Journaling is something I've done for as long as I remember, although this past year or two I don't do it as often as I used to. Maybe that's because I now blog more regularly, and get my thoughts out as I go through a book called 642 Things to Write About by The San Francisco Writers' Grotto. I ordered it a while back when I decided to go back to college. I needed to practice writing, to better get my thoughts and emotions onto the page.
What kind of journals have I kept? Day to day ones, pregnancy diaries, notes I feel like remembering when reading my bible, sermon notes from church, notes for a fiction book someday (maybe), ideas for blogging, scrapbook journaling, and many others.
Where does my 20 min. of journaling lead me today? I'm thinking over something I wrote in my writing session. It asked me to write about someone who had to make the hardest decision of anyone I know. I had many people to pick from, but what kept coming to mind was my mother. I won't expose any of her private life here or anywhere else public, but I can tell you why I chose her.
My mother was given difficult circumstances. She had no mentor or coach growing up. She had to learn everything she did through trial and error, accepting all the natural consequences when she chose the wrong thing or way, and never giving herself enough credit when she made a good choice. She just chalked it up to coincidence or a one time fluke.
This made me think about my daughter, who's actually quite a bit like my mother. She's more afraid of herself than anyone around her. She doesn't sleep, has health issues that keep her from being her best (although my daughter can be stubborn about doing things to improve it, like seeing a doctor, or having a fear of needles that keeps her from getting blood/allergy tests). Both are smart. Both do make great choices sometimes. Both have trouble accepting what makes them beautiful, wonderful people...they want to help others, just in their own timing and way. They both are smart but have trouble acknowledging it. Both have come a long way from where they started but still expect they won't get through the next challenge in front of them. They both expect the worst so they aren't disappointed, instead of expecting the best and finding out "it" wasn't as bad as they thought it would be. They settle for that momentary happiness that "it didn't suck" instead of seeking true joy and contentment.
Then my journaling led me to think - What can I do to help them both? How can I add value to their lives? Isn't that why I was put here? To encourage others? (I realize that's not everyone's gifting or strength or talent, but I know for a fact that was what I was designed to do here on earth.) Maybe I can take some action steps to help them. Here's what I came up with:
1. I can purposely, intently look for every little thing they do right and encourage them. I can remind them that they did "it" and did it well, without being condescending or sound like I'm patronizing or babying them.
2. I can stand beside them as they go through challenges. Obviously I can't be there for every little thing, and my goal is for my daughter to leave the nest and be able to fly successfully on her own in the world. With that said, I can still be there to offer support, help, wisdom from experience, and advice as they maneuver new, difficult things in their lives. No one wants to face hard stuff scared and alone.
3. I can be the buffer for a few things. When something is going to be hard, I can be the in-between person to smooth some things, or help them organize what steps to take in which order, to make the process go easier. I can't do it for all things, but it can be as easy as going over a checklist of items she needs to bring to some department or company so they aren't turned away and have to waste time on a second trip because they didn't come prepared. I could put in a good word somewhere before she gets somewhere so the person they'll be meeting with has a good first impression.
4. I can be their companion to help them get healthier. I can either cook for them or teach them how to cook in new ways or using new foods to help them repair some damaged area of their health. I can share what I know about supplements, vitamins and herbs. I can be the "walking buddy" or workout partner so they can be more motivated to improve their help, one baby step at a time.
5. I can be their cheerleader. Everyone needs someone to encourage them, tell them how valuable they are, remind them why they're special to you, and maybe just give them a hug when they need one.
Journaling can be a great way to let out frustrations, document progress with goals, remind yourself what life is like during a particular season, but mostly I like journaling because it eventually brings me around to thinking about others, instead of myself, and how I can add value to their lives.
What will you journal about? Where will you start? When will you start? Leave a legacy. Have a great weekend.
Friday, July 21, 2017
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Day 20: No TV today
I'm not generally a TV person. I record a few things and watch them when I choose. Here's about all I watch:
1. Baseball - Dbacks, Red Sox, Cubs
2. Baseball related - Dbacks "The 10th Inning" show, interviews players, also documentaries on the
Red Sox, like the one MLB had last week about the 1967 team that turned everything around and
Red Sox Nation was "born", lots of input by Yaz.
3. Dr. Who - new episodes, because I've seen the rest, but it's done until the Christmas special
4. Superstore - in between seasons right now but one of the funniest shows I've found in a long time,
it takes a lot to get me to laugh out loud but I do at least once during every episode.
5. Movies to watch later, like Night at the Museum, Bolt, etc. Rarely do I record movies.
That's about it. I will watch the Cardinals & Patriots when football season starts, but that's only once a week, not almost every day like baseball.
Yesterday I didn't watch TV at all. By the time baseball was on, I was out of the house for the night - watching the Cubs new prospects/rookies play in the Arizona Rookie League at the Cubs park here in AZ. They played the prospects/rookies from the Kansas City Royals.
Yesterday was just one of many days I went without TV. I don't have a TV in multiple rooms like most people. I refuse to have one in the bedroom. We have our one living room TV, and the kids all have one of their own that they bought themselves in their rooms. They don't even watch TV with them, they use them for playing video games occasionally, and once in a great while, Netflix or my son will watch a movie through his Xbox. The only one in our family that watches a lot of TV is my husband, but he's only home about 4 or 5 days a month, and he watches superhero related shows he's missed while on the road for three weeks at a time - very understandable.
So today I will probably keep the TV off, as usual, recording today's morning baseball game to watch later before bed. I don't feel bad watching TV today since it'll be over a day and a half since turning it on, then it'll be off again for another 24 hours or more after the game.
I don't understand the draw to sitting in front of the TV from say 6 o'clock when people get home from work, until 11 or so when they go to bed. I'm not judging those that do, they have their reasons, I'm just saying that I don't understand the appeal. That's 25 hours in 5 days, and when they have that habit, their day(s) off look pretty much like couch surfing too. What could people do with an extra 30 - 40 a week? Maybe do something to improve their health like going for walks? Maybe create better relationships with their family through dinner around a table together and conversations? Maybe make an actual phone call to a loved one far away? or to an aging parent/grandparent who's probably very lonely? There's such better things to do with time - the most precious gift we have - and one that could be taken away at any moment without warning.
What will you do with your time this next week?
1. Baseball - Dbacks, Red Sox, Cubs
2. Baseball related - Dbacks "The 10th Inning" show, interviews players, also documentaries on the
Red Sox, like the one MLB had last week about the 1967 team that turned everything around and
Red Sox Nation was "born", lots of input by Yaz.
3. Dr. Who - new episodes, because I've seen the rest, but it's done until the Christmas special
4. Superstore - in between seasons right now but one of the funniest shows I've found in a long time,
it takes a lot to get me to laugh out loud but I do at least once during every episode.
5. Movies to watch later, like Night at the Museum, Bolt, etc. Rarely do I record movies.
That's about it. I will watch the Cardinals & Patriots when football season starts, but that's only once a week, not almost every day like baseball.
Yesterday I didn't watch TV at all. By the time baseball was on, I was out of the house for the night - watching the Cubs new prospects/rookies play in the Arizona Rookie League at the Cubs park here in AZ. They played the prospects/rookies from the Kansas City Royals.
Yesterday was just one of many days I went without TV. I don't have a TV in multiple rooms like most people. I refuse to have one in the bedroom. We have our one living room TV, and the kids all have one of their own that they bought themselves in their rooms. They don't even watch TV with them, they use them for playing video games occasionally, and once in a great while, Netflix or my son will watch a movie through his Xbox. The only one in our family that watches a lot of TV is my husband, but he's only home about 4 or 5 days a month, and he watches superhero related shows he's missed while on the road for three weeks at a time - very understandable.
So today I will probably keep the TV off, as usual, recording today's morning baseball game to watch later before bed. I don't feel bad watching TV today since it'll be over a day and a half since turning it on, then it'll be off again for another 24 hours or more after the game.
I don't understand the draw to sitting in front of the TV from say 6 o'clock when people get home from work, until 11 or so when they go to bed. I'm not judging those that do, they have their reasons, I'm just saying that I don't understand the appeal. That's 25 hours in 5 days, and when they have that habit, their day(s) off look pretty much like couch surfing too. What could people do with an extra 30 - 40 a week? Maybe do something to improve their health like going for walks? Maybe create better relationships with their family through dinner around a table together and conversations? Maybe make an actual phone call to a loved one far away? or to an aging parent/grandparent who's probably very lonely? There's such better things to do with time - the most precious gift we have - and one that could be taken away at any moment without warning.
What will you do with your time this next week?
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Day 19: Go for a walk and practice mindfulness
Today is not an ideal day for a walk. It's summer in the Phoenix area. 100 degrees or more with monsoon season humidity levels do not make for ideal walking weather. It is a quiet day for me this afternoon to get alone and practice mindfulness.
So what am I thinking during this time of "mindfulness"? I'm thinking about where I'm at. I'm continuing to lose a little weight this week. The finances are in order. I just had both my husband and middle "child"/son home this past weekend. My daughter is enjoying her friends this week and her birthday is tomorrow. My oldest is home today so we had a chance to chat a bit at lunch. I love living in Arizona. I'm thrilled with my new church. I have great friends I see every week. I'm excited about starting college in a few weeks. I have a ten day vacation to the southern Caribbean in less than 2 months. My middle kid is also getting married in just over 2 months. My mother and brother will be moving here from FL in about 8 weeks. Life is pretty good. That's what I'm thinking. I'm taking time to see the good. To be appreciative. To be thankful.
What else am I thinking? I'm thinking it's too early for as much traffic as I hear on the main road. I'm thinking the cicadas in the trees have been at it all day being noisy all week. I'm thinking about what I want to wear to watch the Cubs prospects play Rookie Ball tonight - I want to be comfortable in the heat, but not look like I'm there to pick up a 19 year old, LOL. Yes, my mind wanders just like everyone else...
Back to mindfulness. It's the second half of 2017 already and July is flying by. What do I want accomplished by the end of the year besides the above stuff going on? I want to be a better wife, mother, friend, daughter, sister, and women's leader/facilitator. I want to continue to lose weight and be healthier. I want to find something physically active I can do on weekends when it gets cooler. I want to finish about half a dozen books by then.
What are YOU thankful for in your life today? What things could've gone horribly wrong but someone was looking out for you and it's turning out better than you expected? What do you need to work on in the next six months? What kind of person do you want to be? I'd love to hear YOUR responses.
So what am I thinking during this time of "mindfulness"? I'm thinking about where I'm at. I'm continuing to lose a little weight this week. The finances are in order. I just had both my husband and middle "child"/son home this past weekend. My daughter is enjoying her friends this week and her birthday is tomorrow. My oldest is home today so we had a chance to chat a bit at lunch. I love living in Arizona. I'm thrilled with my new church. I have great friends I see every week. I'm excited about starting college in a few weeks. I have a ten day vacation to the southern Caribbean in less than 2 months. My middle kid is also getting married in just over 2 months. My mother and brother will be moving here from FL in about 8 weeks. Life is pretty good. That's what I'm thinking. I'm taking time to see the good. To be appreciative. To be thankful.
What else am I thinking? I'm thinking it's too early for as much traffic as I hear on the main road. I'm thinking the cicadas in the trees have been at it all day being noisy all week. I'm thinking about what I want to wear to watch the Cubs prospects play Rookie Ball tonight - I want to be comfortable in the heat, but not look like I'm there to pick up a 19 year old, LOL. Yes, my mind wanders just like everyone else...
Back to mindfulness. It's the second half of 2017 already and July is flying by. What do I want accomplished by the end of the year besides the above stuff going on? I want to be a better wife, mother, friend, daughter, sister, and women's leader/facilitator. I want to continue to lose weight and be healthier. I want to find something physically active I can do on weekends when it gets cooler. I want to finish about half a dozen books by then.
What are YOU thankful for in your life today? What things could've gone horribly wrong but someone was looking out for you and it's turning out better than you expected? What do you need to work on in the next six months? What kind of person do you want to be? I'd love to hear YOUR responses.
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Minimalist Challenge Day 18: Unfollow & Unfriend
Obviously today's challenge has to do with social media. Many of us end up with people on our friends/following lists that we aren't really friends with, we don't really have lots in common, we've never actually met- nor will ever meet, or they've just collected as we were in a particular season of our life.
This challenge will be extremely personal for each of you. Everyone has their own reasons to follow/unfollow people. I chose to start with Twitter & Instagram. I got rid of people/pages/fan pages/advertising corporate pages (that you sometimes have to like or follow for a discount or coupon code). This was easy. I only need to keep about half what I have, so with a little time and some clicks, my newsfeed will be only what's most important to me, saving lots of time.
Facebook is a bit trickier. There's no real set categories of people I kept as friends but unfollowed. I kept my family and most of Tim's. I unfollow those who I have no contact with anyway, we never like each other's stuff, nor do they post on any kind of a regular basis that I've seen.
Next I went through my real friends I see face to face. I kept almost all of those. The only ones I didn't were ones that even face to face we've never said more than hello, or talked about the weather, but they sent me a request and I accepted in case we needed to communicate or message at some point.
I then went through people I only know on facebook. I unfollowed but kept only those who interact with me on a fairly regular basis. For example, there's one "friend" on FB that never comments or likes on my stuff, never posts on their own, yet once every two or three years they'll comment on something I posted to be argumentative and very negative. Why would I need them in my daily feed? I often post to add value, or thinking questions, or encouragement to others, so I didn't unfriend them - I just unfollowed them.
I also unsubscribed to many businesses and pages I only liked when someone asked me to (but it's of no interest to me) or because I wanted their coupon/discount offer.
I have one last category that I unfollowed: the political argumentative people who do nothing but rant. Nothing of value, nothing encouraging, nothing personal, nothing worth sharing - just political stuff 24/7. The world is negative enough. I don't need it in my feed every day...so they're unfollowed.
What value do you get from and give back to your friends & follows?
This challenge will be extremely personal for each of you. Everyone has their own reasons to follow/unfollow people. I chose to start with Twitter & Instagram. I got rid of people/pages/fan pages/advertising corporate pages (that you sometimes have to like or follow for a discount or coupon code). This was easy. I only need to keep about half what I have, so with a little time and some clicks, my newsfeed will be only what's most important to me, saving lots of time.
Facebook is a bit trickier. There's no real set categories of people I kept as friends but unfollowed. I kept my family and most of Tim's. I unfollow those who I have no contact with anyway, we never like each other's stuff, nor do they post on any kind of a regular basis that I've seen.
Next I went through my real friends I see face to face. I kept almost all of those. The only ones I didn't were ones that even face to face we've never said more than hello, or talked about the weather, but they sent me a request and I accepted in case we needed to communicate or message at some point.
I then went through people I only know on facebook. I unfollowed but kept only those who interact with me on a fairly regular basis. For example, there's one "friend" on FB that never comments or likes on my stuff, never posts on their own, yet once every two or three years they'll comment on something I posted to be argumentative and very negative. Why would I need them in my daily feed? I often post to add value, or thinking questions, or encouragement to others, so I didn't unfriend them - I just unfollowed them.
I also unsubscribed to many businesses and pages I only liked when someone asked me to (but it's of no interest to me) or because I wanted their coupon/discount offer.
I have one last category that I unfollowed: the political argumentative people who do nothing but rant. Nothing of value, nothing encouraging, nothing personal, nothing worth sharing - just political stuff 24/7. The world is negative enough. I don't need it in my feed every day...so they're unfollowed.
What value do you get from and give back to your friends & follows?
Monday, July 17, 2017
Minimalism Challenge Day 17: Try SINGLE Tasking today
I'm a multitasker. Not sure if it's natural or a learned behavior out of necessity, but I am a multitasker. If I'm watching tv, which is rare outside of baseball season anyway, I'm also either answering messages on my phone or doing a sudoku puzzle as well. If I'm on my computer doing something, I've usually got a podcast playing in the background. If I'm teaching a class, I'm thinking about the material, the other related material I read wondering if it's relevant to share it, and planning for the next session. If I'm grocery shopping, I'm also calculating my grand total, comparing what I'm buying to what foods I have issues with (according to my Alcat test results), what meals they'll make, and will those meals still be "on plan" for my way of eating. I rarely single task. In fact, if I try to single task, like reading, or just watching tv, I will usually fall asleep.
Today's challenge made me really stop, think, and focus on what I was doing all day. During the study I facilitate on Mondays, I was extra careful to focus on what everyone was saying. I always do anyway, but today I did it with a clear purposeful decision to not allow stray thoughts as I listened. I wasn't worried about the next question, or notes I want to share on the next page, or calculating how much time we have left compared to how many more pages we should get through. Results? I once again realize how deeply I cherish each woman in that group, and how much more I want to pray for them throughout the week.
When I was with my daughter dropping of something at her college, I was in the moment with her. I was listening to what she was saying, ready to help with anything I could, and find some way to encourage and validate her and her emotions. We didn't argue over differences of opinion like we sometimes do.
I took my son and his fiancee to lunch for great Greek food at a place I found near the house. During that time, we didn't talk much about the upcoming wedding, his next trip (he leaves tonight), or anything else. We just focused on enjoying a fantastic meal together.
I'm supposed to go shopping later, my least favorite thing. Nothing fun, just a trip to WalMart so it can be one stop shopping. I plan on bringing a list and sticking to only what's on it. Deciding ahead of time I need nothing that isn't on that list will make the trip single focused, no stressing over, "Should I buy it or not?"
Maybe it's time I learn that I don't have to multitask. I may get more done, but if no one thing is done well, why bother? Most things can wait a bit anyway, then there's less down time and boredom in between spurts of crazy busyness.
If you decided to slow down and single task, what could you do or enjoy better?
Today's challenge made me really stop, think, and focus on what I was doing all day. During the study I facilitate on Mondays, I was extra careful to focus on what everyone was saying. I always do anyway, but today I did it with a clear purposeful decision to not allow stray thoughts as I listened. I wasn't worried about the next question, or notes I want to share on the next page, or calculating how much time we have left compared to how many more pages we should get through. Results? I once again realize how deeply I cherish each woman in that group, and how much more I want to pray for them throughout the week.
When I was with my daughter dropping of something at her college, I was in the moment with her. I was listening to what she was saying, ready to help with anything I could, and find some way to encourage and validate her and her emotions. We didn't argue over differences of opinion like we sometimes do.
I took my son and his fiancee to lunch for great Greek food at a place I found near the house. During that time, we didn't talk much about the upcoming wedding, his next trip (he leaves tonight), or anything else. We just focused on enjoying a fantastic meal together.
I'm supposed to go shopping later, my least favorite thing. Nothing fun, just a trip to WalMart so it can be one stop shopping. I plan on bringing a list and sticking to only what's on it. Deciding ahead of time I need nothing that isn't on that list will make the trip single focused, no stressing over, "Should I buy it or not?"
Maybe it's time I learn that I don't have to multitask. I may get more done, but if no one thing is done well, why bother? Most things can wait a bit anyway, then there's less down time and boredom in between spurts of crazy busyness.
If you decided to slow down and single task, what could you do or enjoy better?
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Minimalist Challenge Day 16: Don't Buy Anything for 24 hours
This one again fell on a good day, unless you count what my husband bought today. He's leaving for his next trip so he needed to restock his semi truck for the next 19 days. He bought his groceries, but I didn't also pick up anything for me or for the house while I was in the store. He put gas in the car that's taking him to his truck and back, although it's in my daughter's car, and she'll use the rest of it, I will be in it for one trip tomorrow. Not sure if that counts or not. Maybe not?
Since today is Sunday, I don't stop anywhere before or after. We typically don't go out to lunch after unless it's for a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary or something. Sunday afternoons I don't buy anything unless it's online or maybe a pizza delivered if everyone's home. Today I need nothing.
If this fell on a Thurs. or Fri. though, I'd have to postpone my grocery shopping. If I worked a regular job and this fell on a weekday, I may be in the habit of getting a coffee at a Dunkin' Donuts on the way in, or buying a lunch somewhere on break, or picking up something fast for dinner - so I understand people's days and situations are different. Maybe if you need to you could switch out a few days of the challenge?
If you didn't buy anything for the next 24 hours either today or tomorrow, what would you have to avoid?
By the way, I love comments on here. I'd love to interact with some of you reading/following this challenge - especially if it's helped you even with one thing or just one day.
Since today is Sunday, I don't stop anywhere before or after. We typically don't go out to lunch after unless it's for a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary or something. Sunday afternoons I don't buy anything unless it's online or maybe a pizza delivered if everyone's home. Today I need nothing.
If this fell on a Thurs. or Fri. though, I'd have to postpone my grocery shopping. If I worked a regular job and this fell on a weekday, I may be in the habit of getting a coffee at a Dunkin' Donuts on the way in, or buying a lunch somewhere on break, or picking up something fast for dinner - so I understand people's days and situations are different. Maybe if you need to you could switch out a few days of the challenge?
If you didn't buy anything for the next 24 hours either today or tomorrow, what would you have to avoid?
By the way, I love comments on here. I'd love to interact with some of you reading/following this challenge - especially if it's helped you even with one thing or just one day.
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