Tag Archives: one little word

You Can Quote Me

Posted in grateful, OLW, You Can Quote ME by

Continuing with the One Little Word theme, here’s another thing that helps me hold onto that Serene feeling.

YCQM 4 Feb

So many times I’m guilty of looking over the fence or concentrating on something that is annoying me. I don’t look for the good, yet as soon as I do, the annoying thing slides away into a smaller, manageable portion (yes, even the Screaming SO-Much-Taller-Than-Me-Now Teen). Keeping a gratitude journal helps, so I can totally recommend that to anyone. Look for something that makes you smile – little things like butterflies on flowers, rain for your garden, a pen that is where you left it – these all count. Big  stuff? Of course it counts, but the reason it’s big is because it’s not frequent enough to feed your soul.

Focus on the little stuff. The little good.

BONUS task – we did this for a couple of summers and it spreads the message. I brought a cheap canvas & some Thickers, altho if your penmanship is good use that. I stuck on “Grateful” and “Summer year/year” and EVERYONE who walked through our front door had to write something they were grateful for. Everyone. Kids, adults, couriers, tradesmen. It’s so cool to look back at the things the kids were grateful for (altho I couldn’t agree with some of the music choices!) but everyone got into it. I need to resurrect that. Maybe in my office? Hmmm…

You Can Quote Me

Posted in books, OLW, You Can Quote ME by

More that relates to my OLW, serenity

OLW power

this is a reminder to me that I can walk away. I can chose to un-follow, to un-friend, to correct my behaviour & responses.

I have just finished Unbroken (love it still) and am moving one to Gretchen Rubin’s books, starting with Happier at Home. Not sure what fiction I will read, as M starts back at school next week so it will be a lot of picture flats. Lots of non-fiction recommends running around (feel free to link to my Goodreads and make some suggestions) but I am in a bit of a book coma from these last two being so, so good.

Feeling – what?

Posted in music, OLW, Saturday Share, Smalls SAL, Uncategorized by

Monday morning & I’m feeling a little off. Today is the day R came back to work & according to the boss, she’s a little unhappy that I am still here & have taken some of her roll. But then the work focus has changed, and it’s def more than one person can handle. A lot more. I’ve just seen her and she seems OK – so maybe I allowed myself to be caught in someone else’s drama. Bad, bad Paula. Don’t think I’ll include that little bit in my first card to my new OLW penpal – I haven’t had an old-fashioned snail mail penpal in how long? – I must stop fluffing around with blogging and working and WRITE. I’m on a deadline – it’s nearly time for my lunchtime walk with Sarah. Yay for having stamps in my folder.

Yesterday was so slow in the household & not what I expected it to be. My rhythm & routine disappeared right from that moment I slept in & I didn’t get my groove back until late afternoon. Finished another ornie (will share on Saturday) and got rid of the mending pile that B created. So domestic. Then to blow out the cobwebs I went for a drive up to the SIL’s to drop her back off at hers with the toy car’s top down & on the way back, blasting music. Sorry Swanson peeps. Hope you liked some Ministry of Sound. If not, well, at least it wasn’t One Direction, right?

Tonight I plan a binge watch of Nashville & some stitching. Or maybe a swim and an early night. I don’t know about you, but I am more than ready for the school term routine to start. Only two more weeks to go! That noise you just heard? My wonderful MIL sighing in relief.

school

Sunday, Gorgeous Sunday

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It’s beautiful here in Auckland today. Well, the West is! Yesterday the cricket was on at Eden Park, so of course it rained. Great for my fruit trees, they could have done with the soak (stupid hose doesn’t reach to this side of the house, so I bucket around). Not great for the cricket – it was rained off. I think the next Eden Park game is v Australia in the ICC World Cup – I want to go to that one.

Si is sick so yesterday was super quiet. M & Z went to Grandma’s quite late in the afternoon, then around nine I got a phone call to say that they were going to stay the night. AWESOME! B got a lesson in consequences; he’s on kitchen this week and has been mostly on strike. So after multiple warnings, I followed thru (& felt like the worst parent in the world) – no dinner was served. Mind you, he’d had two ham croissants not an hour earlier but Ah Ma Gord the circus erupted. Newsflash – the world is not fair to the Screaming Teen. But we’re adamant that he must learn consequences – better now at home than in the workforce. This is safer.

I stitched. And stitched. So excited when I look at the height growing in my thread jar, and the growing yellow on my working copy (I don’t often colour but I find it easier to pick up a stored WIP if I do) then I look at her skirts & groan. Seems like I’m getting nowhere fast! There is so much still to do – and I still need more beads.

But the upside of having God throw patience lessons at me all day yesterday is this: I know what I want to invite into my One Little Word life. And that’s patience. It’s OK to not respond immediately. It’s OK to count to ten. It’s OK to have consequences for my actions or inactions. It’s OK to walk away. It’s OK to say “I am not involved in your story”.

And that feels good.

One Little Word 2015

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I’ve been tossing up what word will fit. This is a (very) last minute decision to rejoin OLW; previously I haven’t stuck with it. Maybe past words haven’t been right; maybe I need to allow myself to evolve throughout the year.

Potential candidates were:

  • grow – thinking faith, work skills, craft skills
  • craft – this is kind of redundant. my only resolution for 2015 is to craft. I am not giving up chocolate.
  • move – because I won’t give up chocolate.
  • compass – chose a direction.
  • serenity – I am lacking it.

Serenity, I think, will be the right word. I desperately need to focus on this at home and at work.

serenity def

 

Examples? At work there is that one person who tries (even tho technically we are equals, time-wise we are not) to control what I do and where I am at. She came into my office, burst open the door and was so disgruntled to find me at my desk it was all I could do not to burst out laughing. But her other subterfuge is not funny and I don’t cope well with being belittled. Thankfully our boss is onto it but I expect further ructions.

At home there is the Screaming Teen and his behavior. The Not Teen and his complete lack of practicality. The 5YO and his habit of whining & crying when things don’t go his way. I need to let this wash over me. Think Zen. Think like that duck, peaceful on the surface but paddling like anything under the water.

Actually, I don’t want to be the duck. I want to be organised and coping, stable and peaceful and FUN. I think that if I am serene, this will lead to growth, craft and a direction. Moving will add to serenity, as walking/swimming are activities that calm my mind.

If you had a word for 2014, what was it? What should it have been? If you didn’t have one, what would it be now you’re at the end of the year?

Thanks for reading. x

 

EDIT: 8.30pm and I’ve had a brainfart. Maybe my word is similar – like Peace. I’m really excited for it to be Peace.

peace

You Can Quote Me III – NaBloPoMo twenty

Posted in grateful, Journal, me, NaBloPoMo, OLW by

Another favourite quote reminds me to be faithful, confident I will get what I pray for. Example? I have been working for a major retailer on a maternity contract. Noises about keeping me on when it expires on Dec 30th, but nothing concrete and moving into November, I was starting to look around, nervous about paying the bills and so on. Then last Wednesday I was offered a contract. Woo hoo!

oswald_chambers_faith_quote_printable

As I seem to have got the hang of this new habit (planning blog posts, thinking ahead) I’m going to add five minutes of solitude to my mornings as the next habit. Just me, a Bible and a notebook. Very much in awe over Teresa Collins’ faith – the below is from her blog as she has been working through a huge amount of personal trauma.

because he bends down

Thinking that Faith should have been my One Little Word for 2014.