living life Archives - Page 11 of 22 -

Birthday Reflections

December 20, 2011 by Farewell Stranger ·

One year ago I turned 36. 355 days ago I started this blog.

On neither of those days did I have any idea what the upcoming year would bring.

Sometime last year I developed a 7-year plan. At some point this year it went completely out the window.

It’s not that those goals aren’t important to me, but that plan was focused on one specific thing: moving overseas to work for an international company. In some ways the events of the last year derailed the timing of that 7-year plan (because it included kids being a certain age, and because of the struggles of this last year the second hypothetical child hasn’t even been shipped yet).

We all know we can dream up all the timelines we want, but that’s just not how life works. In any case, it’s not just the timing. It’s that I have learned there’s more out there than one grand adventure. (And while I have a new job—that I love, even if I’m only on day 3—I’m about 60% less motivated by work than I was at this time last year.) I’d still love to do that someday, don’t get me wrong, but this last year stopped me, spun me around, and shoved me down another path.

And here I am, a year later, standing on that path looking at snow and sunsets and thinking thank God.

One thing is for sure: I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.

Today* is my 37th birthday and I’m not even going to try to plan where I’m going in the coming year. I’m just going to enjoy the ride.

—–

*Wednesday that is. “Today” in blogging time.

I also got a wonderful birthday present from Katherine at Postpartum Progress (even though she didn’t know it was my birthday). I’m incredibly honoured to be included on this list of The Top 20 Writers on Postpartum Depression in 2011.

Filed Under: at Postpartum Progress, Happy things, Postpartum depression, Writing · Tagged With: gratitude, living life, perspective, The Universe

Link-up: Farewell to 2011 in photos

December 18, 2011 by Farewell Stranger ·

How would you describe 2011 in words? It’s hard for me to pick just one.

Enlightening.

Frightening.

Joyous.

Anxiety-ridden.

Unexpected.

Life-changing.

2011 included my worst personal experience to date.

It included one of my best personal experiences to date.

It was the year I went public with my experience with PPD.

It was the year I started this blog (almost exactly one year ago, in fact).

2011 was the year I took 4 1/2 months off work and saw a psychiatrist and was significantly medicated. It was the year I quit the job I used to love and moved with my family away from the city I grew up in. It was the year I learned to call myself a writer.

All those things are so indescribably unexpected. A year ago I had no idea I would be where I am today. NO idea. And I couldn’t be more grateful – for all of it.

But while those are the things I will remember most about this year, there are lots of other things that happened too and together they make up what 2011 was about for me. All those big things are captured on this blog, but only some of the small things are. And they should have a place here too, don’t you think?

So here’s what I’m going to do: After Christmas, I’m going to put together a post that includes a photo to represent each month of the year. It might depict something big, and it might be something small that I just want to remember. I’ll post it and include a linky and anyone who wants to play along is welcome to link up.

And…there’s a prize.

One winner will be randomly chosen from those who link up to receive a complimentary registration in the Brave Girls Club’s Soul Restoration I class.

This class is described as an “enjoyable and powerful workshop…designed to help you really really think and hear your own soul again…to help you remember what brings you the most joy, to realize & remember all of the things that you are good at and that make your heart sing…to get back on track and to unleash the courage and motivation to stay on track….to reunite with your soul.”

A perfect way to start 2012, I would say.

So enjoy the festivities, however you celebrate, and then reflect on the last year, choose some photos and join in. The link-up will be open from Dec. 26 to Jan. 2, and a winner will be randomly chosen on Jan. 3.

Happy reflecting.

Filed Under: Happy things, Hello, Inspiration, Photos · Tagged With: favourite activities, going public, gratitude, living life, perspective, spreading the love

Paradigm Shift

December 12, 2011 by Farewell Stranger ·

I walk every day, and everything is new.

There’s no doubt I’m somewhere different.

The community we live in now is not one I was familiar with. We chose it, bought a house, and moved here, knowing nothing. Being here is an evolution, a revolution, a metamorphosis.

I’m revelling in the ordinariness of life when it is anything but. Exploring a new grocery store is an adventure. Sideways traffic lights and fire hydrants that are yellow instead of red are notable, if only to me.

Every side street and every path holds promise. Footsteps disappear between the trees and I follow them.

An open space. Late afternoon sun lighting the trees on fire.

Further down, the horizon peeks through.

Snow is heavy on the branches. Sparkling white, gentle, pristine.

Bright red berries speak of the season.

Even the birds have a place to retreat to.

I have walked a lot over the last few years because the dog demands it, but it was always one more thing on the to-do list. A pain, not a pleasure. I walked but didn’t see.

Now I walk every day. A choice, not a chore. And I see because I’m looking.

And I’m watching my paradigm shift.

Filed Under: Happy things, Hello, Inspiration · Tagged With: favourite activities, firsts, gratitude, living life, perspective, photos

Chasing Sunsets

December 5, 2011 by Farewell Stranger ·

We’ve lived here for a week. It feels like our house although it doesn’t yet feel like home.

Late last week it snowed. A lot. I watched it come down, my response to this first snowfall as a permanent resident of this winter town nothing less than total glee. I love snow like no one else I know.

I have two boys who have been sick on and off since we arrived (I suspect their tummies react to stress like my back does, which is to say angrily) and a dog who appears to be settling in all right, although for the first few days he was velcroed to us like a shadow, desperate to make sure he wasn’t left behind in this strange new place.

But he, too, likes the snow. We’ve been walking, up and down streets, exploring this strange new place. There are jack rabbits on the streets and at night they bound ahead of us, surprising me. I’m not used to them – deer yes, large rabbits no. Surely nothing with that much bounce and determination could be a bunny, I think, but they are, their ears and large hind legs coming clear under the street lights.

We’re the last community at the western-most edge of the city—the city limit sign is right around the corner—and when we head out from home it’s just a couple of turns and a short stretch of road before we get to the outer edge. That’s my favourite thing so far. We round a bend in the road and there before us are mountains as far as the eye can see – right to left, the whole horizon is filled with snow-covered crags. It’s as though you can see the whole of the Canadian Rockies right there outside our doorstep. My breath catches every time. I will never tire of it.

Tonight I was coming home from the grocery store at sunset and it looked like the mountains were on fire. Large swaths of pink and blue, with one peak a fiery gold. I chased the sunset – driving up and down streets looking for the best view. No photo I took did it justice. I could have stayed out there forever watching the sun rise and fall, rise and fall, leaving the mountains alight.

We don’t yet have our stuff (though we bought a new bed, and thank goodness). Apparently the rest may arrive tomorrow and we’ll finally be able to settle in. I’ve been living on anxiety and adventure, swinging from one to the next like a monkey on a vine. I’m looking forward to less of the former and more of the latter. I’m looking forward to furniture and a shorter to-do-to-get-settled-in list. I’m looking forward to tromping through snow and chasing more sunsets.

Chasing sunsets is good for the soul.

Linked up with:

Filed Under: Happy things, Hard things · Tagged With: anxiety, favourite activities, living life, perspective, photos

On the Road to Wisdom

November 27, 2011 by Farewell Stranger ·

Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to weep, too grave to laugh, and too selfish to seek other than itself.
~ Khalil Gibran

At the beginning of this year I did two things: I started this blog and I joined a One Little Word class. I thought I’d write here a bit and see where it went, and here I am almost a year later, fully immersed. I thought I’d dive right into the One Little Word class and do all the exercises, and almost a year later I haven’t done many of them but my word is fully immersed in my life.

I had a tough time choosing the word, and was skeptical about the common “the word will choose you” reassurance. Initially I thought I’d choose “improve” as my word because that’s what I wanted to do in many areas of my life. But thinking that was a good word was really a symptom of my problem, and luckily I came to my senses and realized that was too self-critically negative.

And then my word chose me.

I don’t remember how it happened. It just came to me one day, I think, and that was that. I didn’t know what it meant at the time, but I do now.

Seek.

verb, sought, seek·ing.

–verb (used with object)

1. to go in search or quest of: to seek the truth.

2. to try to find or discover by searching or questioning: to seek the solution to a problem.

3. to try to obtain: to seek fame.

4. to try or attempt (usually fol. by an infinitive): to seek to convince a person.

5. to go to: to seek a place to rest.

6. to ask for; request: to seek advice.

7. Archaic: to search or explore.

For too long I was too proud to weep (figuratively, anyway, or at least in public) and too grave to laugh. I lost sight of what was important.

Actually, I don’t think I knew what was important.

I do now. In part, at least. I was seeking something I didn’t know was lost, and now I’ve started to find my way back to it.

I was seeking myself.

This search (journey? quest?) has led me places I would not have anticipated a year ago, and now a new stage is beginning.

A new home.

A new place.

A new start.

I look forward to where seeking wisdom will take me, and what part of myself I will find on the way there.

Linked up with:

The Just.Be.Enough team is so thankful to have been partnering with Striiv on our Striiv 2 Be Enough month-long challenge. Now it is our turn to give back to one of you! Enter to win a chance to own your very own Striiv fitness device just by linking up an “I am striving for” post on Just.Be.Enough this week.

A winner will be chosen among the linked posts (remember that the linky closes on Wednesday 11/30 at 11:59 pm EST) using random.org on Thursday (12/1) morning. The winner will be notified by email and will have 24 hours to reply with a mailing address and telephone number or another winner will be selected.

To be entered:

Link an “I am Striving for” Be Enough Me post in the linky, AND
Comment on the JBE post to let us know that you would like to win your OWN Striiv.

—–

And don’t forget about our first EVER Twitter party!

We are so excited to host a “Striiv to Be Enough” event where we’ll be discussing getting moving and putting ourselves first as we strive to live healthy lives full of movement.

Plus, we’re offering amazing prizes that you will NOT want to miss! You must RSVP and be present during most of the event to be eligible to win prizes.

When: Tuesday, November 29th, 8-9 pm EST/5-6 pm PST
Where: On Twitter!
Follow: @JustBeEnough and hashtag #Striiv2BEnough