2020: EATING AND SLEEPING We can probably almost all agree that, the past year has been difficult for SO many different reasons. One of the most commons reasons I heard expressed was the feeling of uncertainty. No one knew what was around the corner or {read more}
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY! There are many women in my life that are absolutely outstanding. Amazing mothers, great professionals, wise educators, content creators, determined students and brave authors. No matter their ‘title’ in life, they are all influencers in one way or another. With a {read more}
For just a few seconds, pause. Take a deep breathe. Think about the last time you savored a moment. The last time you completed something or maybe the last time you gave yourself time to relax. The last time you felt content or a sense of accomplishment. Let yourself remember enough to recreate feeling again.
Next, think about a day that stands out in your mind as good. Do you remember the sky that day? The food you ate? Or the outfit you were wearing? Remember how it felt to go to bed that day? Or waking up the following morning after a really good day?
Feel that feeling? The tiny little happy feeling. The feeling that might bring a smile across your face? Wouldn’t it be nice to feel that more often?
What one person calls a good day, may be completely different than another’s. And it is always fun to learn about another person’s preference! Or, even get to know yourself better when there are only two options.
Maybe you could make everyday your perfect day. Or, maybe this would be a one time thing.
Referring back to the Pilot Light post, do you still have your list of daily activities? This time I made a shareable ‘This or That’ list.
Screenshot the below and tick mark your preference! If you want, share it on your Instagram story and got others in on the fun.
Or, take out a sheet of paper, and write out from morning until night the activities that would make up a day.
This is meant to be fun! Because the sharable can only fit a small screen, I made a longer list below for inspiration. Certain I didn’t capture everything, please add any This or Thats in the comments!
I hope at the very least, this list gave you a happy few minutes! If you decide to create your perfect day, let me know how it goes 🙂
HAPPY PLACE. My happy place used to be inside an airplane, in the air, above the clouds. I did my best thinking on the plane, my best sleeping on the plane, my best reading on the plane. I once woke up the passenger next to {read more}
#home Philly will ALWAYS be home. Somewhere between Old City and Fairmount Park I left my heart all those years ago. When I first moved away from Philadelphia in 2006, I returned often. Each return trip, on the descent over the Delaware River, my heart {read more}
One of my favorite and most simple ways to make my day feel ‘different’ comes from something a good friend taught me! This friend happened to be a college roommate too and is one of the bravest people I know.
A few years ago, while I was living in Connecticut, she came to visit. I was so happy to host her and her daughter while her husband stayed in Philly. The trip was fun for many reasons, we went to museums, visited my office, read books and played with toys! One morning while I prepared coffee, she asked if I would add cinnamon. (Funny enough, I first added the cinnamon after I poured us both a cup (haha)).
This small, but tasty addition first added a great laugh because the cinnamon floated on top. After, it made my apartment smell good and tasted great!
Now every so often, I put cinnamon in with the grinds before brewing the coffee. It makes the ordinary, everyday cup sentimental and always reminds me of our visit and her friendship. Every cinnamon-y sip brings a smile to my face. I hope one day when her daughter is old enough for coffee, we can share this little pick-me-up with her!
As we begin the last week of February the year is starting to settle in. New habits are formed, progress is being made and the sparkle of the new year is starting to wear off. Plus, most of us maintain in some sort of restriction due to the pandemic.
Especially now, life can become rather repetitive. Sometimes the tiny extra effort to make a moment special can change the entire day! So yesterday, I asked myself, “How can I make today more than just another day?”
As simple as it is, I added cinnamon to my coffee and it brightened my entire day! It made what would have been another ordinary Sunday full of memories and happy thoughts.
This leads me to wonder – what ‘extra’ can you add to your ordinary today? Something to spark that little memory and prompt a tiny grin, if not an entire full smile?
Maybe, like my example, it is adding a bit of spice to your coffee. Or maybe, its lighting a candle and remembering someone who is watching from above. Wearing your favorite lipstick (even though no one will see it behind your mask) or putting on your favorite sweater. Even as simple as cleaning your jewelry and admiring the sparkle again.
Give yourself the treat this week of making what would have been just an ordinary day, a little ‘extra’. I would love to hear what you do, or see a picture from your extraordinary day!
xoxo
STORYTIME That gorgeous view I vividly remember sitting at my computer, looking out at my amazing view and thinking to myself, ‘the possibilities in life are endless… I want to do it all.’ It wasn’t for another decade that I would truly believe I could “do {read more}
In this post, we discuss prioritization and focus. Separately or together, these two tools can reduce stress, increase the feeling of accomplishment and improve personal success rates. It may be helpful to have a piece of paper or journal to write down your thoughts. {read more}
Can you think of one instance in which a second chance would have been great? An interview? A relationship? A career choice? Thinking about these moments, name the top three things you would change before going into the second chance. Preparedness? Deodorant? Self-reflection? Word choice?
Welp. Today, I am here to tell you some great news! The western world considers January 1st the start of the new year. However, some scientists, astrologers and most of Asia instead celebrates the LUNAR new year! This means a second chance to kick-off 2021. If you just felt a sigh of relief, this post is really for you! If you have already started on your goals and do not need the second chance – there may be some encouraging information here at the very least! Plus, I have included some new inspiration prompts below. I sincerely hope you enjoy!
Personally, the lunar new year has been on my radar since beginning my career due to the international nature of supply chain. Not only did I quickly learn time zones and different holidays globally, I also realized how important the lunar new year is to so many! During this time, offices and factories take breaks, families celebrate and typically large festivals take place. It really is an exciting time for people to look forward, have feasts, set resolutions and enjoy one another’s company. You may know that due to the US culture, our celebrations are much shorter than most other countries. While we celebrate New Year’s Eve, most countries recognize the Lunar New Year have a FIFTEEN (15) day extravaganza! This fifteen day starts off on the New Moon cycle and ends on the next Full Moon.
Oprah Magazine provides a great overview of the lunar new year and how it is calculated (here).
So yes, the lunar new year is your official second chance to set your year goals. If you have not yet made progress on your resolutions or goal setting, now is the time! The 2021 Lunar New Year begins today (February 11) with the New Moon and ends on February 27th (on the Full Moon).
Use this time to make your 2021 goals more realistic, re-start those you have already set. Or perhaps you haven’t tried vision boarding yet and think that will give you a jump start! Either way, let yourself have this second chance. Reinvigorate your dreams, break them into smaller pieces until you get the feeling you can achieve them.
At times, it can be much easier to be inspired from our external world. Therefore here are some questions and prompts to inspire thoughts:
1. Take ten minutes to think about all of your accomplishments to date in life. Allow your mind to wander, and if you please write them down. This can range from learned how to ride a bike to became an investor or perhaps raised two children, trained a pet, earned a degree, ran a 5k, stayed hydrated today. Anything and everything you consider an accomplishment write it down!
2. What are the main areas of your life you would like to see change or grow? Physical, Career, Emotional, Social, Spiritual?
3. In the areas you would like to see change, name a person who currently exhibits the changes or growth you would like to see. What behaviors, attitude or habits does that person have, which you can begin in your own life?
4. Do you feel as though your dreams for yourself are too large to accomplish? If so, use a mind map or other brainstorming method to identify smaller pieces.
5. List one action you will take TOMORROW toward each of your focus areas.
I recommend keeping a journal between now and the full moon. List out the above reflections, your readjusted goals and any thoughts and feelings. Write in this journal at least once a day after reviewing your thoughts from day one. Keep track and give yourself credit for any action you take (including starting this journal!) Below I have linked journals available on Amazon in a variety of styles which I’ve enjoyed. The one thing I require of my journals is a spiral bound! Therefore, each below has this in common. The first is a simple, plain half sheet. The second has a cute saying ‘Believe you can, and you are half way there’. The third has the little elastic band which I really love!
Let’s connect.
Please let me know if you will give yourself this second chance! I would also love to know if you are already a celebrator of the Lunar New Year!
Yesterday, I welcomed the happy distraction of watching Super Bowl LV. The 20-21 football season was especially strange. For instance, the players have been under such different circumstances. In addition, games have been cancelled due to positive COVID tests. Most interesting (imo), stadiums have been {read more}
