Today I sort of wanted to quit writing about this.

Partly because I am sick of hearing all of my woe is me (maybe you are too) and partly because this is for sure where I give up.

Two weeks? Yah, that’s my quitting cue.

I don’t see the results I expect, I get tired of keeping a positive attitude and I usually have already cheated more than once making me feel like a failure.

And, two weekends was too hard.

Except, this time is different. Even though I feel like quitting, I’m not going to. I have made it my part-time job to read and listen to as many self-help books as I can and almost all of them have in common one thing for achieving success; tenacity.

I am almost certain that the million times I have tried to achieve a goal…any goal…I quit right before it starts getting good. So, you’re stuck with me for the duration.

Body + Mind

209.4

I can’t express to you how good I am sleeping. It’s like a whole new life at night.

Last night I must have slept so hard I had a dream that my late father-in-law was able to come back from heaven for an hour long visit. It was so bizarre, yet so real.

I don’t remember the last time I slept hard enough to have a dream and remember all the tiny details later.

I got myself out for a walk today and went to yoga this evening. I am still shocked as shit every time I get up and actually do something active with little to no effort or negotiation.

The intention was always there, just rarely acted upon and man could I argue my way out of just about anything . It’s just started to become part of my day.

Weird I know.

House + Home

There’s been a lot of talk about Marie Kondo lately, even turning her last name in to a verb. “I’m Kondo’ing my closet today.” I must admit I watched a half an episode of her new series on Netflix but I couldn’t get in to it. The one I watched the wife was a total bitch to her husband because it was easier for him to get rid of clothes than it was for her.

Jesus H. Christ. I mean, I get it. I am a clutter bug too, but if you have TV cameras in your house and you (probably) begged this woman to come help you, follow her directions and shut up.

She probably did, but I didn’t watch long enough to find out.

In any case, I do have the bug to declutter too, and shockingly, I have actually done the things that have been on my list for over a year.

I organized (and chucked all my nasty) pots and pans and cutting board/cookie sheet cabinet. I finished and put away the two loads of laundry that I worked on over the week. Way better than saving 11 for tomorrow.

Debt + Finances

I finished my February budget today. Way ahead of schedule. But, more importantly, I called Chase and had them send me a new credit card with a new number.

This sounds weird, but hear me out.

I have had my Amazon card number memorized for years. This makes it VERY accessible and VERY dangerous. More than once I have laid in bed after a bottle of wine and ordered something from Facebook ONLY because I could punch my number in with little to no effort.

You don’t want to know how many cowel neck sweatshirts from China I have, which if you can also admit you have done this, then you know the extra-large on Facebook is actually a child’s medium. Hence why they’ve been hanging in my closet. I can hardly get my eyelashes through the neck hole.

So, now if I want something I’ll have to get out of bed to find my credit card. Oh, the ways we trick ourselves. Whatever works right?

Parenthood + Relationships

Remember when I asked for some advice about Fortnight? Well, Dale and I told Miles that he would have to get 100 points in order to download it. We get to chose the points per chore.

Best. Idea. Ever. That kid will do anything we say.

Travel + Staycations

My staycation today was actually cooking. I made more chicken salad, homemade key lime Lara bars and tuna casserole.

I’m ready for the week!

Gratitude time. This time though, it’s for my body.

If I could write out the nasty things I have said to my body, we would all be crying. Guessing I’m not alone here either.

But here’s what I remembered today.

Our bodies are not separate from us. We can’t blame them for not cooperating or playing along if we are constantly putting them to shame. I have been guilty of this for a very long time. Luckily, it’s easy to turn it around. With gratitude.

So, here goes:

• My legs work. I could walk to California if I wanted to.

• I breathe. The more yoga I do the more I notice my breath on a daily basis. It’s amazing what just a deep breath can do to calm my nerves.

• I see sunrises, hear the birds chirping and smell the roses. I can pick up my sleeping daughter and put her in to her own bed. (Damn those kids are like a sack of cement when they sleep.)

• I can do a yogi squat to pee in the woods on a six mile walk. (Yes, I just had to do it yesterday, nature called. I was so proud I could squat low enough I didn’t pee on my ankles.)

• I can receive a hug and more importantly, give one.

• This body carried past term and birthed two beautiful, miraculous humans in to this world.

Our bodies do amazing things every single day that we take for granted. And, clearly none of these things depend on whether my thighs rub together or not. One of my favorite quotes of all time is: “When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change.” I don’t know why it’s so hard for me to remember this…I have a hand-painted sign hanging in my foyer with this exact quote on it.