Tag: #selfcare

You Are Amazing

I’m truly enjoying the November Soul Reset.

Day Three is talking about gratitude, but not just the proverbial list. It asked me to thank myself.

To say ‘thank you’ to me for being me.

Consider the last time you felt thankful for yourself. Really genuinely. Not because someone told you to. But because it just dawned on you. It just dawned on you that you are pretty amazing. ~SC Lourie

This is rather profound. When I think back of all the things I’ve been through, I tend to thank God, and that someone who stood by me during the storm. I cannot recall if I’ve ever said, “Thank you Barb.” 

I encourage you to take a quiet moment with you. Sit with a warm cuppa, and thank you for being there for you. When you think of who you love most in this world let it be you. You are pretty amazing.

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November Soul Reset

One of my favorite writers is SC Lourie.

When she writes, the words pour from her very soul. I received an email from her and wish to share it because November is the time for a soul reset.

November post

It begins November 1st, but no stress darling.

I’ve walked many a journey with Sam, and she moves gently. Would love to have you join me on this journey. Here is the link. Much love, Barb. xx

Find Some Headspace

This morning, I paid money to use an app.

This is somewhat of a milestone for me, but after using it for 10 days, I was hooked! I whined to my daughter about my free trial ending soon, and she referred me to another one. It just wasn’t the same.

I did some research and tried a couple of other apps that said they were free. They are all free for a certain amount of days. (Read the fine print)

This app is one of the things I’m doing for myself.

That is a lot of what the over 50 part of life is about.

I’ve raised the kid, had successful businesses, been through the divorce, crawled through Cancer, so by golly it’s me time! I feel no guilt over this. A lot of empty nester’s don’t know what to do with their extra time. This app will teach you to embrace it.

What set this app apart from all the others was the voice. It’s such a soothing voice with a slight accent.

Even when the voice would pause, you could feel the pause. After purchasing the app, I wondered if it was a computerized voice, so, I googled it. The voice is a real person, and he is THE voice of Headspace.

Many of these apps use a variety of speakers, but I like simple. Thank you Andy for sharing your voice. It’s because of that voice, and the subtle changes I’ve noticed in me over the past 10 days that I purchased your app. I am thrilled to find some Headspace.

It’s So Extra

Smith probably thinks I’m making way too much out of this magazine, but I’m in love with it.

We were waiting in line at a bookstore when I saw it. It just stood there and drew me in. If you need something beautiful this is it. If you need inspiration for your writing, this is it, or if you need to hold something in your hand that feels magical, this is it.

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Bella Grace

There are no advertisements, and it’s more like water for your soul than a magazine. It’s actually referred to as a book-a-zine because it feels like a book in your hand. Each page is a delightful weight of paper, and absolutely beautiful!

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Bella Grace Issue 8

We have the same beliefs. The back cover says,

“We believe an ordinary life can be extraordinary. There is beauty in Imperfection, and that magic can be found in the everyday.”

There is so much it, it only comes out quarterly.

Be inspired my friends, and place some ‘extra’ in front of your ordinary. It’s so extra.

Just Breathe Beauties

Breathe in- Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Breathe out-Monday through Thursday.

imthatchick

Smells Like Love

My daughter left yesterday to spend the weekend with her Dad. This morning, sitting where we usually sit together, I had an odd thought. “I’m gonna miss hearing, “I love you.”

I had an appointment to get to, but when it was over I Googled the nearest location of Bath and Body Works. When my daughter gets home Monday, I want her to know I was thinking of her. A couple of weeks ago, she walked into my bedroom and said, “Wow! It smells so good in here!” It was a new Wallflower of one of my favorite scents, but I unplugged it and put it in her room. It is now empty.

I’m really big on smell. It’s important, and it seems to be a large part of who I am. From giving people a hug, to someone walking into my home, it brings me joy to hear, “Wow! You smell good!”, or “It smells so good in here!”

It’s a combination of things. Our lotion is made by a woman locally, and smells amazing. Every now and then we wash our clothes in Tyler Wash, and that’s like washing them in perfume. It takes time for this to happen, but it’s pure magic when a room envelops a fragrance, and it fits that room. That is what happened when I gave my daughter the wallflower. It was my favorite scent, but became hers.

You want to stand in her room and inhale deeply.

Standing in front of the display of Wallflowers, it took a while to find the right one. Scanning the display for the name of the fragrance, my gaze froze when it landed on this. A candle was sitting to the left of the display, and I picked it up to purchase without even smelling it first!

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Photo cred. B&BW.

Now, I can walk by the candle, see those words, and say it to myself. Smelling the candle burn, it sure smells like love.

Welcome to Chillville

I’m not used to feeling this relaxed in the middle of the day!

My daughter just looked at me feeling all chill. My limbs are still feeling the stretches done on the mat this morning. My posture is on point, and I’m cradled in contentment.

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I fell in love with the practice of Yoga a few years ago.

It was not something I would have done if my daughter was little, but the first time we went to a Yoga class, she was a teenager. Being a single Mom, sometimes the only way to do something you want to do, is to take that child with you!

It’s good for them, and you. They get to see what makes your heart happy, even if it bores them to tears. They should want a Mom that takes care of herself, so she can take better care of them. At this moment, my daughter could ask for anything, and within reason, she would probably get it. (Except a puppy) I’m that freakin’ chill!

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This class is only available Sunday mornings, and the Yoga studio is right down the street. I’ve tried doing online Yoga, but I’m sorry, it doesn’t compare to an actual class. The vibe from being in the studio, with an instructor, and the other participants is rejuvenating, and healing within itself.

The class is called Chillville for a reason. It’s an hour and a half long, and you hold a pose for several minutes, sinking into the mat, watching your thoughts float by, until you’re completely present.  The first time I took this class, I was so fidgety, I was ready to leave about halfway through!

My body couldn’t be still because my mind was racing.

It was the most challenging Yoga class I’ve ever taken.

To stretch and hold the pose. Today, my mind eventually slowed down, and became in sync with my body! It took time, but I could feel myself becoming one with the mat. It was a magical moment, and I’m hooked on this class.

It’s was the best money I’ve spent in a very long time.

If you’re a single Mom, you look at every dollar before spending it. This class is the longest, and most expensive class the studio offers. It’s $13.00. The other classes during the week, are half that much. Do you invest in yourself?

My daughter was home this weekend, and not at her Dad’s. I invited her to come to the class with me, but she said, “Mom, that’s your thing, and you should go.” She chose to sleep in, and then planned to go to her fave coffee shop with her new book. We both did something good for ourselves, but the day is half over, and I’m still in Chillville.