25 Ways to Bring On Spring!

No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn  - Hal Borland

Today, I have decided to not get out of my pajamas.   I will drink hot cocoa; I will blog a little; I will get the required work done for the job that funds my luxurious lifestyle (hah!) and I will marvel at the snow and sunshine outside my home office window while dreaming of spring.  

While late winter snow is beautiful- being cold is getting old!  My mind lately has been drifting toward springtime.   Spring will eventually arrive -whether you prepare for it or not - but sometimes the wait can seem like forever.  To that end, I have compiled a list of things to do to take good care and to make the wait for spring a little less excruciating.

1)      Keep feeding those birds- this time of year is tough on our little winged friends.   If you feed them, they will sing to you too!
2)      Get a new haircut or color – Spring is all about fresh new beginnings
3)      Get a pedicure to put a “spring” in your step!
4)      Clear out a sacred space for yourself (a place in your home you can escape to for peace and quiet)
5)      Buy a cheery pot of spring flowers – I bought one yesterday to thank a neighbor…really thinking I should grab one for myself now too.
6)      Browse seed catalogs and start planning your garden
7)      Pull out your spring clothes- donate what you won’t wear /don’t wear/can’t wear to charity
8)      Take a walk and watch for signs of budding trees.
9)      Add bright colors throughout your home…rearrange your furniture, paint a room,  set out your spring themed accents!
10)   Make up your bed with floral sheets (might want to keep a set of floral flannel ones around if possible)
11)   Add some fresh fragrance to your rooms- candles, pot pourri, or a springy room spray.
12)   Watch for the arrival of fresh seasonal produce - asparagus will be in season very soon.
13)   Clean the garage.  (Not my favorite chore, but something we do every spring)
14)   Plan a vacation
15)   Make these really cute little bird cupcakes
16)   Wear bright fuzzy socks
17)   Eat strawberries
18)   Change your screen-saver to a springy theme
19)   Clean your windows
20)   Organize your filing cabinet- the new tax season will be easier if you are organized
21)   Force some buds
22)   Get crafty- add a spring theme to your card making, scrapbooking or sewing hobby
23)   Think Spring!  Post only positive thoughts and spring observations on facebook
24)   When the sun is shining, make sure you step outside and soak up some of those rays of Vitamin D.
25)   Plan a spring party with your girlfriends- one great theme: have each person bring a bouquet of one type of flower and a vase.   Everyone leaves the party with a mixed bouquet!  Have each person bring a dish that reminds them of spring.

Frogs versus Princes

Self Care Glog

Everyone Needs Thier Own Space

The Care and Feeding of Your Soul in 10 Steps

You don't have a soul.  You are a Soul.  You have a body.  -C S Lewis

 

Many of us, at some time or another, have spend time in thoughtful analysis of what exactly the Soul is.   To simplify, I define a Soul as our very complex life forces.   We each are one- according to CS Lewis- and for the most part we are not static; each of us have grown since we first came into existence,  and we continue to change to become completely authentic in who we are.

Spirituality is the nurturing of our life force; the self-care of the Soul.   It too must be an authentic practice.  What "feeds" your soul is unique, only you can judge if something is nurturing or detracting.  I cannot tell you what to do specifically to care and feed for your soul, however I can provide some exercises to get you thinking and practicing.

This is by no means a complete list…I wrote it in about 20 minutes….it is simply several places from which to start.   Please feel free to post any other Soul-full suggestions I have missed.

1. Define yourself.   Make a list of 100 things about YOU.  Begin with the words “I am…” and build your authentic list from there.   See my list here.
2. Take quiet time each day to reflect on who you are and what your purpose is.
3. Ask yourself often “What do I need right now?” (Follow up by giving yourself what you need if you are able!)
4. Know and practice your talents and passions.  What do you do well, what do you love to do? 
5. Remind yourself often who benefits from your existence (even in small ways you touch lives) and create new ways to benefit others (a simple compliment can make someone’s entire day!)
6. Do something each day that brings you joy, peace and inspiration – make it a routine!
7. Meditate, pray, analyze, study, reflect.  
8. Act in accordance with who you are.  (You know right away when you aren’t doing this, because you don’t feel quite happy or right)
9. Surround yourself with people who love and support you
10. Seek counsel from wise souls.

Soul-fullness is truly what self-care is all about!  It is foundational to your mental, emotional, physical, volitional, and social well-being. 

Take Good Care!

A Sister Is Good Self Care

To the outside world we all grow old.  But not to brothers and sisters.  We know each other as we always were.  We know each other's hearts.  We share private family jokes.  We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys.  We live outside the touch of time.  ~Clara Ortega

My amazing little sister is 40 today.   

A sister can be one of your best support systems for good self care.  Where else can you find someone who knows you so well, for so long, and still loves you despite all the mean things you ever did to her?  I confess that I have not always been the best sister, but PJ has always been very forgiving and loving to me. 

In honor of her birthday, I thought I would share 40 things I know and love about her today:

1)      

1. She used to worship the ground I walked on, even though I didn't always treat her very well.  (I am sorry)
2. She used to borrow my clothes and get into my things
3. She was always willing to sing back up
4. She was always there to play with
5. For some reason, I remember more than one traumatic occasion where she choked on a piece of balloon. 
6. She was completely pliable when she was younger; she could do the splits and was fabulous at gymnastics and she doesn't sit still well even today
7. She brings enough energy into a room to light a ball park
8. She is beautiful
9. She loves Thorton’s Alpini chocolate bars
10. She doesn’t know how awesome she is
11. She served a short stint in the Marine corp
12. She somehow repeatedly survived pushing our Dad’s buttons way beyond the point that me and our brother felt was wise.
13. She and I used to have giggle attacks at the dinner table where we couldn’t look at each other without laughing
14. She was my room mate until we were in high school
15. She is a fabulous mom to three wonderful sons
16. She can fix anything
17. She can sell anything
18. She is tough
19. She has a teaching degree
20. She listens when I need someone to talk to
21. She doesn’t have too many childhood pictures where her belly isn’t hanging out of her shirt.
22. She might get sentimental if you call her “Paula Jean King Queen Speaking”
23. She once handed out all of her first grade pictures before our mother had a chance to see them
24. She really never liked that “pixie” haircut that our mother made her wear
25. She is a really talented actress
26. She loves the Chicago Bears
27. She is generous to a fault
28. She is witty
29. She will stand up for you
30. She can’t spell
31. Blue is her favorite color
32. She didn’t eat chicken for years after she was tricked into eating rabbit disguised as chicken for dinner one night.
33. She was the best synchronized swimming partner ever
34. When we had cooking shows- she was always the assistant
35. When we go on vacation she buys souvenirs for EVERYBODY
36. She once served as the bridesmaid for two weddings in one weekend (mine and her best friend, Jennifer’s)
37. She made sure that I got my grandma’s cookbook because she knew it would mean a lot to me.
38. She is so much more capable than she gives herself credit for
39. She made sure that I didn’t spend my birthday completely alone this year. 
40. She is my best friend

A Few Keys To Keeping Your Resolutions

There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth...not going all the way, and not starting. -Buddha

I am currently reading the book “Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard” by Chip Heath and Dan Heath.

It is my hope that this book will provide some insight into why I have never been able to stick to any of my New Year’s resolutions, while providing me the golden knowledge of how I can suddenly become an expert on transformation.   

From what I have read so far (only a few chapters), 3 things are needed for change to be effective:

1. You need to create the right environment.   This means removing temptation, adding motivations, surrounding yourself with successful, encouraging people etc. 
2. You need to have a plan

a.       Be specific, be realistic

b.      Break the long term vision into short achievable goals

c.       Write it down

d.      Include a back-up plan for handling any potential setbacks

      3.   You need to have the right attitude

a.       Make the reason for the change an emotional one.   People are most successful when they have a strong emotion behind their actions.

b.      Make it fun

c.       Reward yourself for little victories. 

This seems quite simplistic, I know.  It is just the beginning of the book and I will definitely provide more information if I read anything else earth shattering. 

One other comment I found interesting was in regard to reconciling our planning brain with our emotional brain.    Some of us are great planners, but not very good doers.   Some of us jump in head first without a viable plan.   Recognize your tendency and adjust before you begin!     

I also cannot emphasize enough that you need a contingency plan.   How will you respond if you have a set back?   My suggestion is that you plan well for being imperfect.  Be easy on yourself.   Begin again. 

Good luck to you whatever your resolution may be!