Sunday, January 30, 2011

A New Direction

I've started to contemplate all the things I love and don't love about my life. I'm heading into my (gasp) forties this year and  I can't believe so much time has flown by. I was so busy running through my life I didn't take much time to really enjoy the daily things of living life. So this is the start of a new year and direction in my life I'm searching out more JOY!

 I have a small son , he's 22 months old and such a blessing. I've been taking more time when I put him down for a nap to hold and cuddle him before I put him to sleep. Then today I layed down in the bed in his room till he fell asleep and just enjoyed the music I turned on for him and listening to him sleep. The laundry will still be there when I'm ready for it but, I need to search out and enjoy the little things. Before I was always in a rush to get him down so I could run around the house and do chores, I think I've finally killed that sense of urgency to have everything perfect.

Another new direction I am taking is what I cook. I'm going to use up a lot of what we have in the kitchen then I need to cook healthier and more veggies. I've started to read that Eat-Clean Diet and the Maker's Diet books. I do pretty well with not having refined products in the house but we will still have the occasional boxed product and way more carbs than we need. So now I'm focusing on veggies, at least 1/2 our plates or more are going to be veggies. I know a lot of people think that there is only so much you can do with a veggie but I used to eat so much better and feel so much better. Here's to embracing the veggie! I have started making these green drinks at least once a day for all of us. The drinks have broccoli stems, kale, romaine, wheat grass, cucumber, ginger, spinach, two apples and some carrots. I know what you're thinking but they aren't that bad and we get such a boost of energy. I've filmed my son drinking them because it is funny. As soon as he sees it he starts to whine for it. I give him a straw and he sucks about a cup of it down. When you get to the end it's a little more like chewing it. I just add more water to his and he sucks the rest down. AMAZING HUH! The hilarious thing is because my son does it so easily my husband won't complain about it at all. HA!

So my goals for the year is: more joy, healthier eating, creating more art and taking more time to enjoy life!

3 comments:

  1. I know what you mean. I'm going to be 34 in a couple of weeks and am starting to take stock. How can I tell my daughters to reach for the skies and aim to be the best they can if I don't do the same? Time to be changing :) Thanks for stopping by mine :)

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  2. Hi Leslie! So lovely to meet you and thank you so much for stopping by my blog for a visit and entering my OWOH giveaway. I can so relate to this post. What is this "need to be perfect" that we absorb from our culture...? I rushed thru so much of my life as well and now am so conscious of being very present in it. And you have a beautiful son to capture your attention... what a blessing.

    Love & blessings,
    xoxo Valerie
    OWOH # 304
    http://valeriehart.com

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  3. Bonjour, Leslie, et merci beaucoup for visiting my blog during the OWOH tour! Your comments about letting go of perfection and the relentless sense of urgency vs. the desire for more joy resonanate with me. I wrote about similar things just this past Tuesday in regard to taking a trip ... My 'mantra' is contentment. It has been interesting to visit so many blogs and see the recurring themes of appreciating and getting the most out of what's important in life:)

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