#18 I'm apart of a lot of villages!

Ever since I can remember one of my main goals in life was to be a mom. First, I wanted to be a babysitter, then get married and work as an OT and then be a mom. 

I would cook, clean, decorate rooms, read bed time stories, cheer my kids on, pick out great clothes for them and love my kids with all my heart (and of course the list goes on from there)! As a kid, I loved baby dolls, younger kids and I did end up baby sitting in high school. I am one of the first people to start shopping when I find out someone I love is pregnant and I love watching/observing and holding young babies. I used to get goose bumps and feel emotional when I watched all of the kids at school experience their first/last day of school and Halloween Parades.  

Ironically, as time has gone on I've noticed myself skipping the hard stuff about kids. I probably have changed less than 20 diapers in my life and now that I have friends and loved ones with kids, I rarely babysit. 

I've begun to realize, I just like people! It doesn't matter their age or size. I want to know their story and be supportive of them. I love observing them! I like it when we connect and have things in common and when I am able to learn or realize that I am the teacher. I am someone who is there to help them and their families,

In so many ways I am on the outside of many, many close knit villages as the observer. Every so often I enter into these villages and have the opportunity to impact and influence young individuals! 

Rather than focusing on the cooking, cleaning, organizing and loving 1 or 2 little people of my own, I am able to reach out to so many more. I realize with my mind and body I would have to put boundaries and limitations up to give my own kids what they needed. 

With the life I am currently living the birthday parties, zoo trips and the art work I will receive are pretty much endless.

This makes me happy and grateful! 

#17 Last Vice

This winter I've basically been avoiding the cold and the dark, the best that I can!

After work I clean my cat's litter boxes, take a bath/shower and hop in my PJ's. I usually don't even open the curtains. I turn on the news (many days this causes a some stress/disappointment) as I heat up my dinner and complete vision therapy exercises.

Then, as I eat and unwind I binge watch shows to the best of my abilities with as many lights off as possible.  I absolutely love this routine! Many nights I don't make it past binge watching but other nights I will clean up, stretch, write.

It may seem small and simple but showering/bathing in the middle of the day or after work really helps me. The past couple of years I have been known to fall asleep in the tub. By switching things up and doing it this way I actually feel more accomplished. The responsibilities of my evenings are mainly done before I eat dinner. Due to the weather and darkness, it doesn't matter.

It is a complete luxury and guilty pleasure that I am able to land on the couch most evenings. I don't even like waiting a week to watch a show or for commercials anymore. I'm hooked!  But I know I work very hard to have this luxury.

#16 Vices

There are many positive, healthy things that make me happy and will make my life last longer. But then there are the unhealthy things I know I should not be doing!

Wellness experts would say, if you know it's bad for you, make an effort to eliminate these things. I understand but in some ways striving for perfection is exhausting and can cause pressure and stress, right?

Isn't there just 1 or 2 things we should all do that make us "naughty?"

I've never smoked, done drugs or swallowed a Tide Pod. I've been a little mean to my skin with a small tattoo and bad sunburns on purpose. I could probably make it in life to never drink alcohol again. You're welcome my beautiful liver. And even though I don't fully make an effort to diet or give up on cookies, candy, desserts I think I probably could.   I could make an effort to eat more healthy and stick with it. I do this in waves as it is and the longer I stick to healthy foods, the more I like it. 

However, giving up Pepsi just sounds like a completely bad idea to me. Yes, drinking lots of water is important and yes soda is bad for me.

But getting my fix, makes me happy and feels so good!

#15 Flowers!

It's mid January and I so many of the things that make me happiest are during the warmer months. I've learned that re-hashing these memories and moments are making the cold winter days go by faster!

For those of you who knew me when I was younger realize my dad had a beautiful yard full of a wide variety of flowers, bushes, shrubs and trees. He was/is a great landscaper. Mainly, when people think of my dad and flowers, they think of his iris! Gradually he has given this up as he's been aging but he's passed a little dose of it on to me. I have a smaller yard and much less patience and physical stamina but I truly love flowers and landscaping! I have been fortunate enough to have my dad teach me about the care and maintenance of so many different flowers. I doubt my retirement will consist of 8 hour days in my yard but I'm really grateful for what my dad has taught me. In 2013/2014 my dad and I planned 3 main flower beds for my yard.  I've added 1-2 flower beds each summer since then.

My daffodils have a hard time coming up but I can officially say there's about 3 months to wait for tulips!

People of any age or level of function can enjoy the beauty of flowers. Landscaping can be tricky with my physical disability but I haven't let it stop me yet!  I have to be extra careful with positioning my body and completing the physical output it takes to have a beautiful yard.  However, one of my favorite things about landscaping is getting lost in my thoughts while physically moving and having such a pretty result!  It pays off when you work to maintain the hobbies and traditions that truly make you smile!

#14 Snow Days

My job is busy and hectic when I am there. I am there much less than I would be at any other setting where I could work as an Occupational Therapist or Rehabilitation Counselor.

This week was a 4 day week for me because of snow and ice today, along with a 30 degree temperature drop all within less than 12 hours.

Extra sleep, no rushing around in the morning in the cold, more time to complete physical exercises to maintain my health, organization around my house and a great show on Netflix to binge watch. It's actually a great way to be maintaining the symptoms of my disability.

It's almost as great as summer vacation! The surprise of a snow makes up for the cold winter weather.

#13 The Beach.

Anywhere along Lake Michigan is "my beach" and my happy place. But I will not complain if I am at a beautiful beach somewhere else (and the weather is in my favor). Salt water is strange but I am not a huge swimmer anyways, so I will take it. Being on a beach with open water is soothing and calming - I can't help but be happy when I am there. I picture myself retiring to a beach town as they are my favorite places to visit when I vacation. In the meantime, I need to make as many visits to beaches as possible. The ones with bike paths are the best of course!

When I'm at the beach there is no need to take the bad stuff or the stuff that seems to be to hard with me.  I just show up and enjoy!!

https://www.facebook.com/HealYourMindOfficial/videos/1913427892235503/

#12 Yoga

I have expressed before my gratitude for yoga. I like learning about how movement, breathing and overall awareness impacts my body. It makes the "big bad thing" smaller and not such a big deal.

Since I do yoga often, I do not have to take muscle relaxers, prescriptions for physical aliments or even cold medicine. I am at risk to potentially have surgeries to have my tendons clipped for lengthening and/or excess visits to outpatient rehab clinics but because of yoga the muscles and tendons in my legs are more flexible than they've ever been.

Despite the fact that I do not look very graceful when I am doing yoga poses while in class I have learned that yoga is about being kind to my body with positive thinking as I am moving. I have learned there are several ways to adapt movements and poses so I am able to do them easier. When I attempt yoga and other physical activities it's obvious that physically I will struggle. This is when my confidence, inner strength and ability to laugh at myself shines through. Yoga has been able to allow me to let these strengths appear while I am trying new things.