Category Archives: Uncategorized

Be Proud

My son is almost fifteen months old. He cannot walk, but he sure can climb! He climbs his brothers’ bunk bed ladder, onto kitchen chairs. Today, he climbed up on the couch in between his big brothers. He was so proud!

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This proud moment made me think of judgement for some reason and my judgement in particular.

It would be easy to judge the fact that my son isn’t walking as the ‘norm’ is 12 months.

It is easy for me to judge, myself especially. But I need to learn to be proud of the little things and let the other things go! My inner dialogue could probably burn a house down. I am very hard on myself.

My children have become my teachers in many ways. Thank you baby boy for my lesson today,

Joanna be proud!

Be Stretched

I’ve never been known for my ability to stretch. I have never been called Gumby! On my University volleyball team, I remember we used to laugh at my inability to touch my toes. I was called peg legged!

I know that I am not physically flexible, but I didn’t know how mentally inflexible I am!

I have been stretched. In the last six week, my husband has been injured, my physically home has changed, my boys have been sick and I have been holding onto to Jesus’ cloak asking for help.

Yesterday, my husband returned to the hospital because his suture was red and hot. Yes, he has an infection. He is now back on the couch at our house. We didn’t move back down the lake closer to his work. He can’t work for a few days.

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This sent me into an emotional tailspin – okay what now? Who goes where? Who is doing what and how can I get back to my yoga class?

It all “worked out”! But not before I almost had a meltdown because my expectations weren’t meeting up with reality. Boy have I been stretched!

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I may be able to touch my toes if this continues! I pray that I can!

Be “Acting Consciously Not Reacting Habitually”

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This is an old photo from 2007 when I was in labour with my first son. I thought of it this week because in my “new life” in our little basement suite 60 kilometres down the lake from our house.

I love exercising and doing yoga makes me feel a re-connection with my body and slows down my sometimes “frenzied” mind.

In the last two weeks, I have attended 5 yoga classes. This is more classes of any type that I have been present at in the last 2 years. In each of these yoga classes, I have experienced the emotions of sadness (yes, I did cry in class), anger, surrender, and learning to trust. Hey, is this the grieving process?

Anyways, last night at yoga, the teacher came out with this comment that we need to “act consciously not react habitually”. Oh man, I am a woman of habit.

I come from a long line of habitual people.

Perfect example: Both of my parents had the same barber/hairdresser for over 30 years! Yup… they both have great hair, but this is a wonderful? habit of going to the same place over and over. The other great? habit that has been handed down to me is being a “Yes” person. My parents try very hard to be good people, to help out and to say “Yes”.

For me in this journey of the last 3 weeks, of moving our family of five, has reinforced to me that not all my habits are healthy and that it is okay to shake things up. I commit to acting more consciously in my life back at home.

And hopefully I can get back into yoga/life shape so that at least I can touch my toes!

Be a Non-TV Watcher

Note to those people reading this: My intention in writing this down is to reflect on my life, help me finding healing in some areas and laugh at myself! Enjoy the journey.

We sold our TV over five years ago. I am a reality TV junky. Oh how I love insight into peoples’ lives. Survivor, Amazing Race, home improvement shows and even The Bachelor all suck me into the vortex of mind-numbing TV.

We sold our TV because our son was around six months old and I realized how distracting TV was. My beautiful baby boy was rolling on the floor and I was watching what was happening in a jungle. My son was hungry but I waited to feed him til the next commercial break.

Why should TV dictate anything about my life? Why do I allow commercials to flash in front of my face and get into my head?

I can’t wait to get home and away from TVland. Gotta run and see how my show ends!

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Be a Caveman

I laughed when I read this title in today’s newspaper then I stopped laughing and realized that I believe ALL the points brought up in this article.

Here is the basics of the message that was brought up in the fourth paragraph:

Their (Cavemen) children were cuddled and carried about, never left to cry, spent lots of time outdoors and were breast fed for years rather than months.

Now I figured out why I feel like a ‘freaky’ mom, I am really a cave woman!

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Be Teary

I have shed a few days in the last seven days!

I went to a yoga class where I was the only student. I asked the teacher if it was okay if I went home. She responded, “I am here and let this be a gift to yourself!”. I cried because it was incredible to focus on my health with a personal class.

Today, I found out some great news about a very close friend: she’s moving! I can’t imagine not being happy for her and her family, but I am also teary because I will miss her in my daily life. There are so many things I will miss, but that is a post for another day.

Lastly, I am profoundly, pit of my stomach sad with tears in my eyes. My friend’s five year old daughter is in Kindergarten and two Mondays ago she was shown a video where a raven turned into a scary looking baby. She cried! Did the teacher turn off the video? NO! What is more important than a child’s tears?

This week, I am going to listen to my tears and connect to my inner child. I think children are more emotionally connected and I need to tap into that!

Be a Hairdresser

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There is something therapeutic about going to the hairdressers. I enjoy a fresh start, a new look and a nice relaxing shampoo. I love salons, the mind candy magazines and sitting for longer than five minutes.

I am not sure if it is the new hair cut I am sporting or the Aveda products that I am using, but my boys love playing hairdresser. They love getting out their combs and chopsticks (scissors), then “do” my hair.

It is a beautiful time. I love having hairdressers in my own home, as long as they aren’t using real scissors!

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