I’m Back…..

 

I know, I know, it has been a while. A long while. To all my faithful readers, thank you for your patience during this busiest season of my life. Here I am, approaching my fiftieth birthday in a few short months, completing my master’s degree in education with certification in autism spectrum disorders, working part-time with my dear students, and always a full-time wife, mom, and nana. Life is crazy busy. I know you might have different goals, different challenges, but life is busy for you too. Most of us are used to taking a spin on life’s merry-go-round, making ourselves half sick from the dizziness of it all.

With all that said, I am still attempting to move forward on my trek to a more simple, balanced, more purposeful life. That is a mouthful. It is also a way for me to continue to “fail forward”. I really want to accomplish a more simple life, but I mess up a lot. For everything I attempt to simplify, something else pops up and I have to deal with it. The other day I found myself standing in my kitchen, doing five things at once, and I just stopped. I closed my eyes, grounded myself, and did some mindful breathing. Research shows that deep breathing truly does lower blood pressure, and reduce stress. It also allows me to concentrate on the rhythm of my breathing. To focus on the moment, when I feel myself becoming overwhelmed.

I am working on simplifying. I am throwing things out, giving things away, repurposing and paring down. At this point in my life, I know myself pretty well. I will never be a minimalist, surviving on only the absolutely necessary. I am far too sentimental…and I am okay with that, but I can do better.  I am making a plan for this spring and am cleaning out my closet. I am tired of looking at clothes I never wear. I am also tired of tripping over shoes, bags, and oh, okay…junk.

I am much more aware of my schedule. I am not afraid to say “no” if I don’t want to do something. On the other hand, I want to say “yes” to the people, places, and events that matter to me. I am considering my time more often. Time, such a valuable commodity.

I am finally finishing Chasing Slow, by Erin Loechner (that I started back in the summer). I am trying to slow down, choosing to live my life more intentionally. I want to be in control of my time spent, instead of time controlling me.

Rest, relax, rejuvenate.