Tag: #awareness

Greenlight

When driving down a straightaway it’s exhilarating when every stoplight is green. I can usually breeze right through half a dozen on green before one turns to red and calls for a stop. Once you stop, there’s a wait involved before it returns to green.

I get excited for greenlights because they mean go, and I’ve always been the type person who is sitting on go. Fall is here, we’ve turned our clocks back for daylight savings time, the holidays are upon us, and year end is right around the corner, but I’m still keeping an eye out for the greenlight.

Over the weekend I drove into town to pick up some household items, and leaving the store I decided to exit the way of a large intersection full of stoplights. As I pulled up to the intersection every light was red, so I stopped and wondered out of all the red lights, who would get to go first?

I was turning right, so it was no big deal because we can turn right on red in Texas, but this intersection was full of vehicles just waiting and hoping for their greenlight. Looking up at the stoplight in that moment I saw a green arrow dropped down in place of the red. My lane was first to go.

That’s the thing about greenlights. You don’t know it’s yours until you pull up to the red. It’ll turn green when we least expect it. Keep your eyes open for the greenlight.

Know Your Flow

To prepare for sleep, I chose to halt the flow of day into evening. Work was one of them, which was mentioned in the previous post, and we’ll dive deeper into working from home soon. Today we’ll keep walking toward a good night’s sleep.

Photo by Pietra Schwarzler on Unsplash

You know my love for coffee, and the coffee bar was always flowing, until I got serious about a good night’s sleep. It didn’t take long to realize coffee was making me restless in bed. It was tough to admit, but my mind is fueled by coffee, so it would not relax if I drank it late in the day. I would lay in bed and continue thinking just like it was morning.

Now, I stop the flow of coffee by 2:00 pm and sometimes before noon, which is instrumental in a good night’s sleep. I’m learning a good night sleep takes discipline and saying no to the flesh. One day, my daughter offered me the rest of her Chocolate Cold Brew after 4:00 pm, and sadly I poured it down the drain.

Life will tempt you on your journey. Walking out to the mailbox, this was waiting.

Blue Bottle Coffee Subscription

Normally, I squeal with excitement when Blue Bottle arrives. A month ago, I would have raced into the house and started the kettle for a Chemex. My excuse would be, “I haven’t tried this blend before!” It’s tempting to give up a good night’s sleep, but when we know better, it’s time to do better.

I watched my actions as the morning coffee flowed into afternoon and then evening. When it became night, I felt trepidation because I had crossed my boundaries that day and wasn’t sleepy. I hadn’t had a successful night’s sleep in months and I don’t believe we’re supposed to dread going to bed!

There is a flow to this life, and being mindful of what flows into my day and at what time is an intricate part of having a good night’s sleep. Coffee now has a slow flow and a stopping point.

Maybe it’s not coffee for you, but if you’re having trouble relaxing your mind to fall asleep, there’s something in your body from the day that thinks it needs to stay awake. Know your flow.

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Keep Washing Mugs

It feels like I’ve been washing coffee mugs all week. Walking through the house, making my way to the kitchen and picking them up on the way there. I’m not complaining my darling.

It’s actually a blessing. Used coffee mugs equal out to really good coffee consumed, and magical moments. When the tray that holds our mugs is empty, I see it as a good week!

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Empty mug tray.

The tray for the mugs is a cake stand.

I fell in love with it at first glance. Knowing it was a cake stand made it an even sweeter purchase, (‘cuz you know how I feel about cake), but I envisioned it holding our mugs on the coffee bar. When it’s empty, it’s a beautiful reminder of what it holds.

This meme has been on my mind.

becomemoreaware

I was given a subscription to Blue Bottle Coffee for Mother’s Day. Micheal, over at Kuched, reminded me a while back of the French Press. Mine had seen better days, so I ordered a new one for Mother’s Day. The color I wanted was out of stock, but I believe it’s worth the wait. It’ll be here tomorrow.

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Caribbean Blue by Le Creuset

Life doesn’t gets much better than mugs full of Blue Bottle coffee. Walking through the house picking them up to wash, was like gathering up moments. Becoming more aware my darlings of what’s truly worth your one, short, important life.

I’ll keep washing mugs.

The Care List

The tag was attached to a new pair of jeans. It wasn’t noticeable the day of purchase, but it spoke up weeks later as I slipped them on.

Is it really referring to denim?

To finish this year victoriously, we gotta keep it slow and steady. As the busiest time of year approaches, be aware of time spent.

Make sure you’re on the care list.

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Be the Mama

I try not to rush anymore, but recently I found myself getting sucked into life’s frenzy.

This morning it was time to stop.

back view beach clouds dawn

I’ve been watching my daughter.

At 19 years old she has wisdom and discernment, and makes sound decisions. I’ve stepped back to let her practice running her own life. Watching how she manages it, and giving her plenty of space. She’s been adulting very well except for this one thing….

She’s exhausted.

Mentally and physically.

Time For a Change

I took a long look at how busy she has been. We both have, but I could also feel a disconnect. We are more than roommates. We actually do this life together, but when she came home Monday from her Dad’s, she sat down and fell asleep in her chair.

Her visits with her Dad haven’t changed since the move, even though the distance has.  He’s only ten minutes away now instead of an hour, but she still packs her duffel bag every Friday, and heads to his home. Stays the weekend and comes back here on Monday. She has three days before doing it all again.

I’m Still the Mama

She communicates with her Dad, and they make their own plans, until this morning. While she slept, I texted him and told him she is staying home this weekend. It was time to step in and be the Mama.

When she awoke, I told her what I did, and she looked mortified that I had stepped in, but you know what else I saw? Relief and a slight smile.

This weekend she doesn’t have to be an adult.

Today was a good day to be the Mama.

Feature Photo by Riccardo Bresciani on Pexels.com

Present Moment Portal

I love my kitchen window. There is always something interesting going on whenever I walk by. This causes me to stop, stand in front of it and gaze out in that moment. Maybe it’s a ‘Present Moment Portal’, and not just a window.

linedry

To enjoy the present moment, you need to place yourself in the space to enjoy it. Today, I sat in my front porch swing to enjoy that early morning moment.

Do you ever worry about things that haven’t even happened yet?

I read an article the other day by a man who teaches about the present moment, and he caught himself multitasking. Bringing way too much into his moment.  He made a vow to go back to single tasking and enjoying each task.

Awareness is the first step to change.

Toward the end of the month, I tend to become worried about the house payment for the upcoming month. I think this is from going through foreclosure on a home years ago. There is still that lingering uncertainty.

Looking at the facts, there is nothing to worry about. Have I always made the house payment? Yes. Does it place me in a financial hardship? No. Am I grateful for my home and for God providing such a beautiful place to live? Yes.

“Trust me and refuse to worry,” were the first words in my devotional this morning.

“Keep your mind in the present moment. If you use your magnificent mind to worry, you cloak yourself in dark unbelief. However, when the hope of heaven fills your thoughts, the Light of My Presence envelops you.” Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.

That is God’s plan for today, which sounds a lot more refreshing than mine from yesterday. That plan, is a good plan.