Grounded

Yesterday I stood outside in my barefoot.

I felt the solid ground beneath my feet. The grass tickled between my toes. 

I watched a cardinal fly from bush to bush along the property line.  

A large bird drifted in lazy circles against a backdrop of building thunderhead clouds in the distance.  

I closed my eyes and enjoyed the feeling of the sunshine on my face. 

A breeze gently whispered past my cheek and caused my skirt to flutter around my legs.

I listened to the birds singing and the buzz of the katydids. A squirrel chattered away somewhere in the tree tops. I heard the roll of thunder from a storm on the other side of the mountain.

I felt time slow for that brief moment.

I thought about how it is possible to feel so completely connected and totally disconnected all at the same time.

Unplug. Pause. Listen. Feel. Ground yourself. Recharge your spiritual battery.  It only takes a few moments.

Sunday Inspiration: Survival

Words Matter

The words we say make a difference.  They can express love or anger.  Build someone up - or break them down.  They can encourage someone - or shatter dreams and expectations. 

Whether positive or negative, when we hear the same words over and over - they can begin to take root.  We start to believe them and even beginning to act as if they are true. Whether they really are or not.

That's why it is so important to think about how we speak to others.  And how we talk to ourselves.  It is not only the words we hear around us that can affect us, but also the internal voice in our head.  Maybe even more.  

You can help to counter that negative self-talk that might be taking place inside our heads with positive daily affirmations, especially ones that are based on Scripture.  Research shows that we can "rewire" our brains by repeating thoughts or actions that develop new connections in the brain which makes it easier to have those thoughts in the future.  Science also states that faith can help improve our mental health by giving us something to believe in, a structure for coping with stressful life circumstances, and giving us a sense of belonging, as well as teaching us forgiveness, compassion, and kindness.

To help you get started, here are a few of my favorite affirmations along with the supporting Scripture passages.

• I Am Loved By and Loving Toward Others  -  "We love each other because he loved us first." 1 John 4:19" 
• I Am Valuable - "Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you." Isaiah 43:4
• I Have More Than I Need to Prosper - "And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others." 2 Corinthians 9:8
• My Future Looks Bright and Hopeful  - "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope"  Jeremiah 29:11
• I Have A Purpose To Fulfill -  "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10
• I Am Healthy in Body, Mind, and Spirit - "Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit"  3 John 1:2
• I Am Filled With A Spirit of Power and Love - "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7
• I Can Live Without Worry - "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." Philippians 4:6

Try to create a few of your own and share in the comments!

How Are You Doing ?

How are you doin? It's a mad, mad world we're living in right now.  Things are changing everyday thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.

Many of us are living a life we couldn't have imagined a month ago. Businesses closing.  Grocery store shelves are emptying as fast as stockers can fill them.  We're being told to stay home as much as possible.  Limit the number of people we gather with.  Keep a distance of at least six feet from anyone we encounter.  Suddenly we're a nation of homeschoolers - whether we want to or not. 

It's enough to give you a big ol' tension headache.  And good luck finding any Excedrin in stock at the local Walmart to help with that! 

Which brings me back to my original question.  How are you really doing? 

I thought I was handling things well, until I found myself crying one morning last week for pretty much no reason what-so-every.  That's when I had to take a deep breath and start asking myself, "What exactly is making you so anxious?"  It didn't take long to come up with a whole list of things (and y'all know how I love a list), but what it all boiled down to was that feeling of having no control over the situation.  

I can't control how long this will last, what's going to happen next, or, for the most part, whether my family gets sick or not.  I certainly can't control whether will be able to find what I need at the grocery stores, when the schools will be able to reopen, or what others are doing.  All the worrying in the world is not going to change any of that. 

With all this uncertainty,  is it any wonder we are feeling stretched to our emotional limits?

We all have to take care of ourselves right now.  Especially if we have others we need to care for and support through all of the changes and uncertainty.  That means finding ways to cope with our stress.

So, what are things we can do to help manage our anxiety levels?

Acknowledge Anxious Thoughts and Emotions  You're not the only one feeling this way.  It's only natural to be concerned and stressed during a time like this.  If you try to ignore those feelings - instead of going away, the pressure will keep building until you eventually  break.  It's better to accept them for what they are.

Set A Routine  When things feel out of control - control what you can. Setting a routine for yourself can give some familiarity and comfort to your days.  Scheduling your days, especially tasks and work assignments can be especially important if you are telecommuting during these days of quarantines and social distancing. 

Talk To Someone  As we are recommended put some distance between us, it's easy to feel isolated.  Reach out to others!  Have conversations with the other people in your home.  Call someone.  Skype or Facetime with people you can't visit in person right now.  

Talk About Something Else  We are all consumed by thoughts of the virus right now, but we don't have to be.  Find topics other than the pandemic to discuss and get your mind off it for a little while.

Turn It Off  Sure, we want to stay aware of the latest news and information.  But there's a fine line between staying informed and becoming overwhelmed.  Turn off the tv, the computer and maybe even the phone for a while to give yourself a break. 

Self Care  Make time to care for your physical, emotional and spiritual health.  Enjoy your favorite hobby.  Pray and/or meditate.  Step outside to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air

Get Some Sleep  Lack of sleep makes every little stress that much more difficult to handle.  It also contributes to anxiety and depression.  It also makes you more susceptible to illness.  Be sure to get your beauty rest!

We're all trying to find our way though this new normal.  Which doesn't feel normal at all.  

Be kind to yourself and others.  Practice patience.  Better days are coming.  

Rest for the Weary

I'm tired.  Some days I would say that I'm exhausted, even.

As I mentioned in my monthly "Currently" post - having a puppy has seriously hurt my sleep pattern.  I'm staying up later than usual and getting up bright and early.  I'm definitely not getting as much sleep as I require.

Many Most of us can relate.  Maybe you're not getting enough rest because of a new puppy, like me.  Or a new baby.  Or a big work project or some other commitment.   Maybe you're dealing with some insomnia.  At one point or another, we all go through a season or two, or five (or a dozen) when we feel tired.

But what if it's more than tired.  What if you are weary?

What's the difference?

Tired is a physical thing.  Tired is lack of physical energy. It's a matter of getting enough sleep... or not.

But weary goes right down to your soul.  Weary is when you are feeling completely depleted - physically, emotionally and/or mentally.  It's more than just being tired.

Either one can cause a strain on our day to day life.  Nothing makes us less able to cope with life's irritations (big or small) than when we feel fatigued.  I know when I am tired I am much easier to annoy.  I snap out at those I love for even silly little things.   And if a bigger problem should arise - forget about it!  Being tired is bad enough, but everything is magnified even bigger when we are weary.

So, what can we do to help avoid or recover from weariness?  A few simple steps may help ease the strain:

• Ask for Support or Help:  Support - an understanding ear or actual help - from a friend or family member makes every stressful situation easier to bear.

• Learn to Say "No":  Avoid overfilling your schedule.  Busyness leads to burnout

• Self-care: Taking time for yourself will help to revive your spirit, refresh your energy levels and renew your productivity and creativity.

• Get some rest! Being tired for an extended period can contribute, or lead to, weariness.  

If the weariness goes on for an extended period,  or is accompanied by other symptoms of depression including anxiety, sadness, hopelessness, loss of interest in pleasurable things, difficulty concentrating, etc - please, please, PLEASE see a professional!

This post is in no way intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Sunday Inspiration: Priority

Self-Care Wednesdays

When your phone battery starts getting low, I'm willing to bet that you immediately start looking for a way to recharge it.  Am I right, or am I right?  I know.  I'm the same way.  So, why do we so often run around with our batteries on low without stopping to recharge?

I've started trying to take time one day a week to give myself a little TLC.  I know a lot of people have a Self Care Saturday, but for me it's usually Wednesday.  I like doing it mid-week while everyone else is out of the house and it's just me, myself and I.

I usually do a clarifying wash to remove any buildup from my hair, if needed.   Followed by a good deep conditioning treatment.  Sometimes it's a store bought treatment.  Sometimes I create my own with a mixture of my regular conditioner, coconut oil and honey or avacado, banana, coconut oil and honey.

I may also paint my nails or apply a face mask.

I think it's so important for each of us to take a little time to be nice to ourselves.  Maybe your thing isn't a beauty treatment or two.  Maybe you prefer to go for a hike, or a bike ride.  You could do some meditation (this is usually another part of my self-care Wednesdays - as well as a few other days of the week)  You can draw, or paint, or write.  Color in a coloring book.  Sit outside in the sunshine.  Savor a cup of tea.  Read your Bible.  Read some other book.  

Do whatever it is that refreshes your soul.  

Sunday Inspiration: The Love You Give

Sunday Inspiration: What It Means

My One Word: LOVE

It's that time again... when I select one word to be my focus for the next year.  Each year, I start praying about my word and thinking about it around October.  Somehow the word always seems to find me rather than having to go looking for it.   In past years that work has been Fearless, Better, and - most recently - Simplify. 

For 2018 my word is:  LOVE

I anticipate this year being a journey of three stages based on Matthew 22: 37-39...

"Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"


Love of God:  Sinking deeper into His Word to develop a better understanding and appreciation of His great unconditional for myself and the world at large. As a result, I expect my own love for Jesus to deepen and mature

Love of Myself:  Learning to love and appreciate myself for the unique individual God created me to be.  Taking better care of myself - spiritually, emotionally, and physically through kindness, acceptance and grace.

Love of Others:  Demonstrating LOVE to those around me. Especially family and friends.  But also strangers and even to the seemingly unlovable.

Do you have a word for 2018?