"Setting the Mood" Weekly Wisdom

 

 I haven't put up a Christmas tree up in my house for over 10 years. 

2015 changed my whole view on what holidays are really about and missing your heartbeats during one of their favorite times of the year, just didn't feel the same. The tree, the decorations, the music, the gifts really had no meaning to me. My Dad and sister loved Christmas and it just has never felt the same way since. For any of you who have lost loved ones, I see you and I understand your feelings.

This year, I was shopping with a friend and saw this sweet little 3 foot white tree and I started to feel a little different. I passed by it a couple times and decided it needed to come home with me. It stayed wrapped up by my back door for a couple weeks, I couldn't decide if this would be the year I would put it up. But then I put it together. I added lights. I added a couple ornaments. I set it up downstairs in the living room. The next day, I moved it to the kitchen. I just was not finding a placed that I loved it. 

Then I set it up in my bedroom. 

Maybe it is the ambience, maybe it the sense of comfort. Maybe it's the reminder of a those heartbeats who I miss deeply this time of year. Whatever has changed this year, it feels good and I am open to whatever this time of year is trying to tell me. I hope all of you are experiencing some special holiday feels this time of year and remembering the reason for the season. 

#EmbraceTheHellYeah | #Freedom

~AE

"More Than Enough" Weekly Wisdom

 

I love this one. It’s simple. But it has a kind of quiet power.

On days when life feels just okay, remembering that we already have more than we think can shift the whole vibe.

When I look around — the relationships I treasure, the health I'm working for, the morning coffee, the strength I’m building — I see that “enough” is already here.

And when I recognize enough, I’m freer to enjoy more — not because I need it, but because I’ve acknowledged what’s already good.

For this week, maybe try this: pause for a moment. Take a deep breath. Name one thing right now that you truly have. And then whisper: thank you. Let that ripple out.

When we anchor ourselves in gratitude, we don’t just add more to our lives — we amplify what’s already there. And that? That feels like magic.

Happy Thanksgiving. 

#freedom | #EmbraceTheHellYeah

~AE

"Imperfectly Pausing" Weekly Wisdom

Last week, I was in my kitchen and dropped a fork on my bare foot. As I started to feel the impact of the mild but annoying pain, I screamed at the top of my lungs "are you f*cking kidding me?" It was the last straw at the end of a very long day and I had hit my limit. I had to let "it" out. I had no idea what "it" was after I belted out my anguish and did some reflection. I couldn't pin point why I had so much anger/rage brewing up inside of me that I had to release it. All I know, I did feel a sense of release after my semi-tearful bellow. 

Sure, I can blame it on this season in my life, hormones, not sleeping well, not being nourished properly...blah, blah, blah.  After a week of still being concerned about where this came from, I did a little more digging and I came up with a few ideas. 

-I am doing way too much shit for other people

-I am not taking any time for away from stimulation (phone, news, computers)

-I am not holding true to my necessary boundaries

-I am not stopping long enough to really check in on myself

There it is friends, I am not taking the time to pause. There is so much power in the pause but there is also a little anxiety in the pause for me. I start to see all things that are going wrong. Imperfections in my life and especially, in myself. When I slow down, I start to see things I do not like and need to work on. This is uncomfortable. This is why I do not pause. I don't want to see it. 

Nothing is perfect, I am not perfect. I know this. The question is, do I accept it?  97% of the time, I do not. This is the push and pull of being at ease with imperfections. Is 97% really good for me?  Apparently not because of the mishap with a fork and a monster coming out of me at 6 pm on a Tuesday. 

I know I am in need of the pause, being ok with being imperfect and finding a little more peace within myself. 

Tell me, how do you sit with imperfection?