#building the life you want – Page 3

Prioritizing the checklist

By: Just myself January 17, 2022January 17, 2022

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Once upon a time I had it all together. Lol who am I kidding.

Funny thing about being busy, it is way too easy to forget what I did just a moment before.

Enter the dream of a checklist, again.

Yes again, because I used to have a really good checklist that when I followed it everything would go just “tickity-boo”, yes smoothly.

I wouldn’t forget 2 minutes after taking my vitamin if I took it because I would check it off as I went along.

The problem with stopping using such an awesome and easy tool for someone like me, is that I put it somewhere and now that I am getting back on track and want it, I can’t remember where I put it.

Then of course my overthinking mind wonders how important the original is when it has to be revised. …But the majority of it would be the same, so I wouldn’t have to think so much.

And around I go again!

I must say I do make new year resolutions, but I also believe in challenging myself throughout the year also. Making a new checklist is something on my shortlist to do, in fact it is a resolution.

I figure if I just focus for a moment it could be a really fun art project to.

Killin’ time

By: Just myself January 16, 2022

Blog#are, #building the life you want, catsLeave a Comment

When your waiting and trying to keep distracted why not draw on your brother?

Or take random pictures of the cat.

Cold winter morning!

By: Just myself January 15, 2022

Blog#building the life you want, #cold days, friendshipLeave a Comment

I woke up excited to be spending a relaxing day at home with my friend. We had planned a sleepover, full of movies, and cards and art. It started last night with some painting and tea, then a romantic comedy.

What would we do first today? Cards, then movies, then more paint?

With it so incredibly cold outside today what better day to snuggle down by the fire rewatching favourite flicks with my friend. Even if the heat won out and left her napping before the end.

Relationships with friends are the sugary topping on life. They make life worth living!

Charles the great distractor!

By: Just myself January 12, 2022

Blog#building the life you want, #learning to set goals, #pets, #small victories, fitness1 Comment

This is Charles. Charles belongs to and is loved by my youngest daughter. He looks innocent enough, right?

My plan was to work in the office for a couple hours, then slip outside for a nice little walking adventure, snap some pics, breathe in the fresh air.

But Charles through a wrench in my beautiful plan of Day 3 Victory. He isn’t feeling well, needs some meds. Couldn’t fail him.

Off to town I went. Short shopping list for needed supplies. Well Sir Charles you may have jammed up my plans, but I found a way to get in my stroll.

The air wasn’t as fresh, the parking lot was slushie, the isles were conveniently empty. I sped up one, down another, around the outer isles, through the healthy grocery parts, poking at veggies that might tantalize my taste buds. Over to the pet department, back to the checkout, and out to the edge of the not busy parking lot.

Today was a day, to make adjustments that work while getting the job done. Charles’ habitat has been treated. My daughter is hopeful. My legs have a little burn to.

Victory doesn’t always have to look exactly the way we had imagined it to.

Small victory, day two

By: Just myself January 11, 2022

Blog#building the life you want, #having a full life, #health, #life in full colour, #small victories, #truly you #self-help, fitnessLeave a Comment

The temperature was bitter today, and my foot and ankle were screaming. I have been feeling muscle fatigue and aches and pains from the after Christmas junk food hangover!

I had been dreaming of a hot, Epsom salt, baking soda, and eucalyptus bubble bath for a week. Of course I never did have one, because my list of tasks were long and important, and “later” hadn’t come. Until now!

I took my time to super heat some water, gather my most comfortable clothing, find a relaxing spa music playlist, get my favourite magazine, a face cloth for cold splashes, a Mason jar of ice cold water to drink, filling the tub to the overflow with tonnes of fragrant bubbles. Then I moved my daughters tree and used the stand as a spot I could comfortably reach my treasures. There, oops, dimmed the lights. Ahhh.

At last the moment when I could step over the side of the bath, and slowly melt into the water, pulling the bubbles up around my chin to smell the refreshing aroma.

I was able to lay there in comfort, feeling the aches slowly dissolve from my body, along with the stress and strain.

For more than an hour, total healing peace as I turned through the magazine I have been longing to enjoy.

My mind absorbed the photos, and stories and quotes. As I turned the luxuriously thick pages, I was transported to whimsical places many miles away, in many different times and situations. Joy stirred in the rekindling of my imagination.

For a time I was away. What beauty is thrust on the world, when a soul decides to let their stories and perspectives flow out through a pen. What treasures await for the soul that picks up the writings and allows themselves to be transported away to joyous, or sad, or exotic places.

As duty started sneaking in to my consciousness, I finished the list I was reading and turned my mind onto a cleansing sugar scrub, and a thorough rinse. Enjoying just a few more minutes of spa life.

Warm fluffy towels then comfy, slouch clothes. Facing the door, to open it would find me back in reality, my children awaiting my return. I was thankful and ready.

Stepping back into my beautiful, colourful life, I felt renewed again. Another victory!

Small victory, but a victory none the less.

By: Just myself January 10, 2022January 10, 2022

Blog#building the life you want, #small victories, fitness, hiking, nature1 Comment

This morning I woke up determined. It did not matter that the high for today was -14°C, that my foot pain has been well, still there, and I have fallen more out of shape,while not so patiently waiting for healing. I was going to conquer the cold, break from my desk, and go out in the rays of sunshine.

Luckily I was able to borrow some snow pants, and get my orthotics into my boots. I bundled up the best I could, set a timer, and off I went.

The snow crunched loudly under my feet, a sign of the winter cold. The air was so clear and fresh, I breathed deeply enjoying the burn on my lungs. There were birds flirting around, singing in delight at the bright sun. Beautiful, exhilarating day. But that sneaky wind, would come from no where and bite my cheeks, threatening to force me back inside.

No way! Not fast, not far, but 15 minutes out I did go.

I was not the only one out and about today, but at least for me I could go back to my fire at last.

The deer were certainly more advanced than me, this hill they climbed is nearly straight up from the river below me.

I stopped to observe the beauty on way back home. The sunshine streaming, made the red glow above the snow.

Not a long walk, but at least I followed through, and boldly crunched along outside in the snow.

I Am Willing…or am I?

By: Just myself January 6, 2022

Blog# goal planning, #being alive, #building the life you want, #having a full life, #lifes important questions, healthy eatingLeave a Comment

Morning pages and morning affirmations are part of my journey this year, as I work through this creative devotion book.

This morning I was struck, almost dumb founded as I wrote!

I had reread Julia’s affirmations and basic principles as usual, and I started to write out my affirmations for my day, and life.

Like every other morning this week. I looked forward to writing the “I am willing…” statements. I was looking forward to the “feel good” moment that these statements bring. All of a sudden it changed!

I started with “I am willing…” Then I was stuck repeating “I am willing…I am willing.” Nothing more.

The writing voice changed! It was not threatening or condescending but firm and pointed!

“What are you willing to do?”

“Are you willing to let God use you to bless your own health, so you have energy to bless your family, so they are able to pour blessings out on others without distraction. “

“Are you willing, to seek the perfect shot of God’s creation, even though you have to go out into winter to do it? Are you willing to attempt that new art medium you have been dreaming of….to create beautiful meals….or transform your house and yard into the gorgeous artsy home you have been dreaming of? Are you willing to look at the photo of your life right now today and say ‘I am blessed’?

Am I truly willing, or am I begrudgingly going through this life, half-way doing what “needs” to be done, like a child “forced” to do their chores and homework?

How about you? Are you willing?

Permission or forgiveness hmmm

By: Just myself January 2, 2022

Blog#building the life you want, #life in full colour, friendsLeave a Comment

*More beautiful because of the friends that watched it with me.*

I would like to write a series of blogs about some of my beautiful friends. Why I think they are incredible, about their amazing talents, what they have taught me, etc, etc.

All day I have been debating whether to just write and go or if I should ask first.

But if I ask first and the words don’t flow through my pen…

But if I ask then it might put pressure on me to follow through.

My friends add colour and joy and sparkle to my life. My friends help me feel Colour-Fully-Alive.

I love ya girls!

Pink bubbly wine and colour full family!

By: Just myself January 1, 2022January 1, 2022

Blog#being alive, #building the life you want, #colour, #having a full life, #healthy living, #new year, goalsLeave a Comment

Happy new year everyone! 2022 is here, and my theme this year is “Colour Fully Alive”!

I am on a mission to see and experience as much colour as I can.

I want to smell, touch, taste, listen and observe colour.

I want to feel colour! I want to discover new colour. I want to absorb colour into my soul and radiate colour.

And I don’t want to be just one colour, I want to be and experience all the brightest, happiest, peaceful colours.

How do you experience colour?

Well I asked my friend to pick up some sparkly wine for to bring in the new year. She chose a pink wine, “because it made me happy”, she said.

My cousin created this colourful delight to feast our eyes and taste buds on.

What about this great red lipstick? It brings my face alive!

I want to live Fully-Coulourfully-Alive this day January 1 2022, because there will never be another day like it.

What colours do you find makes you feel colour-fully-alive? And for curiosity sake why?

The enemy: fatigue

By: Just myself December 12, 2021

Blog#building the life you want, #healthy living, #living fully1 Comment

Learning to pace ones self seems to be a most important aspect of maintaining self-control and getting to one’s goals.

Am I the only one that works like a mad man gets loads done, then crashes and burns in a blaze not so glorious?

I personally like to use timers when I am at home. Maybe it’s a throw back to school bells. I need reminders to take breaks, to eat meals, and to get up and do some more.

When I continually forget to pace myself I end up, tired and cranky or eating an entire box of gluten-free crackers while mindlessly watching useless fluff on t.v. and playing addictive games on my phone. Leaving me down on myself, and frustrated.

How do you pace yourself through the day, so your ending is as glorious as the beginning?