Twenty Seventeen Yearly

Weekly Reflection 2017 – 14

Three ways I shone this week: There were some challenging moments this week. Moments where it would be easier for me to close and go inward. Moments were I might have chosen poorly. But I tried to remember what it means to shine. I asked myself what I would do if I were choosing to shine. It was helpful to look at life through that mindset.

I showed up for work. Several long days this week both physically and emotionally.
I agreed to help out a new team.
I spent several days out in the backyard, choosing to enjoy the sun.

Things I wanted to get Done:

I read all the packets and prepared for committee.
I didn’t figure out our summer trip a bit more or find a different hotel, I decided this could wait until we’re back from our Spring Break.
I think I finished all my little todos that are taking space on my mind.
I’ve been spending time thinking about what it means to shine.
I’m packed and sort of ready for our trip tomorrow.
Listening more than I talk is always tricky for me. It’s a work in progress.

I celebrate: Spring break baby!

I am grateful for: a little break. i really need some time off and i am heading off to an adventure this week so I am grateful for that.

I nourished myself by: more backyard time. a little more rest than usual.

Reflecting on my worries: I did ok with the packets. my results might indeed be negative but alas. i am still quite exhausted. but i also am so deeply grateful this week.

I let go of: what i have no control over.

Core Desire Check-in (bold, mindful, nourish, love):

bold: it’s been bold of me not to give up when i desperately want to.
mindful: i’ve been mindful of feeling sad. not trying to numb it or bury it but letting myself feel it.
nourish: i took some much needed me-time on Friday and took a nice, long bath.
love: i love my family with all of my heart and soul.

What made me laugh this week: Nathaniel. he’s my angel.
What I tolerated this week: long, grueling work days. especially tuesday.

My mood this week was: tired, anxious and then sad. but still filled with deep moments of joy and gratitude.
I forgive myself for: things that are outside of my control.
What I love right now: having the sun finally out and enjoying the backyard again.

Here’s to a wonderful week fifteen. Hello Spring Break!

April 2017 – Fabric Sentiments – 5

You can read about the start of this project here.

This one says: every level of your life will demand a different version of you.

karenika.com

Fabric Sentiments is a Monthly Project for March 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

April 2017 – Fabric Sentiments – 4

You can read about the start of this project here.

This one says: you must master a new way to think before you can master a new way to be.

karenika.com

Fabric Sentiments is a Monthly Project for March 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

Books I Read This Week 2017 – 14

A lot of books this week but several of them were very short.

I first picked up The Dry because the library had it and it looked interesting. But the narrator’s accent was so thick that I kept not following the story so I finally gave up listening to it and decided to just read it. It was an interesting story and I am glad I read it. But I didn’t love it.

I chose Always because I’d read a different book by Jio a few months ago and it was easy and light and I was in the mood for that. This story was also easy and light and I am not sorry I read it but I doubt I’ll remember it for a long time.

I then listened to We Should All Be Feminists which I loved so very much and immediately moved on to her most recent: Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions which was also awesome. I loved them both!

After those, I read Milk and Honey which was also wonderful. Different. Poignant. Thought provoking, Honest. Lovely.

I would have never ever picked up My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry if it weren’t for a friend who told me her daughter really liked it. I’d read his previous book and didn’t love it (even though many others did.) So I was kind of done with the author. But I am so so so glad I picked this up. I loved every single minute of it and then I cried and cried and cried. It was absolutely beautiful. My favorite read of the week.

I then picked up The Reader because it was about to expire and my friend Amy had said she enjoyed it. And I did too. It wasn’t the best YA read I ever read but it was interesting and thought provoking.

It was time for another nonfiction so I picked up The Five Dysfunctions of a Team which was recommended by one of the Directors I work with. It was a quick and fantastic read. I will have to revisit this one a few times.

And finally I had read the Wolf in a White Van a few months ago and decided to tackle Universal Harvester. I’ll be honest, I didn’t follow this story super-well but I still liked the style of writing this author has and how wildly different it is from everything I read. This was book #73 for 2017.

I have a few more books checked out from the library that I am dying to read so here’s to more reading this week!

Books I Read this Week 2017 is a year-long project for 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

Nourish Me – 14

Mind:

I read: I’ve been really behind in internet reading. I have like 40 tabs open but I keep reading books instead.
I learned: i read a few non fiction books this week and learned what to do to manage teams well, does that count?
I watched: same as the reading. I am focusing on books which means the TV didn’t even get turned on this weekend. but I watched this which made me cry.

Body:

Exercise: No exercise this week either. One of my knees did stop hurting so now I am wondering if I should pick something else.
Food: Ate some really heathy stuff and some really unhealthy stuff.
Skin: doing ok here.
Floss: ok here, too.
And More: nothing else here. i’d like to spend some time thinking about this, though. I think I need some nice tops. I’ve always wanted to have someone help me find a dressing style. i wish i could have that.

Soul:

I rested: it was a very quiet weekend. but i think i need to find a new rhythm. maybe not so much reading.
I connected: with more parents from the kids’ school.
I journaled: too little. i hope and plan to do some this week.
I made art: i started a little bit more art. really simple things but still.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what nourishment means to me. And how maybe I’ve been going about it a bit wrong. I need to do some more thinking here.

Nourish Me Week 2017 is a year-long project for 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017?here.

April 2017 – Fabric Sentiments – 3

You can read about the start of this project here.

This one says: trust the timing of your life.

karenika.com

Fabric Sentiments is a Monthly Project for March 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

2017 Stories – 14 – Nathaniel’s New Adventure

At the beginning of this school year, Nathaniel decided he wanted to apply to the same school David started this year. He kept seeing how engaged David was and how much he was thriving and he wanted it for himself. I too wanted that for him. I also would love to have both my kids at the same school again (assuming it’s a proper fit for each, of course.)

So Nathaniel applied, we wrote a bunch of essays, he went to a Shadow day which he loved and to an Activity day, which he also loved. And then we waited.

And waited.

For him to get in, someone had to leave the school because third grade is not a year where they expand the class. I tried to explain this to him but he was still so excited, and he was counting down all the days.

When I finally got the call that he was the only boy they accepted to the third grade class, I cried and cried and then got home and gave Nathaniel the very best news and hugged him so tight.

And then two days later, he finally got his envelope in the mail. This particular school puts wonderful confetti into their acceptance envelopes (which Nathaniel knew from David’s one last year.) so he opened his very carefully and saved every single confetti.

I love you my sweet boy. Here’s to the beginning of a new and wonderful adventure.

Stories from 2017 is a year-long project for 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

April 2017 – Fabric Sentiments – 2

You can read about the start of this project here.

This one says: if your compassion does not include yourself, it’s incomplete.

karenika.com

Fabric Sentiments is a Monthly Project for March 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

Living Intentionally 2017 – 14

Weekly Intention: This week promises to be much quieter than last week with very little back and forth hopefully. Even though next week is vacation for me, I will be quite busy so my intention for this week is to rest. I would like to intentionally work hard tomorrow so I can be ready for my work challenge on Tuesday and then try to rest as much as possible the rest of the week. Take it as easy as I can.

Things I want to get Done:

One is to read all the packets and prepare for committee.
Two is to figure out our summer trip a bit more and find a different hotel.
Three is to finish all my little todos that are taking space on my mind.
Four is to spend some time thinking about what it means to shine.
Five is to pack and prepare for our trip next week.
Six is to check in with myself. To listen more than I talk.

This month’s intention is: Shine Quietly: It’s crucial to take time to reflect. Take this month to reflect on how things are going. Is there anything you need to adjust/change/drop or pick up. It’s ok to shift things. It’s also important to acknowledge what’s working. Take the time to shine some light inward and see what’s going on. I love this. perfect timing. It’s time to redefine my approach to things.

Ways to Shine this week:

One: Bold: It will be bold if I can pull off resting as much as I’d like.
Two: Open: Open to receiving and listening on Tuesday.
Three: Heal/Nourish: I would like to spend some time thinking about what needs healing.

I am looking forward to: Thursday. To the quieter part of my week.

This week’s challenges: tomorrow for reading all the packets and tuesday for the all day work meeting.

Top Goals:

Work: packets. doing a good job tuesday.
Personal: resting. eating well.
Family: doing some research for the work I want to do with them.

I will focus on my core desires (bold, mindful, nourish, love) by: reaching within this week. paying attention to my thoughts and feelings and assumptions and expectations.

This week, I will say yes to: me.

This week, I will say no to: doing more than needed. feeling pressure. feeling less than.

I am worried that: i will do a bad job with the packets. i won’t stop feeling exhausted. my results will be negative. i will fail the people i love. i won’t feel better. i will make bad choices.

This week, I want to remember: that it’s one day at a time. everyday i get to make new choices.

April 2017 – Fabric Sentiments – 1

For April, I decided I wanted to have some fun with fabric and ribbons. So I cut up little cards and just had fun. I also added sentiments that are meaningful to me. They are imperfect but have so much texture. These are cards I wish you could touch.

This one says: nothing holds you back more than your own insecurities.

karenika.com

Fabric Sentiments is a Monthly Project for March 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

Weekly Reflection 2017 – 13

Three ways I shone this week: Ever since I watched Ali’s video for One Little Word for April, I’ve been thinking about what it means to shine. How do I define it? When do I know I’m shining? How do I know I am shining? What do I look like when I shine? How does it feel to shine? I plan to spend a lot of April visiting these prompts. For now, I’ll say that:

I was there to support the little boy during this week which was a tough one for him.
I spent time socializing with friends on Friday, relatively new friends!
I got to have 1-1 time with each kid this weekend!

Things I wanted to get Done:

I did get some sleep, but honestly still not enough. Though this week is looking a bit more optimistic.
I did book us a hotel and have an idea for sub-trip.
I paid for the schools. I also filed our taxes! woohoo!
Finished Q2 sheets!
Ordered some of what David needs for his upcoming trip.
Didn’t do so well with the smiling. Well didn’t do terribly but let’s say so-so.

I celebrate: being done with our taxes.

I am grateful for: i know i wrote about my husband last week but i am grateful for him all over again this week and it’s because he not only accepts but cherishes me for who i am. he doesn’t question the choices i make the shortcomings i have, etc. he just celebrates who i am. thank you my wonderful husband.

I nourished myself by: more fresh food. a lot of sitting in the backyard.

Reflecting on my worries: taxes are all done. one more paper to send but really done. thursday was totally ok. i made it through. i made it to book club. amazingly my right knee has actually stopped hurting! I am possibly dropping the ball on many things. so far, nothing bad has happened at work. nathaniel got better, then got sick, then seems to be getting better again.

I let go of: apologizing for what I don’t want to do and offering options i don’t actually want.

Core Desire Check-in (bold, mindful, nourish, love):

bold: i said yes to doing something hard at my son’s school next year.
mindful: i’ve been mindful of my mood lately. of feeling my feelings.
nourish: mixed bag still. eating a lot of salad and some protein but also still eating plenty of not so great things.
love: i love all the bits of my life so much. i am so grateful for the small things like sunshine in my backyard and the big things like my healthy family and lovely job.

What made me laugh this week: More laughing with Tamara and Allie this week.
What I tolerated this week: it was another week of multiple trips to work.

My mood this week was: rushed mostly but a calm weekend.
I forgive myself for: being who i am. i am often so hard on myself but that doesn’t really help me change.
What I love right now: i am loving audiobooks so much!

Here’s to a wonderful week fourteen. Hello April.