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Hello everyone and happy Monday afternoon!

I hope you all had wonderful weekends full of either relaxation, fun, or a little bit of both, whichever fills your cup.

My weekend was filled with activities for my kids, a rare parent’s Saturday out, and a recovery quiet Sunday at home. Looking at my social media, you would have seen lots of special activities and smiling faces. However, I want everyone to realize, not all that is seen from the front, is what could go on in the background. So many other things could have been behind the smiles on the screen. (Granted, I will admit, my family had a pretty great weekend, even through a few sibling spats.) Like the graphic below, much of what you see on social media, during a visit with a friend, or even in situations at work, may not be the whole picture. 

Because of this, I ask you to avoid comparison with those you think have more than you. More fun, more opportunities, more money, more anything. I also ask you to give grace to others; you never know what may be going on behind the canvas of their perfect pictures. 

I hope you have a great week! 

Hello everyone and Happy Monday! I hope everyone was able to enjoy the beautiful weather we had over the weekend!

I came across this graphic a few days ago and loved how it is the perfect representation of how many situations in life need a different perspective to stop a destructive fallout. 

• When life is extremely stressful and you are about to be burned out completely — step away
• When you find yourself in the middle of an argument and you are about to burn a bridge — step away
• When you get caught up in gossip and you are about to spread it without really understanding the situation — step away
• When you are in the middle of a crisis situation and everyone is panicking, even just for a moment — step away
• When the decisions you have been making haven’t been fruitful in your life — step away

By stepping away, getting out of the fire, you gain a new perspective that gives everyone beyond you a fresh start. Possibly even yourself. You never know how your reaction could save others and prevent a whole relationship or project to burn up. 

Have a great week!

Hi all and happy Tuesday!

I was on vacation yesterday and wasn’t able to write this until after catching up a bit. 

On Sunday, I attended a concert at Meadow Brook Amphitheatre. I can’t say enough how awesome it was to listen to live music again! The artist was Jason Mraz, and I sent one of his songs a few weeks ago called “Be Where Your Feet Are.” My friend and I were catching up before the show began and I was talking about the difference between my husband and I as it related to goals and planning for the future. We were lamenting about how both of our husbands loved being in “the comfort zone” and never liked to take risks. 

As the show continued on, I forgot about that conversation until he started to play the song I shared with you — and a light bulb clicked on. “Be where your feet are.” Sometimes being in the “comfort zone” really is ok as long as you are content and present in the moment. How many times do we get caught up in what/where we think we ought to be, always working toward a new goal, but never fully appreciating where we are now and how far we’ve come? 

Now, I’m not saying to stop reaching for your goals or taking risks. I’m just saying to be patient with yourself,  and love where you are, even if it’s not where you plan(ned) to be. 

Have a great week! 

Sorry I missed our Monday! The day just got away from me. It’s these busy days and weeks that I am often reminded it’s best to just take a step back every once and a while. To regroup, reenergize, renew our purpose. The following story isn’t mine, but I loved the message. Be sure to step away and fill your tank when you are on empty!

********
The whole world paused this morning.
Do you know why? Because an 8 year old’s tank was empty.
The boys had already started their school day at their desks and I was preparing to leave for work when I noticed my littlest standing in the bathroom wiping his face.
I paused at the door and asked if he was okay. He looked up with tears silently dripping and shook his head.
When I questioned if something happened, again he shook his head.
So I sat on the side of the tub and pulled him in my lap. I told him sometimes our heart tanks feel empty and need to be refilled.
He cried into my chest and I held tight.
I asked if he could feel my love filling him up?
A nod, and tears stopped…
I waited a minute…
‘Has it reached your toes yet?’
He shook his head no…
‘Okay man. We will take as long as you need. Work doesn’t matter right now. School isn’t important either. This right here, is the most important thing today, okay? Filling you back to the top. Is that good?
’*nods*
One more minute…
‘Is your heart full of mama’s love now?
’‘Yeah…’
*looks in his eyes* I see it shining in there, you’re full to the top, and you’re smiling!

You may not be 8 – you may be 38, 48, 58 or whatever- but ALL of us run on empty just like he did. His weekend was so busy and so full and his little soul was just dry!!! We all have to pause, and take a moment to refill with the good things.

Laughter, music, exercise, prayer, sunshine, song, friends, hugs. Refill your empty, or you’ll find those emotions (tears, anger, snappy words) overflowing with no reason why. Take a moment. Refill. It’s the most important part of your day!

Hi everyone! 

I’m going to start your day off with some tunes! Music is a big part of my life and I use it to either match my mood or change it around. One of my favorite artists is Jason Mraz and he just released a new song that I’m going to make my motto for a while: Be Where Your Feet Are. 

Here’s a link to the song: https://youtu.be/6xVRDCemu6A

Here are the lyrics: azlyrics.com/lyrics/jasonmraz/bewhereyourfeetare.html

I hope this is a good reminder to be in the moment and not to rush life!
 
Have a great week! 

Hi All and happy Monday!

Many of you have reached out to me after a Monday email and say “this was perfect timing” or “that really spoke to me.” I’m sure some of you have read one of my messages and haven’t quite connected with the topic or lesson. And that’s ok! I try to bring positivity and tools to help everyone, but I certainly don’t intend to preach.  

That brings me to what I want to talk about today: “toxic positivity.” I just recently became acquainted with this term and I feel it’s rampant in our society. Have you ever had a friend or family member just brush off your feelings when you expressed something negative and said “Oh, everything will be fine!” Have you ever had someone tell you “well, things could be worse!” If so, you have been a victim of toxic positivity, whether or not the speaker intended it. Most likely, they didn’t.

Just like anything done in excess, when positivity is used to silence the human experience, it becomes toxic. By not allowing certain feelings, we fall into a state of repressed emotions. The truth is, humans are flawed. We get jealous, angry, resentful, and greedy. Sometimes life can just flat out suck. By pretending that we are “positive vibes all day,” we deny who we are. 

Bottom line: Feel what you feel. Don’t hold it in. Just don’t live there. And find a person (or group) who you know will never pass judgement on those feelings, even if they aren’t always sunshine. 

Have a great week! 
Kate

Hi All and Happy Monday Afternoon!

I have a funny story to share about perspective. Thursday was my 8-yr-old son’s last day of school. The morning was filled with the usual “encouragement” by me to get ready and rushing to get out the door. (And by encouragement, I’m pretty sure my neighbors are putting on their shoes at my command.)

I had to first drop my younger son at the baby sitter’s and was headed to the school when the railroad lights started flashing and the gate started coming down. I had just missed making the tracks. I huffed a big sigh to be inconvenienced. At the same moment I was huffing, my son chimes in behind me “This is the BEST start to the day ever!” He then proceeded to count all of the cars and was excited to report this to his teacher and class. He had a front row seat to see a train on the last day of school. I had to smile and revel at how many times he has taught me a lesson on how to be a better person. 

This week, if you find yourself feeling negative or overwhelmed, stop, remember the train, and try to flip the perspective on yourself. 

Have a great week!

I hope you had a good Memorial Day last Monday while we were off. I spent the majority of the holiday weekend, and some of this past weekend, doing hours and hours of gardening. Every night since, I go out in the evening and water and deadhead. There is something about planting something with your hands into the soil and watching it flourish that just speaks to my soul. 

I saw this graphic earlier today and it made me think of my gardening. If I spent as much time “watering” myself as I do my garden, would I grow more? If I trimmed out the areas in my life that are dead and “weeded” the things around me that are taking away my nutrients, would I bear more blooms? If I have overgrown a space in the garden, would re-rooting myself allow me to provide more shade to others? 

Maybe that’s too many plant analogies for a Monday afternoon, but at the very least, I hope that you think about how much care it takes to make a plant grow. You need just as much, and more. Please take the time to nourish yourself, whatever that may be for you. 

Have a great week!
Kate

We are closing in on the end of May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month. There are so many different facets of mental health that are important, but “fixing” people is something that has been a struggle for me many times over the years. I have learned, and re-learned, how damaging this can be to my own mental health. 

Are you a natural caregiver? Do people often come to you for help with issues in their lives? It’s easy to get addicted to the feeling of being needed and wanted. However, sometimes helping other people can begin to feel like the only way to show your love/loyalty is to sacrifice your needs at the needs of others.

Here’s the short solution: share your talents and resources. Generously give your time and attention. BUT, you cannot pour a magical potion on the wounds of every person who has a problem. It’s not your job. And if it were, it’d be a terrible job because you’d fail at it every single day. Remember a healthy caregiver not only nourishes the needs of others, but also nourishes her own.

Week 4 of “Accepting Uncomfortable Truths” brings us to accountability. Do you find yourself making the same mistake, but not really thinking that the root of the problem might just be you? It’s time to call yourself out. 

Maybe you are always late or missing deadlines. Instead of blaming others first, try to explore solutions that allow you to organize or prioritize better to head off issues before they halt your progress. Maybe you are immediately defensive when faced with criticism. Instead, take a moment to see the other person’s point of view and use it as a tool to make something better. 

When in difficult situations, ask yourself: “It is me, or is it my ego?”