Be Mindful, even when your mind is full

There are times when I am in the midst of my day, driving home on a pretty fall afternoon, thinking of the next thing that needs to be done, and I look around and realize, I am in the life that I hoped for.  How lucky is that?

New school year, new school photo!

I recently attended a session at work on mindfulness, where you try and be as present as possible in each and every moment.  To appreciate and absorb all that is around you while life, quickly goes on.

When you have children, you notice how fast time passes even more, as Luke is now a teenager, and Eliza is in middle school.  This phase in their lives has been the hardest so far. Looking back at the time when Eliza had colic and didn't sleep for seven months, was a cake walk compared to these teenage years. I have had memories of my own junior high experience, of mean girls and boys and pressures to do well.  My kids now deal with the same thing, but with the addition of social media and all the crap that goes along with it. I'm trying to figure out the line between helping them out with things to having them learn to advocate for themselves, or just put their dirty clothes in the hamper.  My problem is that it's easier for me to just clean up after them, because I feel like I sound like such a nag, or a broken record.  I gave up reminding Luke to put on deodorant or putting his rubber bands on his braces, instead I made a check list of what he needs to do in the morning and stuck it next to his bedroom door.  

I guess my whole point is that Mike and I are trying hard to raise good kids, while stressing the importance of family.  There are so many layers to life, school doesn't last forever, and you always have your family behind you.

In two weeks it will be Thanksgiving, with a new year rapidly approaching.  2016 has had it's own set of challenges, and ups and downs, but I really want to end it on a high note.  I need to focus a bit more on self care. When school started in September I put our YMCA membership on hold until December.  I can't tell you how much stress that relieved as we got into new routines, I didn't have to rush to the Y to fit in a workout.  Instead my plan was to run with our new dog Gary after school and enjoy the fall weather.  Of course in true Molly style, one Tuesday I went for a run, made it a half mile before I wiped out, rolled my ankle on the side of the road, cut open my knee and bruised my hand.  It's been a month and I think I'm ready to give it another go, I've been keeping up with getting over 10,000 steps a day, but that's about it.  

So it's Monday, and time for another re-set.  I went back to intermittent fasting when school started, and I think that has prevented weight gain since I couldn't run.  But after sampling Halloween candy all week, I'm cutting sugar, just until Thanksgiving. Things work better for me if I make small goals, one at a time.  But I do need to get more sleep, I've been going to bed way too late for someone who has to get up at 5:45 each day.  I feel like a completely new person when I get a decent night of rest.  Now that daylight saving time has arrived, it's time to hit the treadmill in my pain cave. Get back to planks, squats and all that jazz. 

I miss this blog, so I'll be back, and let you know how it goes. 

M. S. B.