Life Updates of a Larger Magnitude

Half of Lent has passed me by and I don't feel the silence in my soul like I normally do (when I'm being consciously reflective).  So for today's MM I decided to start reading a book they gave our on Ash Wednesday - Resisting Happiness by Fr. Matthew Kelly.  It comes with homework.  Here is today's: Key Point: Find out what makes you happy Action Step: Identify three activities that increase your happiness.  Write them down. Being active - exercising, dancing, training Spending time outdoors making memories with my family.  Specifically camping, swimming, exploring. Building things So I wanted to get super specific on these because it's easy to be vague ("Being healthy makes me happy.") but vague is not necessarily actionable.  That's why I chose being active.  When I get more sedentary I get unhappy.  It doesn't matter what my body looks like.  My mind projects an image of bleh over it when I'm sitting on my buttkins all day. ...

Hey peeps! It's my favorite time of year! We're actually about 8 days into the 40 days of Lent, and I apologize for the slowness of my annual post.  This year I don't feel like Lent is a strong top-of-mind thing but more a steady undercurrent.  I didn't pick one thing to do (my favorite in the past has been daily Mass attendance.  This year I've been really sticking with the Miracle Morning thing from 7a-8a, so I feel like I'm already punching that deliberate reflection ticket.)  I've been trying to add more conscious acts of kindness (take food or flowers to an elderly neighbor, give to charity), but I think the thing that has stuck with me so far this season is this article I read a few days ago summarizing the Pope's message to "give without worry". My favorite quote was,  "Then he posed a greater challenge. He said the way of giving is as important as the gift. You should not simply drop a bill into a cup and walk away...

This blog used to be called the steamvent, because it was where all the rage and angst went. (When you're normally upbeat and positive on the outside, those yucky feelings have to go *somewhere*) I just reread the titles of my last few posts and it seems like that still is mostly true. So let's take a stroll down a happier thought! It's January 23rd and 3 weeks ago I implemented a daily work schedule. From 7am to 9am I do the same 3 things, and then from 9 to 12 I focus on one major business area. And the funniest thing about it is that by being scheduled, I feel more free. Lots of people talk about this. Time-blocking is a Keller Williams staple (that far too few agents implement). The Get Stuff Done guy has a whole book about it. And there have been countless blogs and articles written. So yea, accept it. It's a thing. Yesterday I was at a baby shower and one of the women, a widow who has given herself to service in the Catholic Church (she helps at a ...

I've gone back to my Miracle Morning ways.  It's a great way to start the day if you can motivate yourself to do it.  Last night I was feeling pretty crappy, but I'm resolved to not burn myself out more by working all the time.  That means I need to be more efficient with my days, so today I'm going to be ruthless about getting stuff off my to do list, including my Miracle Morning.  I've been hard on myself lately about not being in shape, but after hearing my grumbling, this picture was taken during my morning workout and...  I am totally in shape.  Go me. :) Now I just need to be super efficient with my next 8 hours.  Ready.... go!

My brain is kind of mush.  I mean, mush, but also pushing to the breaking point of filling it with ambitious things.  Mush like there's too much electricity in a small space and it has short-circuited.  Anywho. Life is really busy  right now.  The business, obviously.  And 3 kids (who, unfortunately, I feel lots of mom guilt like I don't spend enough time with them.) Then the internal pressure to feel like I'm not working so hard that I'm missing out on having a social life or being involved, so I fit social things in, but it all just feels kind of crazy and out of control.  And at heart, I'm a very creative person and I don't feel like I have the time* to indulge my creativity, which leaves me feeling... melancholy.  I used to peruse DIY blogs (like my faves YHL, Ana-White, and Ikeahackers) and get excited for fun house projects.  Now I spend my free time reading business books (when I'm being good) or fluffy Young Adult books (when I'm in...

I got roped into leading a girl scout troop for Eve, and let me just tell you... it is too fucking complicated.  Holy shit the forms and the trainings and all the freaking bureaucracy.  Just shoot me now.

Oh, I'm going there... I'm really excited to see all the passionate Hillary supporters channel their energy into local community efforts and work toward mitigating injustice on a personal level. I'm interested to understand more why half the voting populace thinks that one man is a hate filled bully, and the other half thinks that an entire party is an angrier bully. And just a reminder, if you call yourself Catholic, heed the leader you place above U.S. politics. He's still my favorite elected official ever. http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/695276/Pope-Francis-defends-Muslims-blasts-Islam-not-terrorism