Happy Friday, luvs! 🙂 I’m not feeling so well today, so I’m dressing cozily in sweater and jeans, keeping myself warm with lots of herbal tea, and looking forward to a weekend of resting and reading a jolly good book I found at a thrift store.
Last night I wrote a Master List of all the projects I’m working on and responsible for and realized with certainty that I am a nincompoop. Here I’ve been patting myself on the back for getting better at saying no, but one look at this list made me wonder if there was ANYTHING I’ve said no to! Heavens. No wonder I’m tired! 🙂
So I’ve taken my schedule in hand and am fine tuning it, organizing things by importance and assigning times to get them done. I feel better already. Important things first. Isn’t it amazing how that one little practice makes everything easier?
Once again I am slowing down, evaluating the mantras in my head that make me feel I’m not good enough unless I’m working like a whirling dervish. I don’t want to feel this incessant need to prove myself worthy of respect or love. I AM worthy of those things. So are you. Today I’m going to bask in that knowledge and let go, again, of these ridiculous expectations.
This week I’ve started adding beautiful things into my life that yank me out of work mode and help me settle.
- Reading back issues of Victoria magazine for a few minutes before work. This never, ever fails to cheer, calm and inspire me.
- Looking out the window whilst sipping a cup of tea.
- Going for 15 minute walks on my breaks at work. How good it feels to amble through town, crunching fallen leaves, enjoying all the fall decorations on the darling houses that fill the Dutch town where I live.
Do you ever struggle with this sort of thing? How do you bring yourself back from feeling your value is in what you do rather than who you are? Do you have little mantras that help you think rightly? I’d sure love to hear them. 🙂
I hope you have a GORGEOUS weekend, dear ones! A big hug to you across the miles and a reminder that you are worthy of much love, respect and kindness simply because you’re you. 🙂
Hope you feel better Krista! I have that go go go feeling a lot myself…have to get myself on a million projects to feel like I’m contributing or “going somewhere” in life 🙂
I also like a nice slow cup of tea to get grounded…and lots of chocolate doesn’t hurt either 🙂
Have a fab weekend lovely one!
That’s great you’re adding the beautiful things, Krista. Lately I feel frantic trying to fit too much in too and it’s stopping and doing the beautiful things that bring calm and peace to me. I think I need a list too as a reminder!
That’s EXACTLY how I feel, Tuula! 🙂 Two peas in a pod we are. Pass the chocolate please! 🙂
Frantic – that’s the perfect word, Nicole. 🙂 Time for deep breaths and a cup of tea, I think. 🙂
Have a wonderful and relaxing weekend with your book and time for yourself. All will be right with the world once again on Monday.
Thank you, dear Val! 🙂 I am really looking forward to it. I hope your weekend is lovely too. 🙂
The people in my life… that’s what puts things in pespective for me when I’m feeling what I do is not “good enough” Krista. I think of the people that I love and that love me back, and remember that an important part of my life has been dedicated to cultivating these relatinoships. Is there anything more important? 🙂
I am so sorry that you don’t feel well, I hope it’s only weather related. Please stay warm, and yes, that warm herbal tea will help a lot.
You are so good at taking a close up photos.
You are SO right, dear Zorymar! There is nothing more important than those relationships. 🙂 Loving and being loved back is a precious thing. 🙂
Thank you so much, Elra! 🙂 I have a cozy scarf wrapped around my neck, wool socks and sweater. I feel so cozy. 🙂
Oh yes, I’ve felt that way. For me the thing that grounds me, that reminds me that the world is large than my head and my problems and my lists… is cooking. I make something with my hands like bread. Its a way of connecting for me.
Those statues are wonderful! I hope that you are feeling better now…
Cheers,
Rosa
Big Hugs to you Krista 🙂 I think many of us feel that ‘go, go,go’ feeling & there are times in our lives where we have loved ones with us a lot and times when we feel we couldn’t rustle up a friend for a coffee even if we tried.
I know I don’t do the down on myself times well at all, the self monitoring by writing lists & remembering to include ‘self nurturing’ high on the list is good, it all helps.
Do you think we’ve been raised in a society that has that awful mantra “do more, do more, achieve more” singing away in the background. I do!
gorgeous post krista – love the photos of the v. beautiful statues! people think i’m crazy, but (in case you can’t tell by my blog) i just pretend i’m a french person and living in france! yes, eating well, taking walks, slowing down when your time is your own. the pressure to perform will never go away in our (now global) culture of “productivity” but so nice to counteract it by recreating the old world in our new one. and all those go getters rushing past you will meanwhile get jealous and can’t figure out how you knew about all this when they didn’t! i think eat pray love is a great example of that! kisses and cheers!
Cooking helps me slow down and reconnect with myself too, though I can’t say the same for washing the dishes afterward. 🙂 I hope you’re having a beautifully settled weekend!
I definitely have that Type A kind of feeling a lot, that I constantly have to prove myself. But prove myself to who? Myself, I guess. When I think about it that way, it just seems silly. You are an amazing person Krista and I hope you feel better!
Have a nice, relaxing weekend!
humm… we need to chat. Yes, I can relate! Walking on the beach always gives me perspective 🙂
Gorgeous photos Krista and I know the feeling of being overwhelmed. However, you’re halfway there – writing things downs and seeing what’s ahead plus recognising where you’re at is huge. I hope you get better soon. Have a blessed, loving weekend. Stay strong
I really love this post! I struggle all the time with feeling guilt about not accomplishing more. It’s just programmed into us, I think!
I like your idea of adding small enjoyable things to your day. I do something similar. I look at my schedule and then figure out where I can insert a little joy. So for example, I’ll bring a treat for my lunch break, I’ll carry a favorite book, or chat with someone I really like. I’m not always good at spontaneously bringing them into my day, so it helps to do a little prior planning.
hi Krista
I agree we place too much importance on things that shouldn’t matter as much. I’m glad you are finding time to relax and enjoy the beauty that surrounds us, we all to often forget how close it really is.
Dennis
Of course I have had many many – far too many times in my life like this. Not so much now that I am older, but I am a type A personality and used to be consistently amazed at what I was able to accomplish. Those that can, get more all the time. It was always a personal challenge to me to see how much I could actually do… and that is what I thrived on. It did bring me happiness. However, I remember dark times, too – when I would do exactly what you are doing. Redefining, reflecting, prioritizing, setting attainable goals. All such an important part of our journey. And your pics here say it all… communing with art and nature feeds the soul. It edifies and fills me with energy and motivation and gratitude and inspiration.
I have definitely learned to say no. Now I find myself, at this time of my life, as my children are gone, choosing to star in the supporting role: enabling others. It is as gratifying, but not nearly as stressful.
🙂
Big hug
Valerie
I love relaxed weekends too [nt all the time though:-) ]!!
These are some absolutely beautiful pics u have shot!!