Jump to a section or read everything in chronological order
Writing has always been a release for me. It helps me to make sense of what's going on in my head and in my life. It's cathartic to see all of my jumbled thoughts herded into structured sentences.
I try to organize these pages in a way that makes sense - and some entries end up in more than one category. Poke around, see what you like, and if you read the same thing twice...you probably needed to hear the message again.
This page will be home to a few of my most recent entries, as well as the navigation menu. If you're a die-hard fan and all caught up on my blogs - first of all, HELL YEAH! High five to you! Second, you can just catch the new stuff here without needing to click and scroll all over creation.
As I begin to post more entries, I will split up the chronological order page into seasons, or maybe months. But even this basic organizational step was a labor of love, and I need a little break before I do it all over again.
All blogs in chronological order
Our Foxhound has chronic kidney disease, and his latest blood test results last week weren't good. After almost 4 years of holding steady, the disease has progressed. My husband and I are handling the news as best we can, but it's stressful.
On Saturday, the day after talking with his vet, Phoenix just wanted to snuggle. Most likely he sensed we were upset and was trying to comfort us. I technically had a to-do list for the day, but nothing was mandatory except my bar shift at 4:00. Not wanting to say no to our sweet boy, I settled in with my coffee, a book, and a 65-pound lap dog. Three hours later, he woke up from his nap and I was finally able to pee. Haha.
Today, I am writing from my phone on the couch, where our Bichon Odysseus is snuggled next to me. His stomach is upset - if you listen closely, you can probably hear it gurgle - and all he wants is to be held and cuddled. He has spent all 11 years of his life getting whatever he wants, and I am certainly not going to deny him now.
I thought absolutely nothing of clearing my schedule for either of these pups in their times of need. It is fortunate that I can do some work from my phone, but even if I couldn't...a couple hours means a lot more to them than it does to us.
Even if you don't have dogs, I'm sure you can relate to this story. There are kids, parents, siblings, or other pets that you wouldn't hesitate to make time for. So why not you?
Why does it feel so difficult to make time for ourselves? Maybe if we practice doing it in small, frequent doses, we can build up to "wasting" a few hours on the couch with a good book. And honestly, let's change the language around the time spent. You are, truly, investing a few hours in yourself.
Rest is productive. Self-care is necessary. You cannot give what you don't have, so make sure you are consistently replenishing all the love, attention, and care that you dole out so freely to others. Oh, and if someone is offering to help take care of you, accept it! You are worthy of being cared for, and take it from my dogs - sometimes it's the best remedy out there.
I can barely believe it's been a year since I started writing this blog - and since I began this list. Looking back, 2023 was a whirlwind and a rollercoaster - I wouldn't trade it for the world. Even though there was plenty of struggle and pain, the growth that came out of it all is unparalleled.
To say I accomplished things that I had only dreamed of would be a lie - my whole life I said I would NEVER run a marathon. That was less a dream and more a crazy spontaneous idea I got carried away with. I also had zero plans to become a Reiki master - until one day I found myself signing up for the class and had to add it to the list.
Not every goal was quite so grand - one of my first intentions was to catch up on reading a magazine that I was literally 2 years behind on. The stack of Reader's Digest beside my bed had been taunting me for months, and it was finally time to move through them. When I finished, it felt just as good as checking one of the bigger items off my list.
Anyway, here's the complete list, in the order they were accomplished. I am beyond proud of myself for sticking to it, and I'm already excited to see what I come up with in 2024.
Rebrand my business
Sing Satisfied at karaoke
Start & maintain a blog
Finish the Providence marathon
Become a Reiki master
Catch up on Reader's Digest
Run the first round of Your Brightest Self
Finish the Narragansett half marathon
Boudoir photo shoot
Get a tattoo
Have zero debt on January 1st
In full transparency: A few things got booted off the list because it no longer made sense to keep them. These are not failures because I made conscious decisions to skip them in favor of things that felt better aligned.
Hike Mt. Washington - I was not in the right place, physically or mentally, to both accomplish and enjoy this on the weekend I had planned for it. Although I was bummed to put it off, this undoubtedly felt like the best decision.
Take an improv class - This, from the beginning, was a conditional item. I would only do it if it fit my schedule (without missing any classes), and it genuinely never did. However, I recently signed up for a class that begins in January, so I'm excited that it is finally happening!
Meet an income goal - Between braiding, coaching, and Reiki, there was an amount that I had been hoping to reach. It didn't take long for me to scrap this idea, as I realized financial goals don't feel great for me. Instead I chose to redefine what success would look like in each of those areas.
What were your goals for 2023? How did they pan out for you? Let me know! I love to talk about this stuff. 🥰 And if you want help meeting your goals in 2024, you've come to the right place. Guidance and accountability are kinda my jam. That and raspberry jam. Schedule a virtual coffee with me and start crushing your goals today!
(Like Seasons of Love, but with more main character energy)
I've been working through a LOT lately, and it's impacting my ability to be a fully-functioning adult. This is a season of more no than yes, and I refuse to apologize for it.
A couple days ago, it hit me that I've gotten used to November and December being a bit more laid-back. Horse show season in New England wraps up in October, and in past years I have spent those last two months resting, recovering, and preparing for a new year ahead.
Obviously my horse show season was cut short this year, and I decided (for so many reasons other than getting kicked) to walk away from braiding for a while. I accidentally became a dog walker, which I love, and I got back into bartending, which I've missed for a decade. The perfect storm of finding two amazing opportunities in pretty much the same week made for a WILD ride through the end of 2023.
As grateful as I was for everything the Universe dropped into my lap, I found myself counting the weeks until January, when, allegedly, things would calm down a bit. However, when the new year came and my temporary holiday gig went, I was still facing a packed calendar.
I wouldn't say that I'm headed toward burnout, but I did get swept up in the current of a rushing river. Having noticed that, it's time for me to intentionally put my feet down and get some traction. It's time for me to whittle my schedule down to the bare minimum and prioritize recovery. It's time for me to honor the complete sentence that is: NO.
Will it be two weeks or two months? I'm not sure. Healing takes the time it needs. I still have big goals in 2024, and I'm absolutely certain that this downtime is exactly the right action to move me toward them. I'm allowing myself time to acclimate and integrate all the changes and new things in my life before I add more.
Expect to see fewer emails, blog entries, and social media posts during this time. I'm not cutting myself off entirely - if there's something I feel called to share, I will. My coaching calendar will be closed for the time being, although my Reiki calendar is still open (for now). Thank you for understanding, and I hope that if you are also feeling a pull to hibernate that this is the inspiration and permission you need to do so. See you on the other side. ✌🏻