Tag Archives: Family

We’re Having Fun Now!

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When you think of having fun what comes to mind?

Typically fun is associated with relaxation and recreation (re-creation). For most people, having fun means being on vacation, perhaps at the beach or on a cruise, or having a drink with friends, or being at a sporting event. Fun is defined by being kicked-back with nothing to do and no responsibilities.

While this kind of re-creation is indeed fun and incredibly important for recharging our positive anabolic batteries, when fun is so narrowly defined, most of life is spent not having fun.

What if you were to broaden and expand your definition of fun? What if you began to include what you’re doing?

Fun is laughing so hard you cry, being with friends and family, and feeling free, but it’s also solving problems, achieving a goal, being engaged in the task at hand, and the satisfaction of a job well done.

Fun is pushing yourself to and past your limits, knowing you gave something your all, reaching out to help another, and shifting how you think about a situation, person, or event.

Fun is pursuing things you’re passionate about, embracing who you truly are, learning from experiences that many might call mistakes, and being aligned with your core values.

Fun is taking responsibility for everything in your life, is quiet moments of meditation and appreciation, and is striving for excellence.

Fun is repairing damaged relationships, admitting when you’re wrong or don’t have all the answers, and is striving to be the best possible version of you.

Fun is taking life as it comes, focusing more on where you are than on your future destination, and making decisions that move you towards your ultimate goal.

Fun is seeing the opportunities in every moment, cultivating a belief that everything is always working out for you, and enjoying the heck out of the ride that is life.

How can you broaden your definition of fun to include what you’re doing? How much does that increase the amount of fun you’re having? How might that impact your life?

Together we can do it!

Photo by worradmu / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What’s Your Holiday Focus?

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For the past several days, I have been more focused on what I don’t want then what I do want.

  •  I’ve been focused on not eating sugar instead of eating for health and wellness.
  • I’ve been focused on my worry over gaining weight instead of being confident in my ability to maintain my weight.
  • I’ve been focused on all the things I can’t do because I am recovering from surgery instead of what I can do.
  • I’ve been focused on being bored instead of milking every ounce of rest and relaxation out of this recovery time.

Just remembering that what I focus on is a choice feels so much better! With that reminder to myself, I will practice shifting my focus every time I notice that I am feeling out of sorts. Like magic, not only do I feel better, but I have more fun, my stress level drops, and life unfolds in a more beautiful way.

For many people, the holidays are a time where they focus on stress, too much to do, family squabbles, and maybe even judgment, disappointment, sadness, and loss.

This is all focusing on what you don’t want.

What can you do to shift your focus to all the opportunities presented by the holidays? Here’s what those new thoughts might look like:

  • I’m choosing to do these extra things because I love my family and want them to have the best holiday ever.
  • I will do what I can, and am willing to let go of those things that really aren’t a priority.
  • I am going to focus on how I show up at family gatherings, and will let go of past problems and expectations.
  • The past is over. I have a new opportunity right now to create a better-feeling present and future.
  • I recognize that the holiday season is about love, forgiving, and giving, and I’m going to demonstrate that to everyone I encounter.

Don’t beat yourself up if you catch yourself focused on what you don’t want. We all fall into that pattern sometimes. Just gently and persistently shift your thoughts to what you do want.

Practice focusing on what you want, who you want to be, what you want to do, and how you want to feel. What difference does that make in your life?

Together we can do it!

 

Photo by suphakit73 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Family Matters

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Day three of the gratitude challenge and we are to write about something we feel grateful for in our life.

Today I am grateful for my immediate family. My family includes my wonderful husband, David, who is incredibly thoughtful and does so much for me. He is a gentle man, a trustworthy man, a funny man. I am confident in his love for me. Not only do I love him, but I like him. Marrying him almost 20 years ago was the best thing I ever did.

My fur children Buffy and Willow

Our animal children, who allow me to shower them with all my maternal love and attention. Our two dogs and two cats are the most beautiful animals on the planet. Their distinct personalities never cease to make me laugh and bring me to a place of genuine appreciation. They are loving, smart, and are amazingly communicative. They bring me incredible joy.

My Mom, who is a beautiful and powerful spirit, has taught me so much. She’s incredibly talented and creates beautiful things as an artist. She is also an artist in the kitchen, making delicious and wonderful foods that set the bar in taste for me. She taught me about nutrition and gave me my appreciation of beauty in form and function. She gave to me an appreciation of nature and animals. She gave to me strength of will and character.

My step-Father, who is one of the most brilliantly creative people I know. He finds joy in even the smallest of things. And he loves my mother and is a wonderful life partner for her.

My half-brother, Richard, who is so different from me in appearance and beliefs, yet we find enjoyment in each other’s company. He is extremely funny and bright. He’s an awesome dad and husband. His wife, Susan, is the best thing that ever happened to him. With her he is gentle. With her he is at peace. And their incredibly beautiful daughter Abby is a gift to this planet. I love watching her grow and turn into the person she is to become.

My half-brother Ashley, who I met for the first time in 28 years just two weeks ago. He is the brother who looks like me and who has the same positive outlook and strong sense of faith. He has an incredible family and has been an amazing dad and provider. I am so grateful for the opportunity to get to know him.

My father, who gave me my love for writing, and my determination to create loving relationships and to take care of myself–body, mind, and spirit. So much of the good that I have allowed into my life springs out of what I learned that I wanted when I was a kid. For that, I am very grateful.

Family matters to me. And I love them–and all the brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews on David’s side of the family.

My family has not been perfect. In fact, when I was a child, it has downright hard. But as I have grown and evolved into the person that I am, it has been so wonderful to not only love them because they are family, but to pay attention to the reasons why I also am grateful for them.

What can you appreciate about your family today?

Together we can do it!