I could reach out to my siblings more. And to other loved ones..

I could worry about my job less. I’m not worried about losing it. It’s more worry about the unrealistic expectations by our regional team, and the worry about hiring the right people for my department’s current openings. I’m also worried about our Team Leader coming back from his paternity leave. He’s not a good leader, and it’s time to lay some things on the table. Something I haven’t been very good at in the past, but I’m preparing myself because it’s the right thing to do.

I could write so many! I do tend to think of my mom, though. And I have thanked her over and over through the years. I am her first-born of four, and we’ve been through everything together. She was a single mom for a while, raising me & my first sister the best she could. I thank her for the independence and hard work ethic she instilled in me. I thank her for giving me a father that loved me like I was his own, and loves her still to this day the way she deserves to be loved. I thank her for showing me not to settle, and that if you set your mind straight, life will fall into place as God intended it to. I thank her for being there for me in my dark days, not judging me, just listening to me and loving me and offering me the support I needed. I thank her for the encouragement, the courage, and the determination she passed on to me. I thank her for the laughs and the friendship we have built together. Our relationship has blossomed into this beautiful flower, and it’s such a blessing to have her for my mom.

Weeds ARE everywhere, and they all serve a purpose. It’s about acceptance for me. I do not understand all weeds, but I have no control of their presence. If they are in MY garden, I can choose to pull them or I can leave them alone. In acceptance, I also recognize that I am allowed choices. Will my choice to pull the weed better my garden? Or should I leave the weed on the side of the yard to enjoy the beauty of it’s forthcoming flower? So I guess it also depends on where the weeds are growing!

After reading Howie’s response, I couldn’t help but think of a Michael Franti song, “Hey, Hey, Hey.” A snippet:
“From the tops of the buildings to the streets below
Between the Wall Street banks and the empty homes
Between the lines of the people standing all in a row
There’s a crack in the gutter where a flower grows

Reminding me that everything is possible
Yeah, reminding me that nothing is impossible
You gotta live for the one that you love you know
You gotta love for the life that you live you know”

Happy Day, all!

I value my relationship with my fiance. I value our two furry kids. I value my good health. I value my strength and the path that has helped me gain it. I value my job. I value my meditation practice and the connection it has given me with God, myself, and the world around me.
With all of these, I give my time, full attention, and my very best effort to keep them good while allowing them each to continue to grow. Life is a constant practice, and while we are still here, we have an obligation to take care of ourselves and the world around us. Every choice we make can be a benefit for us and the things we value. So I always choose love and happiness and compassion and growth. It’s not always perfect, but I don’t think it ever will be. It’s a great journey, this thing called life!

Seeing the sunrise thru the tall pines at the front of our property.
Watching our dog sit in the front yard, just breathing in the moment. He is so Zen-like sometimes!
Watching our cat find the perfect sunny spot to lay in.
This hot cup of coffee I’m drinking with cinnamon, cayenne and coconut oil. Talk about a morning boost!
Birds chirping.
Holding hands with my fiance.
Listening to music. Dancing. Practicing yoga.
Finding flowers in what I call the “scratch and dent” section of the grocery store and watching them thrive for days on my dining room table! I have some beautiful yellow spider mums and white orchids that I paid $2 for!
And now I must mention my dining room table. It’s a large farmhouse style table that seats 8. I’m sitting on a bench at the head of the table now. When we bought our home last year, I wanted a farmhouse table for our farmhouse property. Everything was so expensive, so we bought a picnic table to hold us over. That was all good, but one day Konrad called me from the Habitat resale store, telling me he found the perfect table for only $300 (this particular store is usually pretty pricey on furniture).. He shot me some pics, and I couldn’t believe it. It’s beautiful and perfect and I love that we can host family for a nice meal since we both love feeding people! Oh how I love this table <3

I am seeking growth at work. I love learning, and the more I know, the better for my now as well as my future. I have already asked for support from another leader at our sister store across the bridge. He is a respected individual in the company, is successful, smart, to the point, and a great leader. So he has become my mentor. I have also been put on the roster in our region to take the CCP (Certified Cheese Professional) course, and I really hope they choose me. It would not only be fun learning the ins and outs of artisan cheeses, but getting that certification would certainly expand my mind and offer me opportunities that will help my future endeavors of event planning and catering. And getting it paid for by the company would be a great blessing, too!

I have always been one to look for the good in others, sometimes to a fault, but I continue to do so despite being hurt by it in the past. I know that we are all on our own journeys, with our lessons to learn along the way. And I try to remember that everyone has a story. Everyone has a past. We don’t know what others have been thru. And seeing the good in others – and thanking and praising them – is good for our souls and lifts the other person up in the process. It is always good to lift others up! I appreciate the people around me as much as possible. It’s the right thing to do, and it feels good!

The only real ‘load’ I’m carrying is my job. I’m unsure how to lighten my load, as I’ve been trying to do this since I stepped into a higher position. We aren’t really given all the tools we need to get our jobs done efficiently, and the pandemic isn’t helping with callouts and CoVid exposures/quarantines. Plus, we’re just short-handed in general and constantly behind on production. I do reach out for help, but if the hands aren’t there, they aren’t there. I’m not sure how to lighten this area of my life, but I willingly applied for and stepped into this role, so I am going to keep trucking on, expressing what’s going on to my bosses, and asking for help. It’s a great learning process though, which I try hard to remember, and on the days it exhausts me, I do my best to rest and stop when my body and mind tell me to.

Cinnamon and cayenne are so good for us in their own ways and both immune boosters. Cinnamon tastes good (obviously!), is full of antioxidants, helps prevent blood sugar spikes, and good for brain functioning. Cayenne is good for the blood, helps with pain issues, good for digestion, and good for skin issues…but not good for those with stomach ulcers or digestive problems. Cinnamon and cayenne together make a tasty coffee, or at least I think so! I also add collagen depending on how my morning is going. Otherwise, I add it to my yogurt or oatmeal. Such easy, healthy additions to our diets. And a good way to add some flavor since I’d rather get my sugar intake from fun stuff like chocolate or ice cream. hahaha!