Tag: dailyprompt

Leisure, Mental Health

Do I believe in minimalism?

beingmesober

Do you believe in minimalism?

Yes! Yes! Yes! No clutter!

My mom and her husband love their niknaks in the house and garden, and my stepdad is a pack rat. My mom loves her collections of “things” but, my stepdads ways drive her nuts. So much so that she will no longer go to their place of business because she can’t stand the clutter.

I’ve always told my kids that having an organized, clean room sets their mind to a more focused, calm state and will also help them be more efficient throught their day and life.

I’m someone who does not like unnecessary items laying around. Everything has a place.

Treadmills are for an exercise room, chairs are made to sit on.

When I decorate I like to showcase a few of my favorite things but not too much. I want an atmosphere of cozy, classy and beachy. I want our company to feel relaxed and comfortable as well when they visit.

When there is so much happening in a space it doesn’t provide relaxation. It doesn’t separate a space from one to another. It is also a pain to clean everything.

Those pants that no longer fit, or those really cool boots we wore in high school. Time too say goodbye. Oh and the doileys everywhere under everything…..Bathrooms come with cabinets to put items away.

There are so many benefits to being a minimalist, less to clean, easier to find things, organized mind, emotional balance, and appreciation for what you have or what your holding onto.

Remember, less is more.

Mental Health

A moment in my life that felt like a movie..

beingmesober

What’s a moment in your life that felt like it was straight out of a movie?

My life movie moment would have to be the first day I met my husband.

We met in a parking lot of Tim Hortons, suppose to have coffee, this was a blind date,  instead he asked if I’d rather go for a walk because of the beautiful day it was. May 25th 2006.

I agreed and followed him to a park called Fairy Lake located in Newmarket, Ontario. Its beautifully lined with trees with a paved walking, biking trail, and a lake surrounding the lush gardens and trees. It was my first time going there and I fell in love with not only the park but this man who brought me here, as we walked and talked about ourselves and got to know each other it felt magical.

He knew what to do, what to say, where to go to impress a lady. I was swept off my feet that day. His demeanor and what he stood for was so attractive right off the bat. Oh, and he was/is very attractive. It was easy and I felt very calm with him. He treated me like a lady and has been for the last 20 years. Nothing has changed.  He is still the man I fell in love with at Fairy Lake in 2006.

That day was definitely a Hallmark moment of my life.

Mental Health

I went on a walk and this caught my eye…

beingmesober

Go on a walk today and share a photo of something that catches your eye.

One of my favorite things to do is go for a walk with oir golden retriever, Gracie.

Ms. Gracie Lou

We have an area behind our house that we go to so she can go through the path and quickly get to the big area of sand so she can do her sand dance.

I enjoy going in the early spring and looking at what old man Winter has left behind when the snow and ice has melted. How the landscape has changed. There was a lot of water this year which flooded quite a few areas. As I stood and stared at one area Gracie does her territorial sniff, I couldn’t believe how much water and swamp like area that once was lush with trees and grasses, natural ground. It was devastated. Broken limbs dangling from trees, trees uprooted and fallen from the water level and being saturated. But I also saw beauty in the devastation. Mother nature doing her job. Taking out the weak. Changing the landscape. Making room for something new.

Sometimes we have to look beyond the mess to see the beauty.

Mental Health

How I handle fear and self doubt.

beingmesober

How do you handle fear and self-doubt?

Fear and self doubt mixed with self sabotage, the intrusive thoughts. We all have it. Some, worse than others, and some just excel in everything they do and have managed to keep those thoughts and feelings at bay and push through.

Having those feelings can be much more complex from an abusive childhood, being bullied in school and/or work, or have been rejected more times than accepted.

As I’ve gotten older I’m not as timid or shy but that doesn’t mean I have no fear or self doubt. I’ve struggled many times in my 55 years but I’ve never given up. I’m also a procrastinator..oh gosh, yes, I am. That could be from fear and self doubt. When I first discovered fluid art I wanted to try it. I started on a small canvas and eventually wanted to try a large 36 x 48 canvas. It looked massive to me at that time. It sat against the wall for weeks. Every time I walked by I would stop and stare. Ugh, I kept thinking. Its so big. I can’t do it.

I finally decided now or never. How will I excel at art if I am scared or don’t try. I completed the piece and I liked it okay. Everyone loved it. My friends and strangers were complimenting me on how nice it was, how much talent it took to create that! I was so honored and proud. My art took off from there and the funny thing is I only like to work on large canvases now. I’m really enjoying my textured Art I’ve learned and created some nice pieces.

So the next time your mind tells you you can’t do something ask yourself who is saying that. Who says you can’t do something that excites you or helps you grow? We are here to express ourselves in whatever brings us happiness and love.

YOU are capable. YOU can do whatever you set your mind to you just have to try and try again. Quiet those voices with anticipation and determination.

Leisure
beingmesober

What’s a word or phrase that annoys you?

Lets talk about words.. There are so many slang and new words that have been introduced and developed over the generations.

There’s quite a few words that annoy me when used, but one word that I won’t spell out on here because of its vulgarity, the “C” word. Its the most disgusting word I’ve ever heard. The Brittish use it quite often but add an ie at the end so it sounds more, I don’t know, nice?

That word should not even be in existence as far as I’m concerned. It is degrading, disrespectful and irritates the helk out of me and makes me want to cringe.

Please, use your manners

Leisure

Planning the perfect road trip

beingmesober

How do you plan the perfect road trip?

Ahhhhhh, a road trip. So fun as we anticipate the fun at the other end of where we will go. Planning the perfect road trip is what my husband and I have been doing for 15 years. Driving down to Florida every year to our seasonal home.

First thing we do is pack what we will be bringing down. My husband has things packed for the next drive the day we get back. We then constantly watch the weather because we leave in November and it can be beautiful or a snow/ice nightmare. We also take our furbaby to the vet to get a wellness check for the border. We have our vehicle serviced, washed and vacuumed. Road trips feel so much better in a clean vehicle. We prebook our hotels for the nights on the road. We stop before dark because of all the deer on the hwys. That is the one thing that disturbes me on the drive is seeing all the deer on the side of the road. In a perfect world the deer would know they can’t leave the forest.

We’ve had a book that we take with us and write down the hours it takes to get to places where we stay, the gas cost and temperture. Let me tell you, this year cost us double in fuel to get back home. 

I am more of a spontaneous person and will do things on the fly. No planning just doing. My husband is the planner, which works, no mishaps. As long as we get there in one piece we are good.

Our road trips are down pat and we are novice travellers of the 2,370km, 22hrs we drive twice a year, there and back. Even though we’ve done this drive for so long there is always a plan before leaving to ensure a safe and successful arrival.

Happy trails to you all for this summers road trips.

Leisure

How do I stay motivated when learning something new?

beingmesober

How do you stay motivated when learning something new?

I’m someone who loves to learn new things but only if I am interested. Of course though right, everyone is. When I have to learn something new even if I am not that interested I continue because I have a mindset of not quitting. The self pep talks. The not giving up because if I do I know I will only disappoint myself and always remember what I never completed.

My motivation is keeping my mind healthy and active. Learning adds to my life’s resume.

Its not all about exercising the body, you’ve got to keep your mind active as well.

Leisure

A thing I was obsessed with

beingmesober

What’s a thing you were completely obsessed with as a kid?

I would have to say music. Music was and is something I am obsessed with. I fell asleep as a child to Pink Floyd, Elton John, Bob Segar, and some country.

I would be getting ready for school when I lived with my mother, her alarm clock radio would be playing, Doobie Brothers, Chris Chistopherson…you get the picture. Her favorite was Tammy Wynette and Patsy Cline.  I was fortunate to have both parents love and listen to a wide range of music. 

I was 5 when my dad bought me my first RCA Red and White record player with 2 Rod Stewart 45’s. I was also one of those teenagers walking down the street with the ghetto blaster aka boom box, on my shoulder, after installing 100 C batteries!!

Music is in my everyday life. I watch the morning news shows, mostly for noise as I scroll on my phone. Once 10am hits or sooner, tv is off and the Bose music system plays all day.

Having music is very therapeutic and gives you a lift in your day. So the next time you’re feeling a little slump in your day, crank that music on and dance the day away!