Here we are beginning the month of February and what do you know? Not all our goals and resolutions for the new year are on track. It happens. There are so many things that can shift us off our intended path. . .the unexpected visitors or illness; the anticipated arrival or departure that surprise us by its emotional toll or the anxiety and upheaval from current events.
My last post was over a month ago when I announced I would soon post photos of the last quilt in my Twelve Quilts of Christmas series. That quilt turned out beautifully and also on time for its intended recipient – my second grandchild.
I traveled to stay with my daughter and son-in-law, helped maintain the household and held that baby as often as I could. I dreamt about babies once I returned home, even waking one day to find all the pillows lined up against the far side of the bed where I had built a protective barrier so the baby wouldn’t fall off! Ha! I laughed out loud, realizing I moved all those pillows in my sleep.
As I struggled to get back into my routine, my anxiety mounted as January slipped away. Back home and back at work, the negative voices berated me and then I recited to myself justifications at the end of long days, too tired to take my walk or finish a project.
I found my footing again close to home while editing baby pictures to share. In the early stages of labor, my daughter jokingly added “have baby” to the To Do list on the large chalkboard in the dining room of her home. Two days later she just as happily crossed it off the list!! I snapped a photo of it as a keepsake. Looking at it now I remembered the joy on her face as she replaced the chalk in the tray and how the next thing we did was figure out how to use the baby wrap and take a walk.
That memory is what helped me get back on track by doing these three things. Perhaps it will help you, too!
- Check Your List
- Do One Thing
- Move
- Check Your List
- If you don’t have one, make one. If you do have one, post it on your fridge or inside the closet door – somewhere you will see it frequently. You may think to yourself, “oh, I know what’s on my list” but actually, just seeing it there written everyday will be an incentive to do something or work towards something because we all love to cross something off the list. Also, when you come home tired or get distracted by the news you listen to on the way home, seeing your list will pull you back to what is important to you this day this year.
- Do One Thing
- Pick something from your list you can do quickly or easily or is almost done. The satisfaction might just energize you to do another item. It might also just allow you to relax when you sit down to watch a movie.
- Move
- Thats right! Make a conscious effort to move. You could take yourself to the gym or just walk around the block. You could decide to park at the far end of the lot when going into a store just to have that conscious walk before you shop. You can set the alarm for 15 or 30 minutes early to play the Yoga podcast. Conscious body movement releases so many good hormones.
I’d love to hear what helps you get back on track!
And now a sneak peek of my new collection of baby bibs with heart shaped quilting in lovely colors like cranberry, coral, dusty pink and red and white!
Til next time, Linder
