Tag Archives | pleasures
My first attempt at fancy, schmancy christmas ...

My Favorite Holiday Joys

By on December 3, 2011 in Happiness, Sanity Savers

Weekend Musings

 

My first attempt at fancy, schmancy christmas ...

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Some of my favorite things about the Holiday season:

  1. Drinking eggnog in front of the Christmas tree
  2. Hot cocoa and cookies by the fireplace
  3. Taking a drive ( or walk) around the city to look at all of the lighting displays
  4. The smell of fresh pine from a newly cut Christmas tree
  5. Being up to my elbows in cookie dough and fudge with a little helper next to me who happens to be wearing a chocolate mustache
  6. That utterly peaceful moment on Christmas Eve when all of the stores have closed and the children have gone to bed and it’s just silence
  7. Drinking my favorite Santa’s White Christmas coffee each morning by the light of the tree
  8. Holiday music 24/7
  9. The happiness and cheer that permeate our interactions. Christmas it seems is infectious.
  10. The sight of a child sitting on Santa’s knee (better if he has a sticky lollipop.)
Funny how all of these are free or dirt cheap!
How about you? What are your favs?
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Christmas tree

5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Holiday Season

By on December 2, 2011 in Gratitude, Happiness, Life Balance
Christmas tree

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When we look back on our fondest memories of Christmas past, it is probably not the perfectly trimmed tree and beautifully wrapped gifts that we most remember. It is rather those joyously happy, splendidly unplanned moments that were ripe with laughter (or tears,) family, friends and fun. It is the time spent helping others, connecting with those we love and embracing the good cheer of the festivities.

As the holiday season gets underway it’s so easy to get caught up in the crazed busyness of these coming weeks. Many of us have fallen victim to the pressures and pulls of the holiday chaos all around us, only to find that we have missed the entire meaning and joyousness of this special time. The gifts we cherish most are not the most expensive, but the most meaningful. The memories we hold dear are those filled with laughter and light.

Some suggestions to get the most out of your holiday season:

Create Traditions – Whether it’s caroling or making snowmen, crafting gingerbread houses or baking cookies, volunteering or reading as a family it becomes so much more special if you make it a tradition. It’s often the simple things that are the most fun. Ask your children or family what they enjoy. Some of my children’s favorite traditions: Christmas layer cookies and wassail while we decorate the tree, answering questions from “The Christmas Conversation Piece” book, watching The Polar Express and the Grinch as a family and opening one gift on Christmas Eve.

Schedule Down-Time – Be selective about which social and family invitations you accept. And don’t try to fit in too many family activities. Even well intended choices can become stressful if you don’t leave some time to unwind and just be together. I really cherish those evenings when we sit in front of the Christmas tree in our pajamas playing a game or watching Christmas movies.

Don’t Break the Bank – The biggest stress of the season can be the credit card bills that hit the mailbox in January. Don’t get tripped up by unrealistic spending. Make a budget that you can handle, save ahead of time if you can and don’t make the mistake of thinking more expensive is better.

Forget Martha – I am not Martha Stewart and neither are you. Forget about perfection. Forget about making 12 kinds of cookies, expecting your home to look like a magazine and finding the perfect present for everyone on your list. Reality check. Martha has an entire crew to help her create and those homes in magazines are staged by professionals. Oh and those people on television who are always so elated with their gifts…they’re actors…

Have Fun – Most importantly don’t forget to have fun! Throw snowballs, make a snowman, dance and sing to your holiday favorites or visit Santa. Do whatever brings you joy and makes you feel like a kid again.

Make this the best holiday season ever!

What do you enjoy? Care to share a holiday favorite?

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The flame of wisdom

Dad’s Wisdom – Still Relevant in Life and Business

By on September 24, 2011 in Inspiration, Personal Growth, Success, Wisdom
The flame of wisdom

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Wisdom

Today would have been my father’s birthday. It is on days like these when we reflect on those we have loved and lost. And perhaps wished we had listened to a bit more often. Our relationship was often complicated, but valuable, as I think are most of our relationships with our parents.

As I think back on the many things I learned, I have unearthed some pearls of wisdom to share:

  • Be responsible – Say what you mean and do what you say; if you make a promise, keep it; if you start something finish it.
  • Always do your best – Anything worth doing is worth doing right, work hard and take pride in your accomplishments.
  • You are your best judge – Don’t worry so much about what other people think of you; do what you think is right, live how you want – never mind keeping up with the Joneses.
  • Family first – Your spouse and children are always your top priority; not work (although you must provide for them), not friends or relatives. The rest of the world matters, but is a distant second to family.
  • Don’t waste time – Time is precious and too brief; work efficiently and take time for fun; talk with your loved ones, play with your grandkids, have coffee with friends, enjoy your pets and take pleasure in nature whenever possible.

Do you have an lessons you’d like to share? What did you learn from your parents that has been valuable advice?

Question everything, move forward, enjoy the journey.

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.. I missed breakfast, bah.

Small Rewards Can Boost Your Productivity (and keep you sane)

By on September 23, 2011 in Productivity, Sanity Savers
.. I missed breakfast, bah.

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Sanity Saver

Plan a daily reward. Make sure that every single day you have something to look forward to. It doesn’t have to be big or expensive. Meet with a friend, treat yourself to a delicious cup of tea (Chai is my favorite) or coffee, take a hot bath, read a book, take a hot bath or nap in the hammock – whatever is enjoyable to you.

If you work too hard all of the time you will burn out. Reward and revive yourself with something fun or relaxing. It makes getting the work done all that much more gratifying when you know you have something to look forward to.

Question everything, move forward, enjoy the journey.

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A Hammock on a tropical beach.

Don’t Forget to Charge Your Batteries

By on August 3, 2011 in Life Balance
A Hammock on a tropical beach.

Image via Wikipedia

When’s the last time you did something just for you?

Be honest. I mean just for you, for fun or pleasure with no work pay-off, planned outcome, ROI or ulterior motive…

For most the answer is …uh…I can’t remember. Time alone, to de-stress, re-group and re-charge our batteries is crucial to our health and well-being. Even just an hour or two can have a tremendous impact on our mood, our productivity and our life satisfaction. It can be the simplest way to maintain our sanity in the midst of the crazy pace of life. And it’s considerably cheaper than any therapy or drug out there!

  • Get a massage or facial – to save money try a massage school or do a short chair massage.
  • Take the afternoon off to play hooky – window shop, play golf, go to a movie or steal away to a park with a book.
  • Take a walk or drive by yourself to get some peace and quiet – reflect and think or blast your music and sing (leave your phone at home or at least off.)
  • Treat yourself to a fancy drink or pastry at a café that you never have time to visit.
  • Take a nap – in the hammock or at the beach is even better.
  • Take a yoga class – or Tai Chi, Karate, Zumba or some other activity you’d like to try.
  • Take time for a hobby that you enjoy  – photography, art, wood-working, sewing, cooking, dancing, fishing, whatever makes you smile.

Do something for yourself. It doesn’t need to be expensive or difficult. It just needs to allow you an hour or two to slow down, step  back, take a breath and enjoy life.

Otherwise, what’s the point…

 

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Have You Discovered Your Passion?

By on May 18, 2011 in Personal Growth, Success

Some people ask. “What if I haven’t found my true passion?”

It’s dangerous to think in terms of “passion” and “purpose” because they sound like such huge overwhelming ideas. If you think love needs to look like “Romeo and Juliet”, you’ll overlook a great relationship that grows slowly. If you think you haven’t found your passion yet, you’re probably expecting it to be overwhelming.

If you find yourself glued to Photoshop, playing around for hours, dive in deeper. Maybe that’s your new calling. If you keep thinking about putting on a conference or being a Hollywood screenwriter and you find the idea terrifies but intrigues you, it’s probably a worthy endeavor for you. You grow (and thrive!) by doing what excites you and what scares you every day, not by trying to find your passion.

Instead, just notice what excites you and what scares you on a small moment-to-moment level.

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Why Are We Working So Hard Anyway?

By on April 27, 2011 in Personal Growth, Success

Last week, one morning,   I was sitting on my comfy couch, snuggled up in my electric throw, sipping a cup of my favorite tea and burning one of my much-loved scented candles, when I had a startling thought. I am spoiled! Now, in all my years, I don’t think anyone would have labeled me as spoiled. I firmly believe that I am extremely low maintenance and resilient – at least that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Alas at that moment that simultaneously horrifying and magnificent thought occurred to me.

I admit that I have come to thoroughly enjoy the creature comforts that are available to me and why not? I could go back to a second generation, hand-me down couch, an old knit afghan and plain Lipton tea if I had to, but why should I feel guilty that over the years I have accumulated some beautiful, comfortable and good quality pleasurable items? What good does it do us to work hard and strive to better ourselves if we can’t appreciate the fruits of our labors and the wonderful gifts that flow into our lives?

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Are You Experiencing or Achieving?

By on March 11, 2011 in Personal Growth, Success

We are so achievement-oriented that we often surge right by the true value of relating to what’s before us, because we think that accomplishing things will complete us, when it is experiencing life that will. ~ Mark Nepo

Ok. Who else out there is guilty of this? Uh…pretty much everyone, I think.

I know I succumb to this way of thinking quite often. Don’t get me wrong, achievements and goals are, in my opinion a necessary part of life. It’s all about keeping it in balance. The problem lies in getting so caught up in the quest to get things done and move ahead that we develop a tunnel-like vision.

The rest of life is cast off to the periphery much like the view out your window as you are driving down the highway. You might notice the scenery, the activity and the beauty, but you aren’t really a part of it. You just watch it go by instead of truly experiencing it. Life can be that way sometimes; much too easily.

As we go through our days over the coming weeks, let’s pause from time to time and make sure we are “living” and not just “doing.”

 

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Life Balance Tips from the Trenches

By on January 18, 2011 in Personal Growth

There is no more valuable advice than that that comes from the people who are “in the trenches” doing the job and living the life. You can read a book or listen to an expert, but the best wisdom comes from the real experts, real people who are up to their necks in the day to day reality of life.

I felt compelled to share some little nuggets from our Twitter chat (#PLchat) today on work life harmony and balance.

What does life balance look like for you?  The first step is determining what works for you, your career and your family.

Work life balance can be challenging for all. Not just moms.

Not sure what work life balance looks like – but I know it when I feel it.

In reality work life for me is somewhat integrated, but prefer as much separation as possible into “periods.”

Work life balance is very elusive concept.

Work life balance is very difficult, especially when you have so many responsibilities both at work and home.

For me work life harmony is when I only drop a few balls that I am juggling!

A supportive partner is key to any kind of work life balance!

In addition to home support, support at work is just as important.

Maybe being able to give attention to and enjoy each aspect of my life is a good definition of work life balance.

Biggest work life challenge – difficulty unplugging from work/business to focus on family.

I find my key to finding work life balance is scheduling my time on my calendar – and sticking to it.

Create a schedule. If you have an office, close the door (when working & not).

I work best when I schedule in blocks and just move the blocks around for flexibility.

To help me find work life balance I am working on recognizing each little success.

I think hardest to set work life boundaries with myself – no email during family time, exercise before email.

I let my cell go to voice mail when not at work. I can then listen and choose when to respond.

Discipline is the key – and it is something that I am continually working on.

GUILT – I think that is the key when trying to find work life balance.

I feel guilty when I’m working and guilty when home time.

I think guilt is directly tied to self-imposed expectations.

Need to set realistic goals. What is “enough” work & “enough” time with family, self – having to re-evaluate this.

Self-evaluation is the first step. You have to do what is necessary to self-satisfy.

If you start to feel overwhelmed step away.

I find if I get up earlier it helps me too – time to exercise, solitude & planning before kids wake.

I think I need a hobby. Need something just for me.

Key points:

Define what works for you

Stick to schedule

Set boundaries

Unplug

Take mental breaks

Don’t forget to take time for yourself.

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fish

The Newest Addition

By on November 12, 2010 in Personal Growth

fish

Sometimes I get lonely in my home office, so I have been thinking about getting a fish for some time now. I had to get past, pets are for kids, we already have two dogs and a hamster and it’s another responsibility. Just last month I was talking to a couple of women I know and I offhandedly mentioned that I would like to have a fish in my office to look at, talk to and help me relax. One of the women, whom I’ll call Kay, very simply said to me, “and so you should have a fish.”

I didn’t really give this conversation much thought until this week when I was once again thinking about how much I would like my “office companion fish.” I heard her words in my head “giving me permission” to have something I would like. I wondered why I would need permission, why do I hesitate to fulfill my wants? I haven’t figured out why this happens, but I do know that Kay gave me a little nudge I needed to have something I desired.

What things do you long for, but deny yourself because you “need permission?” I’m not talking about extravagant budget-breaking expenditures, I’m talking about often small things that your very soul desires, that you refuse for no real reason. I give you permission and in Kay’s simple words, “and so you should…”

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