5 Easy Ways to Live in the Moment

 

I am a list maker. I love when a task is completed and I get to check it off my list.  It strangely brings me a moment of joy.  On the other hand, it occurred to me how stressful making lists can be.  Yes, they work as a reminder of the tasks I need to accomplish.  But, they also remind of the tasks I need to accomplish.  😀

I made a pact with myself this Summer.  No more lists.  I am going to take it a day at a time, and whatever gets accomplished along the way will be goo enough.  This Summer, while my babies are out of school, I want to “Live in the Moment.” 

5 Ways to Live in the Moment

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My youngest grandbaby starts kindergarten this year.  🙁  That means no more babies at home with Grammy.  I am determined to make the most of this Summer and that means letting go of some things and allowing myself to slow down a bit.  As a full time blogger and also a woman who forgets she doesn’t possess super powers, that isn’t so easy.  My auto immunes have kinda forced me to take it easy these last few weeks as they have reared their ugly heads once again and this time – it’s bad.  

 

It doesn’t help that I am Type A and am very critical of myself.  I also have “Overachievers Syndrome” and think I am not allowed to just sit back and relax.  Even when I am down hard on the couch, I am still trying to get some work done on the computer or write several blog posts to stay ahead of schedule.  I realized I needed a break.  My husband needs a break and my family needs a break.

 

So this Summer, at least –  it’s anything goes.  I want to live in the moment and not live by a list.  Well, I will always have a grocery list but that’s so I don’t go to the grocery store for milk and come home with everything but milk.  (Who am I fooling, I will still forget the milk.  LOL )  Here are 5 reminders I plan to use to allow me to relax a bit and live in the moment…

 

1.) Let It Go!

I know, I know.  Sounds kinda silly doesn’t it?  Let it Go?  But, but, but…there is laundry and the dishwasher needs emptying and I haven’t cleaned the baseboards in a month and the weeds in the garden are taking over.  Nope.  Let. It. Go.

 

This morning while the boys were sleeping in, there were about a hundred things I could have been doing and should have been doing.  What did I do?  I laid on the couch with my sweet Cait-Cait and we made silly movies.  We laughed and laughed and laughed.  See for yourself… 😀

CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR FUNNY VIDEO

As the old saying goes…”Pardon my mess, I have memories to make.”  Those weeds and dishes and the laundry won’t matter in a few years, but these memories I make with my hubby and my babies and my family will.   Just let it go and allow yourself time to make these memories.  Philippians 4:6-7 says: “Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything.”

 

2.) Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

You may ask yourself what does self comparison have to do with living in the moment?  Simple – if you stop comparing yourself to others, you won’t feel the need to always think you need to catch up. Trust me – as a Blogger this is a tough one.  I am constantly seeing the amazing accomplishments of other Bloggers, so it’s only natural to compare my own life’s performance to others.  Do you do the same?

Stop!  Tell yourself it’s okay that you haven’t accomplished as much.  No one knows what journey anyone else has taken.  My pace may not be your pace, and in fact – your pace may be your own.  And that’s okay.  For example, I had several projects planned for this Summer ranging from new shelving in my kitchen to repainting large parts of the house to putting in even more raised garden beds out back.  

Guess what?  It doesn’t matter any longer if I get any of that done.  It occurred to me that this kind of pace I was not doable at this point in my life.  Instead, my “personal pace” will consist of more time spent at the pool with my loved ones, more bike rides in the afternoon, more Summer movies and more treats at our fave frozen yogurt place.  

{my three babies}

And if I feel like it – maybe I will get some of those DIY projects done.  But, if I don’t – that’s okay, too. 

 

3.) Enjoy the Small Things!

My granddaughter’s favorite fruit is strawberries.  That child could eat strawberries until she made herself sick.  She is always begging me to let her help cut the stems off the berry tops.  But this Grammy always said no because she might cut herself.   This morning, instead of telling her no, we sat down at the breakfast table with a small paring knife, and I showed her how to carefully cut the stems from the berries.  Guess what? She didn’t cut herself.  😀  That look of accomplishment and pride on her face was priceless.  That got me thinking.  Did I always tell her “no” because I was worried she would cut herself? Or, was it simply more time consuming and I had sooooo much to get done and knew I could get it done faster?   This morning, I took the time to allow myself to enjoy a “small thing” – like teaching my granddaughter how to cut stems off of strawberries.  I am also making a vow to myself to stop worrying so much.  

 

4.) Treat Yourself!

 

I love flowers!  Like most women, flowers enrich my soul.  I’m not necessarily talking about those fancy arrangements at the florist that can cost an arm and a leg. (Although I will say the bouquet my hubby gave me a few days ago for our 25th Anniversary was pretty amazing.)  The flowers I am talking about are the simple ones – a bunch of daisies,  a small bouquet of zinnias.  This Summer, I will make it a point to buy that bundle of grocery store flowers “just because.”  I will pick those day lilies, for example, even if they don’t last that long in a vase of water.  The small amount of time that they will last will brighten my day.  Things like how long flowers stay alive are out of my control.  I just need to let it all go and simply enjoy the beauty around me. 

 

5.) Remind Yourself to be Grateful – not Great-ful!

Often times, in pursuit of this perfectionist lifestyle I think I need to maintain, I forget to simply be grateful.  I am trying to pray more and be more aware of the many blessings that have been bestowed upon my family and I.   Often, I get caught up in feeling sorry for myself because of my auto immunes. On days that I can hardly get off the couch, it’s easy for depression to take over.   I have to remember that without the struggles, I may never find my strengths.  As I have gotten older, I realized life isn’t a race to accumulate as many things as you can, but to appreciate the things you already have.  

This world is so unsettled and there is so much anger within our society.   That said, I can’t worry about anyone but my inner circle.  I can strive to be happy, to love my husband and family, to be a positive influence on my grandbabies – and just be the best person I can personally be.  In other words, I can be a child of God.  

What are some of the things you need to do to slow down and just live for the moment? I would love to hear them.  Give it some thought today….and do just one of those things.  Your happiness starts inside of you!  xxoo, Barb

 

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Because this week has been our 25th Wedding Anniversary,

I am sharing this again –

Why My 2nd Marriage Has Lasted 25 Years

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” …finding the joy in the everyday! “