For many, a wonderful time of the year has led to us feeling bombarded by holiday sales, pressured by long ‘want’ lists, and engulfed by a hectic schedule and to-do list that can never be met. We have become so caught up in the cultural expectations of the season, that we have forgotten why we are doing everything we do.

Today I encourage you to go back to basics and consider what is most important in your life.  Family. A roof overhead.  Food to eat.  Friendship.  Hope. Clothes to wear….that cover you and keep you warm. You get the idea.

Here are a few other thoughts to put into action this season I have been considering, and encourage you to do as well.

Think of this holiday season as an opportunity to:

Love deeper. Feel more. Capture the moment.  Savor the feelings. Be present. Let go of the commercialism. Say no. Cut the social commitments. Trust your heart. Notice the little things. Share your love, your heart, your hurts, your dreams. Save someone. Believe in your own worth. Be kind to yourself. Cut someone a break. Be consistent. Treasure your time together. Surprise yourself. Surprise someone else. Let go of the past. Be real. Enjoy the moment. 

I’ve been hearing more lately about the stress holiday time seems to bring than the joy the season is supposed to inspire.

Women everywhere are rushing about trying to take care of everyone’s needs. Deadlines at work, demands from the kids, a bank account that doesn’t seem to reflect what you want it to . . .

Sometimes, no matter how much effort you put into taking care of everything, somethings still seems to fall through the cracks and you may wonder if all your energy and efforts are worth it. Why bother?

Whether preparing for the holidays, or at anytime in life, this short video addresses the impact that even our smallest efforts can make.

If you have ever dealt with, or are dealing with any kind of chronic pain–I get it. There were days when I was curled up in a ball on the couch, doused with pain killer, holding onto a heating pad for dear life–two heating pads actually,
one for the front and one for the back. And I couldn’t play with my kids. And laundry needed to be done. And dinner needed to be made. And I was trying to just survive.

I learned many tricks to help manage my life while dealing with chronic pain–to care for my kids, run my business, to keep on keeping on, and to take care of myself too. Thank goodness for life management skills! I didn’t always have them.
I had to learn.

If you are struggling with some area of your life, something that you wish you knew how to manage better, let’s chat. You may be surprised. You really don’t have to do this thing called life and motherhood alone.

On another note, not all pain is physical. Here’s a quick video that deals with what to do when you are hurting, and no one seems to care.

Isn’t it time to love your life? ~Valene

Laundry needs to be done, toilets are looking disgusting, the kids are acting up again (cuz you are too overwhelmed to be very patient) and date night . . . well, sometime. Face it, sometimes motherhood, parenting, your side-job or even full-time job, let’s go so far as to say life in general can become intimidating.

And when you feel intimidated it’s easy to give up, to cave to that feeling of being overwhelmed, incapable, or simply not enough. Once you are there, it can be tough to get out of.

Today, I offer you a challenge. A challenge to make your life better. Next time you are feeling a bit (or a lot) intimidated, or if you are feeling it right now, consider the thought expressed in this short two-minute video.

Learn how a homeschooling, stay-at-home mother of three uses this idea to keep the “overwhelm factor” at bay in this quick video made just for YOU!

Isn’t it time to love your life?   ~Valene Middleton