For mother’s day, big boy wrote me this wonderful, touching and thoughtful letter.

And the best part? The code he wrote to compile the letter is shaped like a heart.

I know today can be a tough day for many people for a wide range of reasons. I also know it can come with a lot of expectations.

Years and years ago I used to get all excited about New Year’s Eve plans and my expectations would be set so high that we would end up having a spectacular fight every time.

After several years of repeating this, one year I got really sick and we ended up in bed playing video games all night. It was the best new year’s eve and it taught me a great lesson around having no expectations and just being grateful to be here now.

So that’s how I feel today. I am grateful for my sons who are kind and thoughtful and give hugs freely. I am grateful for my husband who is generous and loving and also had a deeply thoughtful gift, too.

I am grateful for my nephews who are one of a kind just like my sister who is the best mom. For my friends who sent me kind, loving notes today to celebrate.

And I am so grateful for my amazing mom who made all this magical family possible. Who still teaches me new things daily, who loves me unconditionally and who brightens all my days.

I am using this as an opportunity to take a moment to be grateful because I know that all of this is rare and not guaranteed. I don’t want to take any of it for granted for a moment.

Yes to taking a moment today for deep gratitude.

#yearofyes #karenikayearofyes

Today was a good day. It started with a relaxing way to wake up, some snuggles with little boy, a lot of exercise and a lot of reading.

Then I did some meal prep, some more exercise, painting and journaling.

And now I am sitting outside again as the day gets darker and feeling that dull soreness from all the exercise joint with the serenity of a quiet evening.

There is a lot going on so these quieter days are exactly what my soul is seeking at the moment and I am trying to pay attention as much as possible.

Yes to the quiet. Yes to filling my cup.

#yearofyes #karenikayearofyes

When I wrote down my goals around choosing the word yes this year, I wrote down “less catasrophizing” and “less holding on” and “more optimism” and “more adventures” and all of these goals are being put to the test this week.

I am trying to understand the balance between inertia and calm. Between optimism and resignation. Between acceptance and daring. It’s hard to tell whether the source is one or the other.

Either way, for the most part, I am finding that I’m moving through this complicated life pretty calmly at the moment. Doing the next best thing I can and trying not to think too far ahead.

The situation in India is very scary and devastating. It’s now spread to parts of Singapore and vaccinated people are dying. So if I jump to potential futures for us, I can easily get to a grim place quickly. Instead I am trying to keep my eyes down and do the next right thing at home, at work, in my life.

And really that’s all I get to do. Be here now and do the best I can.

Yes to showing up to life and yes to being present. And yes to more optimism.

#yearofyes #karenikayearofyes