Taking the Time to Review our Progress

illustration complements of the lovely Brittany Josephina 

check her out on twitter @brittanyphina 

This is right up my ally. Every year I do just that, review how far I've come along in the goals I set out for myself at the start of the New Year. In a blink of an eye we now find ourselves in July! What's the first half of 2016 looking like? Are you where you thought you would be? Did you fall behind or get ahead of yourself? Did something get in the way and it is taking you some time to refocus?

I use a few tools to stay grounded, grateful and focused. These really work for me, especially when I look at my To Do list and see I have yet to cross anything off. As you guys well know my baby #2, my grandma who has Alzheimers always keeps me busy. My down time is actually the time I use to catch up on my own personal things or even just to breathe and do nothing. My visits to Brooklyn are increasing and my responsibilities are also increasing. She now has totally forgotten who I am it's not like before where she had good moments with me and remembered my face now I am a total stranger. I catch her asking the home attendant "who is that lady in the living room?" when I am sitting at her dining table preparing her medication. I smile to myself, walk over and introduce myself then give her a big hug and kiss and thank the universe for giving me the strength to be there for her. 

illustration by en.paperblog.com

Because I have to focus on her needs quite a bit my own goals have been pushed back some but that is ok too. Question #3 is what do I need to release right now? My answer is my wish to control how soon the projects I am working on can take off and really come to life. I have decided to delay my parenting ebook until I can dedicate more time to getting my thoughts together and in the meantime just be happy chatting it up here with you and I am holding off on my photography coffee table book till end of the year. 

Making plans, setting goals and being driven is great nothing wrong with setting things up for ourselves. It only becomes a problem when we begin to beat ourselves up for not getting to a certain place by a certain time. I use the following to stay on track:

-a pencil, as funny as that sounds it allows me to erase the date I have put on myself to reach a goal. It gives me room to adjust and not feel like I have failed.

-daily recap, it's a great way to end your evening. Once you have settled down just before you close your eyes think of all the good you did in your day not what you left to do for tomorrow.

-walk, even if its to grab the kids from school. Use that time to slow down and breathe and take in your surroundings. There are miracles everywhere.

-talking, we do some much of this during our day but what are we saying? Are we talking with people who encourage us to continue to work towards our goals? Are we talking to people who instead see obstacles instead of possibilities?

-laughter and some sweets, when all else fails find something that makes you laugh and enjoy a cup of Ice Cream or candy bar. Tomorrow is a new day and we still have six more months to make things happen! 

illustration by quotesgram.net

What do you think? Did Brittany's questions help you refocus? Did my tips help ease your stress? We are all more alike than different, share your thoughts.

Always stress free xo,

Mari

January 2015 in Reflection

Happy Sunday hope we are all engaged in some awesome activity today that brings both laughter and tons of smiles. I'm sure the big Game will be one of those, I don't know much about the game of Football but I like the Seahawks! We shall see...

Today I will share in my January reflections. What do I think of 2015 just one month in?
What do I hope to accomplish in the next eleven months and what I have accomplished this month.

I will begin with sharing that yesterday marked the 7th anniversary of my girlfriend Cynthia's transition. My daughter asked me how I felt about it while I was eating breakfast yesterday and I answered that I was ok. That I couldn't believe so long has past yet it seems like yesterday.
I spoke with Cynthia (well as best as you can speak with someone that is not physically present) the other morning, told her I missed her and hoped she was ok where she was at and no longer in any pain. I told her we are all good and that we are doing the best to live a for filled life. I got a little teary but then I thought about her and us and funny moments, smiled and went about my day.

I started my Saturday morning with my Yoga practice. I set my intention on Gratitude. I wanted to dedicate my whole day on reflections of gratitude, practicing gratitude and speaking with gratitude.
I focused on my forty-three years on this planet and all I have to be grateful for, even the down times, the poor times, the sad times, the failed times. They all bought me here today.

January has started with an awesome bang! Setting aside the snow and cold that I truly don't care for I've been really busy and focused on my passions.
On my writing side I'm happy to share that I've ventured out of Mommywood and started dipping my toes into other sites and blogs.
I have joined The Indie Chicks which is a self empowerment magazine plus so much more. It's full of  sugar, spice, nice and naughty. It's raw, inspirational and informative. This group of females truly live up to the label Badass. I will be contributing some of my writing am-i-good-enough touching on a variety of subjects and keeping with my philosophy stress free and woman first.
I look forward to this great opportunity and I am grateful to be accepted into their community.

I also just recently was asked by the lovely Natasha over at Epic Mommy Adventures to join her in answering some question on her Ask Epic Mommy section of her blog. She is a single mom with an adorable son named Micah, whom she adores and in her blog shares her journey through motherhood as a single women building a life and a career. This section is dedicated to all matters in connection with being a single parent. Whether you just became one, have been one or your current situation my lead up to you becoming one, this section is sure to touch on something for you.
I'm excited she asked me to chime in, I look forward to reading some of these questions. I shared link above for taste of what we have received thus far. Please come visit even if your not single, it could help someone you know.

On my photography side, I'm grateful to see my Etsy shop VisionbyMari slowly getting more views, we must start with baby steps right? Right!!! Grateful.
I also started to follow and take an online photography class geared towards IPhone users, love it. I've  learned so much so far look forward to transition into bigger camera by mid year. I've also started to pencil in camera dates in my awesome NYC. So many places to visit even if I've lived here all my life I have a different appreciation now that I'm looking at things from a different perspective. Gratitude.
instagram.com/mar_y_cielo925

So there it is January reflections! Starting strong, working hard, living life, smiling and with lots of
Gratitude.

Always stress free xo.

Can you meet your Goals?

Happy Hump Day!!!
This one had me thinking for a minute.
I couldn't just rush through it, I really had to focus and be mindful.

Attainment, challenge #5 on September Sapphire Even Day Blog Challenge with Kimberly from beingawordsmith.com .

Kimberly asked, with approximately 3 1/2 months left in the year, what do you want to accomplish by Dec 31, 2014?
Wow...ok

 I would love to have accomplished the following:

-hair length to my shoulders.
-expanded my photography taking and exploring ventures.
-become better at listening without interruption.
-resolved some issues I am dealing with in complex that I live in.
-see my daughter fully recovered from injury sustained at work.
-have my grandma stable with her home care and see her continue to have a comfortable remainder of life with my assistance.
-continue to engage with fellow bloggers and find enjoyment in my writing. Continue to feel contentment with however large or small my following is and not be blinded by monetary desires.
-continue to practice minimalism and have a great piece to write in what I have learned in these past few months
-have my dating journey bring me continued enjoyment, growth, entertainment and closer to a possible new committed love.
-have gotten back into the practice of trying something new daily. Be it big or small but something new.
-when I sit on New Year's Eve to write myself my 2015 wishes, I want to be able to look at my 2014 wishes and have the majority of them for filled. I want to be able to say I have grown so much this year and only expect even greater growth next year.

illustration by marleneontherun.com

Great question Kimberly!
Always stress free xo