Sweet N Social

Tag: personal journey

  • A Day of Relaxation

    A Day of Relaxation

    o-RELAX-SLEEP-facebookI watch my granddaughter four days out of the week.  On days I don’t have her, I try and make them my “Relaxation Days” but on most occasions, I get a feeling of restlessness.

    One Monday afternoon, on a day I didn’t have Charli, I just couldn’t sit still.  On most days, when I have “Charli Watch”, I start my day at 4 AM by listening to morning motivation videos on YouTube, do early morning stretches with Joanna Suh, and sit in mediation with Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey.  By 5:30 AM, I am off to the gym for a date with a treadmill.  I make it back home with enough time to get my son up and off to school with a smoothie.  My morning is like a well oiled machine.

    My thinking days without Charli as “off days” , I feel I don’t have to put in work. I do not have to get up early and I do not have to put in the effort to take care of myself, I just want to “relax.”  I finally realized at self-care isn’t work, it’s necessary to have a balanced and productive day, no matter what is on the schedule. So I will put in the work , maybe just not so early in the morning.

    References:

    Photo Source: Click Here.  Stretching:  YouTube Channel  Meditation: The Chopra Center

  • Grandma Has Got You

    Grandma Has Got You

    hand_reaching_out

    I love watching my granddaughter learn new things. She watches my husband and I so closely that she can usually pick up and copy what we do rather quickly. The word fear has no meaning to her at the ripe age of 18 months. I take her to the park and let her climb the playground play set. She climbs and jumps and runs with the big kids. I follow and closely standby just in case she reaches out for help.

    Just watching her play has taught me so much. Life is about enjoying the moment. I used to get caught up in thinking about past events or stressing over future ones that I missed the gift in being present. Life looks more vivid, more colorful when I stop and reflect on what is important at the moment. I don’t what to miss one smile, one laugh or one reach of my granddaughter’s hand. Vow to take time each day to reflect on what’s important, there is a gift to be seen.

    Photo Source: click here.

  • An Audience of One

    An Audience of One

    20150812205130-microphone-public-speaking-mediaIt was about four years ago when I joined Toastmasters International or TI. For those who are not familiar with TI, it is a nonprofit, educational organization that operates clubs worldwide for the purpose of helping members improve their communication, public speaking, and leadership skills. The initial reason I joined was to become a better sales person because I talked too much.  I could not close the sale.

    Over the years, my reason for staying in the club changed. The last reason I renewed my membership was in order to become a paid public speaker. It didn’t quite workout as I planned but I did learn one thing.  I had the courage to get up and give speeches at club meetings and compete in local area contests which were all positives. However, no matter the size of the audiences I would speak in front of, the biggest critic in the room, was always myself until I focused on simply doing my best. The one person you most often have to please, is the one that lives within. As the famous African Proverb says:

    When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.

    References:

    Photo Source: http://workwithadam.blogspot.com/2015/10/5-marketing-strategies-that-dont.html

    TI Information Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toastmasters_International

    Quote source: https://www.inspirationalstories.com/proverbs/african-when-there-is-no-enemy-within-the/

     

  • Holding On

    Holding On

    dreamstime_s_53141518I have an elderly neighbor who holds onto everything.  She gives me things that are more than thirty years old sometimes. I appreciate the gifts but I wonder why is she holding on to the stuff or better yet what does she plan to do with it once she passes. It may sound like a morbid thought but it always brings me back to the decisions I make for me and my family.  I want to leave my family with more than just debt!  I realize it is the memories that last.  We are all passing through this time and space, if we chose to let go of things, we could begin to hold on to love.

    Photo credit: http://www.ilanelanzen.com/personaldevelopment/the-many-meanings-of-holding-hands/

  • Quiet and Focused

    Quiet and Focused

    Woman with eyes closed.A quiet mind is a focused mind. Life offers up tons of distractions everyday. Use the quiet moments throughout the day to relax and reflect on what is important to you. The more you can quiet your thoughts the more clear and focused you become. Consciously focusing on your breathing or just simply sitting still are great tools to use.

    Photo credit: click here.