Take A Break

 TAKE A BREAK!!

I have been dealing with a lot lately - how about you?

Sometimes you just need to take a break 

from the normal routine

that is driving you to distraction 

or what is causing you grief in general.

Change your mindset.

That can look different for everyone.

Some 'resets' that have always worked for me are listed below.  

Maybe one or several will do the trick for you as well!

Taking a long walk in nature always resets me.  

I don't always have a special nature place nearby.  Sometimes it's the River walk, but more times,  it's found on top of a mountain after a jeep trip.

Speaking of a jeep trip....

that is something that always relaxes me!  One day, hubby said we were going on a scouting adventure.  We had lunch in Chama, NM of all places!  The drive through some mountains was a refreshing change of scenery for us!

I love to put on my music stations 

and depending on the mood - I listen to inspirational, John Denver, Country, Christina Perri (My favorite is A Thousand Years) I just absorb the lyrics and allow the sounds to just calm me.  

My headsets allow me to 'zone out'!  

Crafting works for me as well

I will usually listen to music while I work on my cross stitch.  I have made so very many gifts through the years and right now - I am working on something for me. 

It's a series of woodland fairies.  I'm working on Summer - and alas, she'll be done probably in Winter.  That is okay though - no rush, no time frame.  

That is what is therapeutic about crafting without a schedule.  It is finished whenever it's finished!

Writing sometimes will reset me 

If I have something on my mind.  Many times, I have a undefined 'idea' and then once I start typing, it just forms itself along the way.  I love that about writing! It can whisk you away from your current situations pretty quickly!

Reading is always a daily go-to for me 

I just finished my dear friend's book - and I must say that you really need to read it.  Although it wasn't written yesterday, it really is poignant for things going on today and it presents so much hope between it's covers!  I can't wait to see what she writes next!

Libretto by L.King Dutton 

I started a new series last night. If you were to read the reviews - they aren't always nice. I really enjoy young adult books.  I was telling my husband last night that I really didn't read a 'sophisticated' style of writing.  He asked me, 'You enjoy what you read, right?'  Of course I answered YES! right away. He said that is all that really matters. :D 

So, you see - taking a break can look as different as the person needed the break!  

Do what gets you calmed and ready to face another second, minute, hour, day, week, month or year!  

Make sure you REST and RECOVER and most definitely don't forget to BREATHE and if all else fails, take a nice nap.  

I don't own cats, but they spend a lot of time sleeping and most seem to have a better 'attitude' after they nap!  Naps are NOT overrated in my opinion!  

Maybe I was a cat in another life - or the fact I am a Taurus and we love COMFORT and STABILITY - that could be why naps are so WONDERFUL!!

I'll leave you with this last picture - 

it's what started today's post in the first place!   

REST and TAKE a BREAK!

Be blessed!!  

©DarleneBl 2024

Cracking Foundations

CRACKING FOUNDATIONS

 

Foundations are so  important in life!

 

Home foundations are also important.

You rely on that foundation to support your house!

You trust that the foundation won’t move or shift!

You hope that if it starts to fail….there will be signs.

 

We are in that situation right now.

Our foundation has shifted significantly and there are cracks.

There are signs that things aren’t as they once were!

There is a huge sign of this in our basement wall.

 

So, when a foundation is no longer what you thought it always was before

What do you do?

Freak out first….yes, that’s not uncommon!

                 *Yes, we did a bit*

Make a plan next … yes, this is step one!

 *Puts you more in control*

Next, you’ll call for estimates and get your finances set up for the resulting cost!

Thankfully, if you catch it in time – it’s fixable!

 

What about other types of cracking foundations?

Relationships with a spouse?

Relationships with friends?

Relationships with family?

 

How solid is your foundation in the other areas of your life?

I thought on this as we are dealing with our home foundation and fixing it.

 

Humans want stability.

Humans crave strong foundations and connections.

Humans want things not to shift!

 

The reality of it all is…..

Foundations in homes are going to shift over time.

Foundations in relationships are going to go through some changes.

Separations are sometimes impossible to fix….

That is when things get rough!

 

Do you reach out or leave it alone?

Do you worry about it alone, or seek a trusted 2^nd opinion?

Do you fix things that you know aren’t strong in your own life?

 

Any way you look at it –

Foundations are the base of something.

Foundations always support something else.

Foundations also mean a grounded source.

 

Are you cracking or are you grounded?

Are you strong or are there many stress fractures on your heart?

Are you feeling unfixable?  It’s a lie!!!

 

Thankfully – you can fix it!

Maybe you need a little spackle here and there,

But overall – stop the cracking before it gets beyond repair!

 

I’ll leave you with this inspiration:

 

 

Be Blessed!  ©DarleneBl 2024

 

 

 

 

Starting Again

STARTING AGAIN

 

I was going back over my posts in this blog today.

Fixing links and videos that were changed or lost

Even pausing to read my past posts

 

I realized it's been over 3 years since I added a new post!

 

I want to start writing again 

to make a new plan

to create a new habit

 

Starting again is never easy

no matter what the occasion.

 

You notice self-doubt start to creep in

You notice that you aren't sure where to begin

You notice that you've changed

Possibly, even your focus isn't as it once was.

 

 

Starting over is something we all do

It may include

A new job

A new relationship

A new location

A new home

A new friendship

A new writing thought.

 

The process doesn't have to be difficult.

Just stay out of your own way!

 

 

How many times have you seen the commercials that start in 

January every year?

 Start a new exercise program

Start a new diet

Become a 'better you'

If you haven't been making your goals a 'habit' 

You will find 

It will be too easy to become distracted

It will be too easy to become discouraged

It will be too easy to lose focus

 

Most of all

It will be too easy

to stop before you really ever begin

 

Reaching a goal might involve creating a habit.

A habit is defined as:

 

'Something that you do often and regularly,

Sometimes without knowing that you are doing it'

 

How long does it take to create a habit - 

or to reach a goal?

I believe that it is very subjective and hard to define.

It depends on the personality of that person

It depends on the environment you are in or place yourself in

It depends on the motivational factors

 It depends on the desire to first set the goal to achieve

Then the focus to get there

Starting again for me is about my writing

I have several ideas that I have set aside for a very long time

I had a wonderful mentor when I was in high school

Pop would send me notes to class that were 

focused on motivating me

I ran across them recently and they made me smile

I told him several times that I would write a book

He thought it was a great idea!

Did I ever write a book? No

Is the thought process there? Yes

What has stopped me all these years? 

I truly cannot answer, because I don't know!

Yes, I tend to get in my own way like everyone else!

 

 

 If you need to start again....

 

 

 

 

 So, 

I will be starting again!

Check back here to see the progress.

 

When you stop in

Please:

Share, Comment & Engage! 
Thank You!

I appreciate any support offered

I welcome you to come along on the journey!

©Balancing Life - The Journey

 

*DarleneBl*

 

 

 

 

 

 

AdjustAdaptChange

There will be Adjustments:

Adapt & Change

You probably think this will be another post about the world situation today.

Not really - but then again...maybe!

I actually thought of this title while I was cleaning my tub.

The tub?  Yes, odd as it seems - the tub!

Let me give a little bit of back story!

You see, many don't know about my life from 

2009 to early 2014.

I was in a lot of pain - all the time!

It took us awhile to determine what was causing my extreme back pain and muscle spasms.

Early 2009, I ended up in the ER in so much pain that I could barely breathe 

nor get myself out of the car.

That was the beginning of learning 

how to adapt - to accept change.

Fast forward to October 2014 - 

lower lumbar fusion at 3/4 as well as 
decompression surgery.

I now sport a 'biscuit' between the 3/4 vertebrae 

and 4 titanium screws to hold it all in place.

Fancy stuff!

Bottom line - it was the absolute best thing that I ever did for my life - 

to be able to get back to life I should say.  

It's been great.

Along with this pain free life however

there came 

adjustments 

adaptations 

 change

I was no longer able to bend over as before.

I was no longer able to lift heavy objects,

rake, mow, hoe, shovel.

These all add pressure on the spine 

and especially on a portion that is non-movable.

Picture your closed fist;

The vertebrae above and below still move -

 the fist (3/4 area) does not

You have to be ever mindful of your actions now.

Now the reason I was thinking about all this while cleaning the tub.

Most people are going to be doing this:

I can't work this way anymore. 

I had to adjust - adapt - change.

I stand up and utilize my feet and scrub with a pad under my foot. 

Up the sides - across the bottom - and it works fabulously!  

We have the 1960's style iron tub, so it's pretty big and tall. 

Now, I use this illustration because of a thought.

What have you had to make adjustments to?

What have you had to adapt to?

What have you had to change?

You see - my back pain originally stopped me.

Many times I came to a complete halt for days!

Since that time though - I have learned how  

to 'cope'

with my new normal.

This involved learning to adjust

I learned new ways on how to adapt

I most definitely had to change!

Life is the same way if you think about it

Our current situation of staying home - 

keeping safe distances :

We have no choice but to make adjustments

We have no choice but to adapt - 

if we don't we are not going to have 

what needs to happen:

CHANGE!!

Stay positive - 

check on a loved one

Share some laughter together - 

'There's an app for that'

Don't stay in on beautiful days - 

get some sunshine

Read a good book - 

Listen to some music - 

LOUD if you have to!

Get off of Social Media for awhile -

Stop watching the 'fake' news -

Shut off of the 'static' of the world

Take a moment

And

MOST IMPORTANTLY

... just BREATHE

Stuck_in_a_Moment

Stuck in a Moment

I was thinking today that sometimes I find myself 

stuck in a rut. 

It is a phrase I am familiar with.

It is a period of time I am familiar with.

The definition I found for 'stuck in a rut' 

comes from the Cambridge Dictionary

**'too 'fixed' in one particular type of job, 

activity, method, etc., 

and needing to change!**

A rut can be a short or 

long-term distraction during 

specific

seasons of your life. 

Boredom has time to settle in.

Self-Doubt has time to settle in.

Failure to move forward has time

 to become a way of life.

Fear becomes 'familiar'

Think of a rut in a rain soaked, muddy road.  

When you go quickly - you might not get really 'stuck'.

If you went slowly - the wheel would definitely sink faster

and you would be in the rut longer trying to get out.

I saw a post recently that really made me think.

 

This goes back to 

'Stuck in a Moment'

This period of grief will one day fade

This time of doubt could change to courage

This period of being unsure will not last forever

YOU are in control.

'Woe is Me' is way too easy to fall into.

The regular pattern of 'Why Me' 

is familiar territory.

How about a new outlook.

Changing your comfort zone won't happen overnight.

You might even feel 'withdrawal pains' 

when you step forward to change.

Change ... your attitude

Change ... your situation

Change ... your atmosphere

Change ... your process

CHANGE is HARD!

However, something that is worth it

should take work!

It should be 

A metamorphosis of your attitude

A metamorphosis of your situation

A metamorphosis of your atmosphere

A metamorphosis of your process!

Think of the butterfly:

While it is hidden - in darkness 

it is changing.

The metamorphosis of a butterfly

is beautiful!

I was looking at a couple articles for getting out of your rut 

a way to get into a 'moment'

a way to transform and change.

Check them out and I wish you well!

Remember - 

Change is HARD

Change is SO worth it

for YOU!

Success & Motivation

Get out of your Rut Strategies

RemoveTheMask!

Remove the Mask!

I was thinking the other day - 

how many of us feel that we hide behind a mask?

I am not talking about one you might actually wear in person -

It might be a mask of fear -

You are afraid to move forward after great hurt.

It might be a mask of anger -

You are angry with a situation that is out of your control.

It might be a mask of insecurity -

You are insecure in your own skin and you hide from others.

It might be a mask of pride -

You allow your pride to rule how you might deal with someone.

All of these 'masks' can limit your joy

these 'masks' can limit your future 

these 'masks' can limit YOU!

So, you've experienced a great hurt - 

There were possibly some highlights that changed you.

Continuing to allow yourself to revisit the hurt

will not allow you to move forward.

Remove the mask!

You have experienced anger - 

Maybe for whatever reason - your situation was not caused by you.

Continuing to be angry does no damage to the one who inflicted it.

Releasing your anger and allowing lessons to remain - that is the choice!

Remove the mask!

Insecurity is a myth - did you know that?

Eleanor Roosevelt said it best : 

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” 

You must not ALLOW anyone to tear you down!

Remove the mask!

Pride 

Pride always goes before a fall - nearly every time!

You can most definitely be happy about a job well done -

However, if you let it - Pride can also make you seem better than another.

Don't let Pride rule the roost!

Remove the mask!

Just like in a masquerade ball,

Removing the mask reveals the

 TRUE IDENTITY 

of the one who was hidden.

What will your true identity reveal

when you

Remove the mask?