Wednesday Words Of Wisdom: It Is Not What You Do...

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Tuesday Treats: Gooey Goodness...

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Monday Musings: Permission Granted...

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This week I'm giving myself permission.


Permission to do nothing I am usually obligated to do (or make myself feel obligated to do). No cleaning the bathroom, no cleaning the kitchen, no vacuuming, no running at lunch time. Bedrooms untidy - oh well. Scrambled eggs for dinner - sweet!


In short, I'm having a week of being somewhat lazy. Why? Because thats what my intuition is telling me I need. Obviously weeks on end of no cleaning or making 'proper' meals or exercising is not a good idea but every now and then we need to cut ourselves a break. A break from the pressures of trying to do everything, of being at the top of our game, of juggling all the balls. And sometimes in order to keep the balls in the air it is necessary to put them all down, just for a little while. Having an untidy house for a week is not really going to affect my life. My mind sometimes makes me thing that if I let some things slip for a few days or a week it will ultimately lead to a lifetime of misery or disarray. But seriously, is a week of not having a tidy house going to equal a lifetime of squalor? Is a week of not running going to make me lose all my fitness and never play another hockey game well? I don't think so..... But that is the kind of pressure I place on myself each week in regards to so many aspects of life (I would hazard a guess that most of us do). Some weeks all these things happen naturally and effortlessly and there is no problem. In the ones, however, where we feel empty, dog tired and drained, it is necessary to cut ourselves some slack.


So my basic obligations will be fulfilled this week - going to work, looking after Bailey, one night of hockey training and my creative writing course. Apart from this, however, I'm going to do whatever I feel like doing in each moment. At this point in time that may very well look like sitting on the couch under a blanket watching tv or reading a book in any spare time I have. And if thats what will make me feel rested, lighter and less weighed down this week, then I give myself permission to do just that.


What will you give yourself permission to do this week? 


P.S If you need some tips on how to take gentle care of yourself when you are busy busy busy then check out this article by Marthe over at The Freedom Experiment. Sooooo many good ideas!

Sunday Sounds: Jason Mraz Living In The Moment...

Saturday Soul: There Are Days...

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Fabulous Friday: Something for The Weekend...

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8 things I've learned about life, the universe and everything and how to lift the fog of indecision and CHOOSE . Gold nuggets of wisdom from Alexandra Franzen.

Why we're scared of being in balance.

Gorgeous flowers and decor abound at Ada & Darcy.

I could definitely picture myself living here.

Pink love at the Nina Ricci show (via Hanneli).

Thursday Thoughts: The Writers Studio...

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Tonight marked the second night of my 4 week "Unlocking Creativity" creative writing course. In an ideal world I would have posted about my first week before now, but as usual, the days and life have gotten away from me and a week has flown past in the blink of an eye.

Anyway, I really enjoyed my first week although I definitely felt out of my comfort zone. I may be able to write easily when doing so from my own heart and as me, but I have always struggled with writing in character (As I say that I might have to take it back - I do recall as a child I was always writing stories at school and home. I sooooo thought I was going to be the next Paula Danziger or Judy Blume!). But as I got older this ability seemed to fade. It probably coincided with the judgement and self criticism that accompanies ones teen years.

Part of the process in the classes I am currently doing is to be given a short exercise and to share what you have written with someone else. While I admit that my writing is never as bad as what I fear, I still find myself having flashbacks of the creative writing component of my final high school english exams and having no idea what to write, my mind blank and the clock ticking. To this day I thank my lucky stars that you never got your work back or had to find out what the specific grade was that you were awarded because I'm sure I would have been mortified.

Despite my anxieties, flashbacks and lack of comfort, I am going with the flow and trusting the process. The teachers keep reassuring us that we will be so surprised by the improvement we will see over the 4 weeks. At this stage I am not entirely convinced in regards to my own progress (yes, we are our own toughest critics) but I look forward to being proved wrong!