Reflecting on experience and growth and blessings and miracles – these things motivate me to keep doing the work to see what else God has in store for me. I was relfecting after my meditation, and part of what I wrote in my journal was that I was grateful for the change I’ve grown through. I didn’t like change in the past. It made me very fearful. But when I found myself in a place of stagnant depression, I knew I had to do something different. And then all of these cool things started happening, and I learned that God wants me to live a life of joy, so how could I not be motivated by all of this wonderful stuff? The quote for today in my gratitude journal is pertinent to this –
“It’s never too late to redefine self-control,to change long ingrained habits, and to do the work you’re capable of.” ~Seth Godin

Have a joyful day, all!

Work is better when I collaborate with my team. It’s easier for all of us when we work together to get our tasks done efficiently. And for just myself workwise, I have recently asked for help from a Team Leader at another store close by since my own TL will be on leave soon. Reaching out for the guidance and backup has already made me feel more confident in running my department when his leave starts.

Collaborating with my fiance has made life in general better, too! He is my partner, my best friend, and I have never felt so safe, so loved, and so in tune with another human being. It’s one of the greatest gifts God has given me.

Be grateful for another day to live.
Love myself.
Be gentle with myself.
Nourish my body with healthy food and lots of water (after coffee, of course).
Get some exercise.
Talk about the future. Immediate plans and further out plans. I’m getting married soon, so there are things to plan with that, and my fiance and I have a business that we need to put more thought into so we can really get it going.
Then at the end of the day, I will be grateful again for all of my accomplishments and connections, and get the rest I need to hopefully wake up again tomorrow!

I just do it. It’s part of my daily routine, so it happens every morning and throughout the day no matter what. Having a regular mediation and gratitude practice for several years now, I’ve learned to pause during difficult times, breathe, and then take action if necessary. That simple act of pausing is such a blessing and is one of my greatest life lessons that I don’t think would be possible without my practice. So I nurture my practice by practicing my practice. I’ve seen the results and I like them. There’s no turning back from this path of light 🙂

Oh man, so many. Like everyone else out there, I have had quite a journey. Living now in farmland, I often think of visits to my great-grandmother’s home in the mountains of Tennessee when I was a little girl. How she lived off the land, farming and canning and enjoying her quiet life in the country. I always thought it was so cool, and here I am living in the country, planning our garden and how we can work our way out of city life altogether.

Then there’s all the years I spent running a non-profit all girls surf contest. I ‘retired’ from that 4 years ago, but for about 16 years, with the help of a wonderful community of surfers, I built a contest that grew to draw not just the local wahines, but girls from all over the east coast. Friendships were made that would not be possible without this event. We put on an empowering contest and helped girls of all ages find their inner strength in what has been a male-dominated sport. The love and appreciation I was given for doing something I loved was humbling.

Speaking of surfing, I have so many memories of waves that I’ve ridden over the years. From tiny ankle biters to overhead barrels. I remember my first barrel. I remember my first noseride. Watching the sun rise or set while sitting on my board in the ocean. Surfing in the rain. Gazing at the Costa Rican jungle as a large sea turtle swims by. My goodness, all of those waves. The connection of myself with God and Mother Nature. It’s truly incredible.

And now I want to go surfing 🙂

I experience awe, or God moments, all the time. Watching the sun rise, walking on the beach and feeling the energy that the ocean and landscape offer, sitting in my yard, staring at the stars, and, most recently, looking at my soon to be husband and feeling so in love, so appreciated, so grateful. When I think of the work I’ve done on myself, I get that feeling, too. This is such an incredible life, with silver linings everywhere, miracles happening every day, and a new breath every other second or so. It’s all so magical and perfect!

To my fiance who has been on medical leave for just over 2 months now after getting injured in a car accident. He is a go-go-go kinda guy, and this time not working has been really hard for him.

To my team at work, for whom I am in charge of. I hope that I can be sure they are all satisfied and feel safe in their roles so that they will give 100% when they are there. We are ‘essential’ workers, so the past 10 months have been quite stressful to say the least.

To one of my best friends, whose mother has developed dementia. I know it’s hard for her to see her mom the way she has become. This same friend works in the food & bev industry and has been out of work for quite some time now.

And to myself. For if I don’t support myself mind, body & soul, I cannot properly support those I love and care about.