From Dragonflies to Dream Houses

A few weeks ago I decided it was time to do something to tackle my lingering dissatisfaction and doubt about my current path. My professional path, mostly, but life is about more than just one thing, and wouldn’t it be grand if the puzzle actually all came together?

So I created a vision board, and this is how it turned out.

vision board

 

There are things on there that I want to have the courage to do and things I want to cultivate in myself.

There are images that represent my role as a mother and a parent and what I want to encourage in my children.

There are images that represent things I like to do and want to do more of.

And there is chocolate.

In my late teens/early 20s I had journals I decorated with pictures and words cut out of magazines. Words, mostly,  because despite being a visual person words are what speak to me most. I have book after book after book, all of which rest quietly in my hope chest, too much a part of me to let go.

This board, obviously, is mostly pictures, and I haven’t yet decided if this is the approach that works for me. (The collection of words in the middle near the bottom are what came out when I posted on Facebook about creating a vision board and asked for inspiration. Those words appeared, rapid-fire, from many different friends, and reminded me just how much inspiration there is in our lives if only we look for it.)

I also haven’t decided what to do with this. Print it out and put it somewhere I can see it every day, probably. That seems like the natural thing to do. For what is a vision board if not something to look at, and, in looking at it, letting it come to life?

I’ll let you know how I get on.

 

With thanks to Tonya and Tracie for sharing their boards with me for extra inspiration. 

Do you have a vision board and has it made a difference in your life?

Grace in Small Things: #5

 peacock full feathers

 

  1. Family members who help. The magnitude of this actually makes it a big thing, but having someone else empty the dishwasher, fold laundry and put the kid to bed is worth mentioning here.
  2. Sunshine and bird song in the morning.
  3. The excitement in the city leading up to a 10-day festival.
  4. A flexible work schedule.
  5. Extra pillows for pregnant tummies.

Waging a battle against embitterment and taking part in Grace in Small Things.

 

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I’m also thankful for others who invite me to share my voice. This week I had two other posts up on sites I regularly contribute to:

On Just.Be.Enough: Being a Mom of Boys – an update on how I’m feeling after finding out this babe isn’t a girl after all.

On Postpartum Progress: On the physicality of motherhood (ugh, but after reading the comments I’m so glad it’s not just me).

Imagination and the Giant’s Forest

Connor painted the deck yesterday. Which would have been helpful except that he only painted a small circle and used bright primary colours.

I’ve been wishing lately that he would play a little bit more independently, and this is what I get for letting him do that while not paying total attention. I guess that’s what happens when a kid with a wild imagination grabs his still-wet paint brushes and wanders out on to the deck while his mother is otherwise occupied in the kitchen (which has a clear view of the deck, I might add).

On a related note, “Don’t paint the deck!” is not an effective way to avert this type of DIY home reno project. [Read more…]

Grace in Small Things: #4

birthday-cement-truck

1. Water parks.

2. Husbands who bring home a burger and fries at the exact moment you’re thinking, “I could really go for a burger and fries.”

3. The ice-cream-and-baby-kicks combination.

4. When all you need is love, and you get it.

5. Finding the light again.

Happy Hearts

Water-park

 

Today was a good day. Summer party at work. End of year preschool picnic (which I missed, but that’s another story about my complete lack of navigational skills). Play at the water park.

We noticed that the water park in our community was up and running the other day, and of course Connor wanted to go. So we agreed that we’d go after his picnic. I actually thought he’d last all of three minutes since it’s not blistering hot here, but he loved it.

He played and I sat and watched.

He made footprints on the pavement and I smiled.

He borrowed another boy’s truck and I realized this could be a perfect activity for us to do together. He gets to play and be active and I can jump in there if I want (when I’m not wearing jeans) but otherwise I can just sit in the shade and appreciate my boy being four and enjoying summer.

I sense we’ll be making many memories there in the next couple of months.

 

Linked up with Memories Captured.