The woods grace the landscape in our backyard. We’ve lived here for almost 33 years and have joyfully watched as the colors and textures changed with each season. With the arrival of winter, the landscape is now bare with naked trees and little visible green. I eagerly await the first big snow when the quiet blanket of white transforms the woods. There is a time for each season. There are beauty and comfort in knowing that the seasons will change. Everything has its time. Appreciating and understanding this is an integral part of life’s balance. Nothing is permanent. Change is the only constant.

The Tree . . .

Over the years, we’ve lost many trees in our woods. Even the strongest of trees won't live forever. Several months ago I noticed that one of the tall trees was leaning more than usual. Each day it seemed to bend a bit more. Recently we experienced torrential rain with high winds. That did it. One dark evening, I heard a loud, crackling sound followed by a big, slow thud of the weighty trunk crashing to the ground. It wasn’t until the next morning that what I heard was confirmed. I saw the 50-foot tree toppled to the ground. Its time had come. 

The Bonfire . . .

Each year our friends have a winter solstice party, which we love going to. They build an enormous teepee-shaped bonfire in the woods. The fire is constructed from dead trees and limbs from their forest. The dead trees are repurposed to create this fantastic blaze that gives new energy to our thoughts and aspirations as we stand together in the dark of the winter night. We reflect about the past year. We toss into the fire experiences and ideas from the previous year that we’re ready to let go of. We also throw into the blaze new intentions for the coming year. Then the fire burns the wood completely taking with it our collective thoughts and bringing us a sense of balance and freedom. We square away what was. We ready ourselves for what will be.

As you conclude your year, consider how everything has a life. Are there projects or ideas that have run their course? Is it time to let them go? Are there projects you’re in the middle that need more attention? Or have they run their course? Are there new ideas that are begging for your energy and creativity to breathe life into? Nothing is meant to be forever. What will you let go of? What will you continue? What will you begin as one year ends and the new one starts?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation!

Happy holidays, folks! Or is it happy, that is? For many of us, the holiday season is far from joyful. In fact, it can be stress-filled. What is it about this time of year that can make us feel frazzled and overwhelmed? After all, this season is punctuated by the infusion of catchy holiday music, colorful decorations and lights, intoxicating aromas like pine and clove, and the anticipation of special gatherings with our family and friends.

Yet even with all of these positive aspects, this season can bring on the stress . . . Big time. So if you’re struggling with holiday-induced stress, with balance, or with finding more happiness this season, I’ve got a gift for you. 

Below are my five best tips (we’re talking infographic lingo) for sprinkling your holidays with some happy.

I’d love to hear from you. What is your favorite way to bring more happiness to the holiday season? Come join the conversation!

The newest installment (v21) of the “What’s Interesting?” feature is here with my recent discoveries that inform, educate, and relate to organizing and better balance. I’ve included unique and inspiring life balance-related finds, which reflect this month’s blog theme. You are such a fantastic, engaged group. I am grateful for your presence and wisdom.

I look forward to your participation and additions to the collection I’ve sourced. What do you find interesting?

What’s Interesting? . . .

1. Interesting Read – Balanced Habits

As this year comes to a close and you prepare for the New Year, thoughts about habits, those good and not-so-good ones, begin to surface. Do you want to be more organized, get more exercise, or be less stressed? While you might not be ready to change, you’re likely considering the possibilities. In this affirming, practical read, Atomic Habits – An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, author and speaker, James Clear, shares practical strategies based in biology, psychology, and neuroscience that will teach you how to build improved systems to support better habits.Clear says, “All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision.” If you are interested in shifting your balance towards more positive habits, you’ll benefit from reading Clear’s book. He says, “Small habits don’t add up. They compound. That’s the power of atomic habits. Tiny changes. Remarkable results.”

2. Interesting Resource  – Balanced Break

Life is busy. Super busy. Figuring out how (or when) to push that pause button and restore a piece of balance can be challenging. Be Time, a NYC-based company, has figured out a brilliant solution. Their high-end mobile meditation studio (housed in a bus,) brings the break to you. Parked in busy areas, Be Time invites you to “Step in, unplug and just breathe. A calm, quiet, inspiring place for some mind space.” Even though the bus is currently just available in Manhattan, I’m hoping that the concept will catch on to expand to other locations.

3. Interesting Product – Balanced Accessories

It’s no fun hunting for keys, sunglasses, or tissues in the depths of our tote bags. Have you experienced your things entering that deep abyss never to be found again? There’s something downright liberating about creating organization and balance with one simple step. The felt tote bag organizer from My Smart Organizer delivers. This versatile insert, available in an array of fun colors, will help you find your essentials in no time. 

4. Interesting Tech – Balanced Practice

As many of you know, I began practicing mindfulness meditation a few years ago. This daily practice has become an integral part of my life. Starting my day in this way creates more balance, calm, and gentleness towards others and myself. While I continue to take classes from various instructors, I practice guided meditation at home using recordings and apps. I’ve been experimenting with the Insight Timer app, which is available on iOS and Android platforms. Apparently, I’m not the only one that likes the app. They have over five million meditators that also agree. The practices are given by 3,000 teachers and include over 14,000 free-guided meditations that can be sorted by type, length, and a variety of other parameters.

5. Interesting Thought – Balanced Choices

Decision-making is a powerful thing. Each day provides a new chance for healthy or not-so-healthy options. We aren’t robots. We are human. Whether we are eating veggies or sweets, power walking or snuggling up on the sofa, remember to be kind to you. It’s not about perfection. It’s about finding a balance that works for you.

What are your exciting finds? Which of these resonate with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation!

What do I mean by better balance and this season? It’s the holiday season that I’m referencing, a busy, chaotic, party and shopping-heavy time of year. By better balance, think about aiming for a balance that’s right for you, good enough, and factors in the shift that happens as festivities ramp up and the year draws to a close. I encourage you to let go of perfection as an idea or pursuit. It’s not necessary and will only add to your stress and unhappiness. Instead, what ways can you create a reasonable balance that incorporates what’s most important to you and limits the “should” or “have-to” elements?

3 Ways to Find a Better Balance . . .

FOMO and JOMO

Let’s start with the simple “yes” and “no.” There will be invitations to parties and gatherings. There will be requests to engage in a variety of personal and professional activities. There will be things we might not want to do but will feel obligated or responsible for doing. Just remember that you always have a choice. That decision is either a yes or a no. Remember that you don’t have to say “yes” to everything unless that’s what works for you. Two acronyms come to mind: FOMO and JOMO. The first, FOMO is the fear of missing out. We sometimes say yes to something just because we don’t want to be the only ones not present. But that yes might not always serve us. The second phrase is JOMO, the joy of missing out. This encourages you to honor yourself and recognize that not doing is sometimes the option that is most beneficial. In some instances, saying “no” brings you closer to being more balanced.

GOOD STUFF

Engaging in what truly brings you joy is a way of tipping your balance in a positive direction. Make sure to include as much of the “good stuff” this time of year. It might mean spending extended time with loved ones, cooking special holiday meals, throwing a gathering for friends, relaxing at home with a good book and a cozy blanket, or taking a long walk in the snow. There were so many parts of the Thanksgiving holiday that I enjoyed. Having my family around was beautiful. My heart is still full just thinking about their visit. Baking cookies together were at the top of the list of balance-inducing, joy-filled activities. Baking was something we did a lot of when our daughters were young and don't do as often now that they’re grown. Cassie, our youngest daughter, wanted to make Moravian Christmas cookies together, a recipe we baked many times when she was little (see video at end of post.) It was so much fun to cook with Cass, her boyfriend, and my husband. Measuring ingredients, stirring the mixture, rolling the dough, and cutting out shapes with the cookie cutters involved a present moment focus and mindfulness that enhanced our time together.

SQUARE ONE

Better balance also comes in the form of returning to square one and revisiting the basics. Especially this time of year, a bit of tweaking can go a long way to preparing you and your home for the holidays. While you might not have the time or energy now to take on a huge organizing project, think about the smaller ones that will create better balance. How about doing a quick edit of your clothing closet or drawers? Instead of that bursting at the seams feeling, you can create some breathing room for your clothes and self. Instead of decluttering all surfaces, pick one place in a central area that when clear, will help you move through your day more efficiently and make holiday entertaining less stressful. Then there are the other types of basics like having some additional pantry (beverages, crackers, pasta, cookies, nuts, cheese, dried fruit, paper goods) items on hand for last minute entertaining and guests. There are some self-basics like getting enough sleep, exercise, and hydration. Since we’re prone to indulging during the holidays, returning to these basics is essential. One of my go-to-balance-bringing-basics is meditating daily. Routinely practicing mindfulness meditation is especially helpful during this season to create groundedness, calm, and balance.

What helps with a better balance? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation!

Baking together . . .