I was journaling this morning and I had a huge moment of insight. On average this happens more often than not when I journal.

I write stuff down that I don’t even realize that I am thinking or feeling and then I see it on paper and I am like whoa!

This is one reason I wish I journaled more. I’ve been very intermittent with it. But this morning I did and it was very meaningful.

Which I hope will encourage me to do it again tomorrow morning.

Yes to writing it down. Yes to journaling.

#yearofyes #karenikayearofyes

It was a really long day today. I started at 8am and it’s 9pm and I still have a lot of email to read but I can’t keep going to it will have to wait till tomorrow.

Instead now I will do some stretching and maybe yoga and then I will journal and read.

Tomorrow I can start over and maybe actually get through my email. Or maybe not.

Yes to calling it good.

#yearofyes #karenikayearofyes

By noon today I was already deeply wishing it was Friday. I am finding that my mood is all over the place. I can be euphoric and super frustrated and really angry and full of anxiety all in the span of a few hours.

Which means by the time the day is over, I feel like I have emotional whiplash.

There’s so much in the world I don’t understand and feel powerless against. There’s so much in my own life I feel I can’t control. There’s so much about myself I am often struggling with.

And at any moment, any one of those things can make my mood swing in a particular direction. Then add my husband, kids, friends, family to the equation. Then add the news. Then add the pandemic. And I am just done.

So today I am sitting here, feeling tender and sad and angry and a little broken with the weight of all that.

And right now, I’m saying yes to being here with all this. To letting myself be tired.

Tomorrow I will get up and try all over again. Because giving up is not an option.

Yes to being with it all and yes to showing up and doing it anyway.

#yearofyes #karenikayearofyes

Some days feel like progress and other days feel like a huge step back. And I find that it’s hard for me to predict which day is going to end up where.

So I’m aiming for more good days than not. Let’s see if I can increase the chances that a day will end up in the progress bucket.

Here are some things I’ve found that helps me:

1. Exercise early in the day: I feel better about myself when I’ve exercised so doing that first thing increases chances my day goes well because I know I did at least one thing for my health that day.

2. Get my veggies in: the smoothie in the morning loaded with broccoli and spinach is another way I am paying my body first thing. Even if I eat cookies and chocolate the rest of the day, at least I got 2 servings of broccoli and 2 servings of spinach and some fiber from the chia seeds.

3. Tell my people I love them: a bit of gratitude never hurt anyone. I tell my kids and hubby how much I love them. On a good day, I send some appreciation notes to folks I work with and on a really good day I call my mom too. Best thing for getting out of my head is reaching out to others.

4. Write stuff down: making a list of what I need to do increases the chances that I will do it tenfold. I just can’t count on my brain to remember so when I write it down, I no longer have to. And once I write it, there’s something to cross off. Crossing tasks off is great joy for me and a visual sign of a good day. Writing stuff down also works well for journaling and clearing out my head. Morning pages are gold.

5. Setting structures and routines for the things I want to do more: making room on my calendar to go climbing three times a week and having a partner to feel accountable to. Meditating first thing in the morning before I get up. Etc. Just small things to increase the chances that the day is more likely to go well then not.

I am trying hard to pay attention and notice what is meaningful to me and what drains my energy. Some days are still a net loss but if I can get more good days in then net net there’s progress.

And I’ll take that.

Yes to being intentional. Yes to more progress.

#yearofyes #karenikayearofyes