Hello 2019!
Whether you welcomed the new year at midnight in the United States (if you were able to stay awake that late) , or like our family, welcomed the new year overseas, at dawn, by the ocean (a Japanese tradition - hatsuhinode)... I hope that your new year has gotten off to a great start!
Whether you welcomed the new year at midnight in the United States (if you were able to stay awake that late) , or like our family, welcomed the new year overseas, at dawn, by the ocean (a Japanese tradition - hatsuhinode)... I hope that your new year has gotten off to a great start!
Sunrise at Sea Glass Beach Okinawa, Japan (1/1/19)
With the welcoming of each new year, it seems it's tradition to reflect on the past year and either start working on your New Year's Resolution(s), usually in some form of self improvement, or perhaps think "Why bother? Some things just never change."
For 2019, I would encourage you to reflect on a word, one that just might change your whole prospective on this new year.
Opportunity.
A time or set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something.
This new year offers so many opportunities.
Opportunity for great things to come INTO your life.
Opportunity to LET GO of the things that need to go.
Opportunity to BELIEVE in yourself.
THIS is YOUR year.
What do you want to look back on in 365 days
and say with incredible pride...."YES! I TOTALLY ACCOMPLISHED THAT!"
I have no doubt that the only way I crossed the finish line at Marine Corps Marathon in 2016, 11 months post-Cesarean, with a bum right knee, was because I believed that I could!
(Plus lots of training miles - because there IS that ;))
If you believe it, you really can do it. It is not just some hokey catch phrase - the mind is such a POWERFUL thing and you truly aren't giving yourself enough credit.
You are strong - mentally and physically.
You are capable.
You are deserving.
For 2019, I would encourage you to reflect on a word, one that just might change your whole prospective on this new year.
Opportunity.
A time or set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something.
This new year offers so many opportunities.
Opportunity for great things to come INTO your life.
Opportunity to LET GO of the things that need to go.
Opportunity to BELIEVE in yourself.
THIS is YOUR year.
What do you want to look back on in 365 days
and say with incredible pride...."YES! I TOTALLY ACCOMPLISHED THAT!"
I have no doubt that the only way I crossed the finish line at Marine Corps Marathon in 2016, 11 months post-Cesarean, with a bum right knee, was because I believed that I could!
(Plus lots of training miles - because there IS that ;))
If you believe it, you really can do it. It is not just some hokey catch phrase - the mind is such a POWERFUL thing and you truly aren't giving yourself enough credit.
You are strong - mentally and physically.
You are capable.
You are deserving.
So what is something you've considered trying, but didn't believe you could do?
Change your inner monologue and start telling yourself, not only that you can, but you WILL do it. Remind yourself often.
Make it your locked cell phone screen - how many times a day do you see that?! ;)
Write it on a note and place it by your bed side, on the bathroom mirror, and anywhere else that might continually remind you.
There will, without a doubt, be challenging days, so recruit some close friends and family to be in your corner and cheer you on; especially on the hard days.
Change your inner monologue and start telling yourself, not only that you can, but you WILL do it. Remind yourself often.
Make it your locked cell phone screen - how many times a day do you see that?! ;)
Write it on a note and place it by your bed side, on the bathroom mirror, and anywhere else that might continually remind you.
There will, without a doubt, be challenging days, so recruit some close friends and family to be in your corner and cheer you on; especially on the hard days.
Opportunity to take the time for YOU.
You know the saying... "You can't pour from an empty cup," and it's true.
Initially it seems selfish to take time for yourself, but once you start doing it, you see the value.
You realize that the self care actually results in a happier, healthier you! Carve out time, start small if you need to, but treat it like any other appointment and commit to it.
Opportunity to say "no" to adding more commitments to your plate. Far too often we overwhelm ourselves and end up doing okay at all of our commitments rather than really GREAT at just a few.
Opportunity to show your kids that life is short; be spontaneous and go for it! In the process you'll make lifelong memories you all will treasure.
Opportunity to get involved with or support an organization you feel passionate about. When we give to others, we feel so great about ourselves!
Opportunity to set GOALS.
Opportunity to set a big, huge, crazy awesome goal and chase after it like you've never done before.
It will take time, but the time is going to pass anyway.
Be sure to be specific when setting a goal.
About 5 years ago I came across SMART goals.
Use the acronym to make your goal more clear, and thus more achievable.
S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Attainable
R - Realistic
T - Time-Based
If it is a long term goal, be sure to break it down into a handful of short term goals.
Focusing on just 1 week at a time, so as to not get overwhelmed, can lead to big results.
For example, just running 3 miles a week, for 52 weeks, and you will have run more than 150 miles - surpassing the first milestone in Stroller Warriors Runopoly!
You know the saying... "You can't pour from an empty cup," and it's true.
Initially it seems selfish to take time for yourself, but once you start doing it, you see the value.
You realize that the self care actually results in a happier, healthier you! Carve out time, start small if you need to, but treat it like any other appointment and commit to it.
Opportunity to say "no" to adding more commitments to your plate. Far too often we overwhelm ourselves and end up doing okay at all of our commitments rather than really GREAT at just a few.
Opportunity to show your kids that life is short; be spontaneous and go for it! In the process you'll make lifelong memories you all will treasure.
Opportunity to get involved with or support an organization you feel passionate about. When we give to others, we feel so great about ourselves!
Opportunity to set GOALS.
Opportunity to set a big, huge, crazy awesome goal and chase after it like you've never done before.
It will take time, but the time is going to pass anyway.
Be sure to be specific when setting a goal.
About 5 years ago I came across SMART goals.
Use the acronym to make your goal more clear, and thus more achievable.
S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Attainable
R - Realistic
T - Time-Based
If it is a long term goal, be sure to break it down into a handful of short term goals.
Focusing on just 1 week at a time, so as to not get overwhelmed, can lead to big results.
For example, just running 3 miles a week, for 52 weeks, and you will have run more than 150 miles - surpassing the first milestone in Stroller Warriors Runopoly!
Opportunity to make PLANS.
Fail to plan, plan to fail, right?!
So many times we have such great intentions to do this, that or the other and yet we take no real action to make them become a reality. Take a step. Make a plan and set it into motion.
Like any good military family member should, be sure to have plans A, B, and C and be flexible as to which one you use. In fact, you might need to use a little of all three. Embrace it; the final destination is still possible and definitely worth the effort.
I put this into practice in 2018; I set a personal goal of 1 date night a month. Nothing fancy or stressful, just 4-5 kid free hours to hang out with just my husband. By using my plan, of texting my sitter at the first of every month to set it up... 8 of 12 months did indeed have a date night! They were such a gift to our marriage. While I didn't meet my goal at 100%, we both enjoyed the time so much that we will do the same in 2019.
Opportunity to focus on the POSITIVE.
Actively SEEK out the POSITIVE in EVERY situation. The negatives are so easy to spot... look past them this year and find the positives - they ARE there.
Happy New Year, Warriors!
Wishing you new and exciting opportunities each and every day this new year.
~Paige
Fail to plan, plan to fail, right?!
So many times we have such great intentions to do this, that or the other and yet we take no real action to make them become a reality. Take a step. Make a plan and set it into motion.
Like any good military family member should, be sure to have plans A, B, and C and be flexible as to which one you use. In fact, you might need to use a little of all three. Embrace it; the final destination is still possible and definitely worth the effort.
I put this into practice in 2018; I set a personal goal of 1 date night a month. Nothing fancy or stressful, just 4-5 kid free hours to hang out with just my husband. By using my plan, of texting my sitter at the first of every month to set it up... 8 of 12 months did indeed have a date night! They were such a gift to our marriage. While I didn't meet my goal at 100%, we both enjoyed the time so much that we will do the same in 2019.
Opportunity to focus on the POSITIVE.
Actively SEEK out the POSITIVE in EVERY situation. The negatives are so easy to spot... look past them this year and find the positives - they ARE there.
Happy New Year, Warriors!
Wishing you new and exciting opportunities each and every day this new year.
~Paige
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