january joyful jar

/
happiness jar

This is my first year I am using a joyful jar and it has made me so happy!  You can read my initial post about it HERE, but the intent is simple:

  • Get one jar
  • Each night write down one thing that made you happy
  • Drop it in the jar

It has been such a delight to watch this jar fill up with colorful slips of paper.  The jar sits on the center of my kitchen table.  I precut a bunch of paper and have them ready to go next to my jar along with a marker.  Seeing the jar every day and having the paper ready to go has made it super simple for me to keep up with the practice.  

Have you been keeping your own jar?

I thought it would be fun at the end of each month to dig my hand in and pull out one slip of paper.  To have a moment of celebration for one of my happy moments.  So I did just that.  I dg my hand in and pulled out:

:: Waking up this morning feeling so well rested.  The blanket feeling soft.  The waking up easy and gentle.  Yes, this is happiness ::

I write my moments down each night before I slip into bed.  The house quiet.  The day coming to a close.  It has been the perfect night time ritual.  

Go ahead and dig your hand into your own jar.  Pull out one slip of paper and together let's celebrate your happy moment.  I would for you to share it in the comments or over on the love notes Facebook page.  Celebrating is way more fun when we do it together!  

unresolved

/
snow light

Emotions running rampant
Filled with thoughts of what was
And the wondering of what could have been
The timing was never right
The beginning was all wrong
We never seemed to find our footing
And just when I think you are gone
You emerge
Unexpected and filled with dreams
Through the passing of time has come growth
We may be lifetimes apart 
Yet a string of connection keeps bringing us back
Unresolved 
Standing in our own perpetual darkness 



 

juice it up!

/
smoothie

I never thought I would be someone to own a juicer.  No way, no how.  I rarely ate vegetables, never mind drink them!  But that all changed when I was inspired by so many stunning photographs of colorful juices and plates full of different veggies and fruits.  

I first stepped into the arena with smoothies.  Mixing different berries, and a banana together with things like kale and spinach.  I was buying kale!  How did that happen.  I had to look it up on the internet to see what it looked like prior to purchasing.  I had no idea.  Thank goodness for google.  

I thought that all the talk about how good a smoothie and juice makes you feel was hype.  Oh sure it is some type of magical potion, right!?!  Yet after mixing together my first concoction I was a believer.  

First I was shocked that I actually didn't mind the taste.  I wouldn't say I loved it, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.  Banana is the secret ingredient.  It is amazing what one banana can do to a smoothie.  

juice ingredients

After a while of blending together smoothies I got brave and purchased a Breville Juicer. I did a lot of research, asked many questions, and took the plunge.  I wasn't sure how to use it but I jumped on in anyway and pushed through different fruits and veggies.

My first juice consisted of:  lemon, green apple, spinach, carrots, and cucumber.  

It was pretty good.  What amazed me was that I normally do not eat cucumber yet once it went through the juicer I drank it without a problem.  This was the beginning of a whole new love affair.  

green juice

Some of the juices I make do not have a pretty color but they are filled with so much goodness.  Beets have become a fan favorite.  They are an instant pick me up and infuse me with energy!  

My favorite combination is:  beets, lemon, ginger, green apple, carrots, romaine, and celery

What I love about juicing is the process.  The time it takes to cut the veggies.  The manual process of pushing each item through the machine.  Pulling apart the juicer and cleaning each piece.  It takes time to juice and during that time I really feel that I am tending to myself.  

Green juice makes me happy.  It nourishes my body and fuels my mind.  I am so glad that I discovered green juice and took the plunge.  How about you?  Do you juice?  If so, what is your favorite combination?

"Nature itself is the best physician." ~ Hippocrates

(P.S. For full disclosure the link to the juicer is an affiliate link)

taking action

/
snowman

I love to dream and scheme.  To list out ideas, write down my biggest hopes, collage how I want to feel.  Yes, these pieces are a deep part of my self care practice.  They ignite the spark within me.  

I enjoy sitting down and wildly letting go.  It is in these moments that I identify what I am craving and unearth my deepest desires.  There is color and light.  Excitement and hope.  It is fantastically fun and freeing.   

soul collage

This is the beginning phase and it is easy because there are no rules or expectations.   I can safely reach for the stars.  I can put down what is deep in my heart with out fear, embarrassment or risk because all I am doing it getting it out.  In this phase there is no thought about action or how to.  It is all dreaming and acknowledging what it is you truly want.  

The hard part comes in when you choose to say yes.  When you hold yourself accountable every single day to taking the steps towards making it happen.  This is when fear creeps in.  Fear that you don't deserve it.  Fear that you aren't good enough.  Fear that you can't make it happen.  

You stand on the edge embodied with uncomfortable feelings.  You want to give up, throw in the towel.  You don't like standing deep in this uncomfortableness.  Taking risk's is hard.  It comes with loss, fear, and the unknown.  You don't like not knowing where you are going to end up.  

feet

But the only way to make something happen is to go after it.  To dream about it but to also take actionable steps towards it.  To choose the frightening yes over staying closed in.  It is not easy.  Oh my goodness it is not easy.  In fact it is terrifying and uncomfortable.  It doesn't feel good when you are deep in that middle ground working through the muck, risking your heart, and taking the chance.  

There will be times, many times when it will not go the way you wanted.  You will be disappointed, hearts will be broken, and many tears will be shed.  But through the hurt you will also be a little bit stronger, grown a little bit taller, and learned just a little bit more about yourself.  New tools will be added to your toolkit and the next time you risk you will be armed with different options, prepared to take on the uphill battle.  

We must risk.  We must take action.  When we stay small, cocooned in our own nest we never grown our wings and we never learn to fly.  And as Deb Talan says in her song Big Strong Girl:

"anything worth anything takes more than a few days and a long long night.