Happy New Month!

Happy November!!  Just wanted to put that out into the universe before the month gets all messy with hype and over doing and heaviness.

I love the beginning of the month ...any month because I love second chances.  The beginning of the month for me is my indicator of a fresh start, change of attitude, reassessing the game plan, bright hope for tomorrow all rolled into one.  This takes a lot of pressure off of January 1 since I treat every month the same.

This also allows for me to accept was has and has not happened and move forward.  That's right move forward and celebrate life just as it is and not as I think it should be.  This is hard sometimes.  Especially when I find myself being a little less than gentle with myself.

So, it is a new month what are you doing to enjoy and celebrate?

Coloring in the Lines

The other day while driving my niece instructed her 3 year old cousin to be sure to stay within the lines while coloring.  I ALMOST CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT!!  What kind of madness was this 8 year peddling?   Who was she working for?  What system had she bought into?  Okay, clearly I needed to calm down.  My sweet niece meant no harm.  She is merely a victim of her environment and I am always the mother who rocks the establishment!  While I encouraged her to allow my little one to color wherever she wanted I couldn't help but wonder why is coloring in the lines a sign of success and competence?

On an academic level do we teach coloring in the lines as a means of eye/hand coordination or is it teach about boundaries?  Artsitically the black lines are the outline of the picture and allow the colors to stand out even more - but this still does not help me understand why it is so important to color within the lines!

Coloring itself is a relaxing and freeing activitiy and everyone should enjoy it on their own level (especially adults).  Many times as parents under the guise of showing our children the "right" way,  we often block the creative process or find it difficult to accept their art work just as it is.  Inside or outside of the lines, the important thing is to participate and enjoy the creative process!!!

YES Day

Think back to your days as a child... despite all the happy memories, didn't there seem to be too many rules and regulations?  Even if your parents were pretty easy going, there were still a ton of do's and don'ts outside out the home.  This is were the BRILLIANT concept of YES Day enters the picture.

As a parent of two wonderful beings, I find myself needing to change the routine from time to time just to keep things fresh.  YES Day allows for that change to take place quiet naturally.  Simply put, YES Day is a designated day (or time period) to say YES to everything your children ask for.  That's all.   Then let the day unfold before your very eyes.

Already I am hearing the rumbling in the room and the reasons why this would never work in your situation.  Okay, here are some parameters to help ease your fears that your children will take over and leave you barricaded in a small room with nothing but a day old newspaper and half a sandwich...

• Pick a day and time that is easy for you - now if doing the entire day scares you choose a portion of the day and build up from there.
• Do not announce to the child that you are going to say yes to everything.
• Lift the Yes to everything rule if they ask for something that will harm them the planet or set you on a path to financial ruin
• Relax

Let me let you in on a little secret.  Most of the things your child(ren) ask for aren't really that big of a deal and YES Day allows you to enjoy the simplicities of life a little bit more!

Perfectionism

You know that list of fantastic ideas, projects and goals that you have written and re-written?  IT IS TIME TO GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO DO THEM!

Most women naturally punish themselves by waiting for the perfect day before starting new ventures.  My perfect day would include a completely organized and clean home, which includes laundry cleaned, folded and put away,  all emails and phone calls answered,  a full tank of gas in a freshly cleaned  (inside and out) car  and enough money to do all the home repairs that are currently waiting in queue.  And these things (along with a few others) are the "reasons" I have not found a way towards composting for the organic garden I say I want or starting the small group with other friends who agree we need to support each other and so forth.

You get the picture - right?  My reality is that the above mentioned may or may not take place but waiting for the perfect day only ensures that I am never going to do the things I say I really want to do.  Perfectionism gives me a false sense of reality and blocks my ability to function in a healthy manor.  Let go of perfectionism!   What has it gotten you so far?

I am giving myself permission (and time) to begin fully living life and at least making a step towards that list of things I say I want in my life.  All I have to do is take the first step.  No need to forecast about the what ifs!

Are you down?  Are you in?  Are you ready?


Okay, then say this with me - "Today, I have all I need to begin doing ______________(fill in the blank).  I will release the notion of perfection in order to live a life that honors what I value!  Say it three times out loud so that you begin to believe what you are saying!!! As a matter of fact repeat it each day and anytime you need a gentle reminder of the life you want to live.  And I'll see you on the other side!