my favourite place to hoard.
As for the challenge,we’re well beyond 150! Turns out if you get me at the “right time of the month” I can get rid of just about anything…
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Care to join me in the challenge?
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Jan 7th, 2010 Posted in Healthy Mama, Nurturing Mama | no comment »
The New Year is a wonderful opportunity to declare our resolutions with the best of intentions and the hope that maybe this will be the year . . . .
At the core, our resolutions are often based on our desire to reconnect, rebalance and renew. We’ve all seen friends who successfully make extraordinary changes in their lifestyle, fitness, relationships, and more. We know that resolutions can be met with success, but also require time, dedication and support.
In the busy life of motherhood making a commitment to a resolution isn’t always easy. The needs of family, work, and household can make it difficult to follow through. While stating our desire to change is of course, the first step, it is the following steps are where we tend to lose our way.
Here are a few practical ideas to help you have your best chance at success:
* Talk with a friend who has made a successful change – what helped?
* Share your resolution in a public way – Blog? Monthly e-mail updates? Support group?
* Ask friends to check in with you about your progress.
* Journal the ups and downs and strive to understand the underlying beliefs and patterns that can get in the way of successful change.
What is your next step to support you in living your best intentions in this fresh new year?
Originally shared by Mama Renew on Kindervibe, January 5th 2010
