Don't let your past define you

Don't let your past define you

"No matter what has happened to you in the past or what is going on in your life right now, it has no power to keep you from having an amazingly good future..."   Joyce Meyer

We all have a story. We are continually writing it. The things that have happened in your past shape the person you have become, but they don't DEFINE you. 

I had cancer 5 years ago. After 3 years and 3 biopsies, I had chemo and radiation. For 4 months that was what I did. But it is not who I am. It is, however, part of what has shaped me into the woman I am today. 

When my husband and I were first married, we were poor. I mean, really poor. But it was not my identity then and it is not my identity now. It is, however, part of what has shaped me into the woman I am today.

I am able to look back at my experiences and learn from them...see the good things that came out of them. I am able to "clear the clutter" and make room for good things to come into my life. 

Allow your past and current experiences to shape you, but don't let them define you. You are still writing your story; the ending is yet unwritten.

Blessings,
Kara

Blessings

It's the simple things in life that make all the difference.

Family. Friends. Blue sky, sunshine, a gentle breeze.

It is easy to get caught up in having things... wanting to have a nice house, and a fancy car, designer clothes... the perfect life. But those things don't matter in the scheme of life.

Waking up each morning to a new day... spending time with your loved ones... appreciating all of creation. THIS is life.

Today, look around you. Count your blessings, especially the small ones. You woke up this morning. You had a bed to sleep in. You have some place to live. The grass is green, and the flowers are blooming.

What blessings are you counting today?

Kara

Practice

The other day I posted about taking some time for myself, calling it "Kara time". I was reflecting on that later in the day and realized I started referring to taking time for oneself that way when my daughter was young. She used to love to be involved in everything. Wanted to be in all the sports, and dance, and girl scouts and theater.... you get the idea. But with her mental health the way it was, there was no way that she could participate in all of those activities. If she had too many things to do in a week, she would have a meltdown.

I came to realize that with all of the anxiety she lived with, and how hard she tried to "hold it in" when she was not at home, she simply needed down time. She needed us to PURPOSEFULLY not schedule things for her to do.

She didn't always understand why we had to say no, but now that she is an adult, she recognizes her need and schedules the time for herself. She had "on the job training" for practicing self-care when she was growing up. We were there to help her understand the need, and brainstorm different ways to accomplish it. She figured out what ways worked for different scenarios, and now she is well-equipped to manage her life.

Blessings,
Kara

I'm challenging you!

This morning I took a little time for myself. I call it "Kara time". I sat on the couch and streamed a couple of episodes of a show that I enjoy. And I allowed myself to sit there and watch, and not feel guilty about it. And you know what? After that, I felt more than ready to go back to my office and sit down and work.

But it is not always that easy to decide to take time for yourself is it? And especially hard to not feel guilty about it.

At first I thought that I should feel bad about not getting right to work. I am, after all, running a new business and it requires diligence. But then I realized that if I didn't take a little time for myself, I would just sit in my office and be unproductive.

I decided that a couple of hours for me would benefit me in the long run. It would help me to find my motivation and clear my head. It would allow me to realign my priorities so I could focus better. I took a little time to relax and get filled up, and I am glad I did.

Today, I challenge you to take a little time for yourself too! I would love to hear what you did and how it helped!

Blessings,

Kara

Take time for yourself

It is so important to take time for yourself to refuel and recharge. I think sometimes we get so wrapped up in the day to day challenges that we forget to take time for ourselves. But the more you take a little time to breathe and relax, the more you will have for your family. Self care is a necessity, not a privilege.

Blessings,

Kara

Stop the comparison

Don't let other people's social media fool you. Everybody, well almost everybody, only puts the best image of themselves on social media. You get a glimpse into their life and think that everything is happy and perfect in their family.

The truth is, nobody's life is perfect. Every family has challenges and victories with their children. I think sometimes that we get so lost in the number of challenges, and the depth of our challenges, as we parent our children with mental illness, that it is easy to think that other people's families really are perfect.

STOP THE COMPARISON!

No two families are the same. No two kids are the same. Families have different challenges. Children have different likes and dislikes, different temperaments, and different sensitivities.

Comparing yourself, your child, and your family to what you see on social media isn't fair. It isn't fair to you, or anyone else. It is like comparing apples and oranges; both are fruit, but beyond that they are so different that they can't be compared.

Your family and your friends' families are all families, but beyond that they cannot be compared. There are an infinite number of variables in play. All you an do is the best that YOU can do for YOUR family.

Look at your own family and celebrate the victories - big or small.

Blessings,
Kara