Finding Life's Rewards

I am finally starting to feel alive again.  For awhile, I felt like I was sinking with stress from work and stress at home.  Now, I finally feel a better direction in life and also in my professional life.  This is not just by chance, but because I have been making a conscious effort to find balance, peace and joy in my life.  Although, I am not currently playing music in a band (which had always been a big stress relief for me...) I am doing things which make my life better and more enjoyable.

Sometimes, it is easy to forget what a blessing my job is.  Sometimes, it is easy to get caught up in the responsibility factor and stop looking at the rewards factor.  Being an Executive Director of an Assisted Living community has many responsibilities and stresses that go along with it.  I get too caught up in the "tasks" of the job and not in the "relationships" I am making. This week, I have been trying to focus more of my energy on the relationship aspects.  I've been trying to have more one on one time with the residents and  their families.  I have been finding the joy that comes with a big smile or a hug from a resident.  It feels so good to know that I am truly making a difference in their lives and providing a quality of life for them.  Sometimes, you  just have to forget about the papers, reports, conference calls and emails and just look at the heart of what you do.  I am so fortunate to be making a difference and going to a job where I love the people.
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Other things which have been helping me are that my husband and I have started finding some common ground with our gardening ideas and "green living." I've been enjoying our discussions and excitement about our plans.  It is so nice to have stuff we can do together.


On my own personal front, I am doing yoga again.  I found a place close to home and plan to go a couple times a week and also have started doing it on my own at home.  I feel the yoga really helps me to relax and balance myself out.  I am always such a type a person.  Always on the go and can hardly take a moment to slow down and smell the roses.  Yoga puts me in a different mindset and allows me to take life in and slow down some.  I feel less stressed and happier.  Yoga gives me a new sense of energy.

I have also been working on crafts.  Sewing curtains for the house, making hemp bracelets and I have even started studying making my own DIY household cleaners and soaps, body scrubs and more.  Pretty cool stuff indeed.


Life is good.

New Interests, Hobbies and Ideas

So, more and more Travis and I have been looking into vegetable and herb gardening and making plans for a garden in our backyard.  We've also been talking about getting chickens and possibly even a goat.  The goal, to go to the grocery store less or at least not need a lot of produce.  I'd love to learn enough to really grow some good stuff and even build a greenhouse to help with the winter weather and such.  We've already started with one cold frame to help us through the winter and I'd like to do a few more of those.

My new interest/hobby is learning how to make hemp and beaded jewelry.  I went over to the craft store today and was just astonished at the amount of really cool beads and jewels and the endless amount of options available to start making jewelry.  I got a kit to start off with making HEMP jewelry.

I am also studying aromatherapy and how to make my own body lotions, balms, oils, and more.  I'd love to be able to make some really nifty and healthy stuff for my skin.

I feel like my world has been opened into a whole new array of interesting stuff and I just cannot wait to dive in and learn, learn, learn!