JANUARY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Each month brings opportunities to live and accomplish personal goals. Planning for the future. Caring for a sick family member. Being there for the extended family. Connecting with friends and family. So the little projects are good indicators of getting things done. Scrapbooking and keeping the photos up to date. Cleaning some corners and closets. Decluttering. Little goals but a good feeling the first month of the year accomplished some good things. Celebrations of birthdays and an annivesary made for some family fun. Buying useful equipment to make outings enjoyable. Yes reading some useful articles on self development. Always good to reflect on ideas that have been around for eons! As an undergraduate psychology major I love revisiting some of the theories and ideas. What is old is new again! Oh January, a good and useful month.
#Januaryaccomplishments#familyandfriendrelationships#smallprojects#caringforasickfamilymember#projectsandgoals#makingtheuseofthewintermonths

EACH TASK HAS SMALL PARTS

Any job can be tackled. But biting off more than one can be chew makes any task insurmountable. Experience teaches us that anything will take 3 times longer than initially anticipated. So how does this help us? Hire someone else to do it is always a good plan. But for most of us little tasks can be accomplished with some grit. Houses and gardens are never ending work. Each season brings new work. So planning and more planning before starting is a good- well plan. Cleaning a whole house is a task but a drawer, a cupboard, a room, a window can be done in small parts. A neighbour of mine cleans one window each week over the spring and summer thus getting all her windows done but in parts. Perhaps do some tasks as spring cleaning and some tasks as fall cleaning so areas are done annually. Reviewing seasonal clothes is always a good task twice a year and a way to decide what to keep and what to donate! There comes a time in life where the decision to change comes with the workload. Bigger is not better, just more work and expense. So if going smaller, what to keep, what space is needed and what kind of work to continue doing. That's where planning comes into the picture again. I have empty closets now so I know subconsciously I am going smaller. Empty nesters use the old space the children used then eventually succumb to the idea that the space is no longer really needed. Cleaning less space is more enjoyable than hours on a weekend trying to clean more. Besides projects that are not cleaning bring a different joie de vivre to one's life. Gardening can be a pleasure or a chore. The same goes for any activity. Even the exercise program one does can be fun or arduous! So tasks of any nature with attainable parts are doable! The 20 minute goal for many activities does get much accomplished. Like this blog which I still enjoy doing. It is discipline but worth doing as it keeps me writing and going back to other writing projects. So my next task getting ready for work! How about you? What are the tasks in your life? How are you managing them? Whatever looks overwhelming, just divide into smaller tasks!

WHEN THE FIREWORKS ARE OVER!

We all have exciting times in our lives. Feels a little like fireworks- oohs and ahs! Lots of splash and colour! Returning to our regular life and activities sometimes seems like a letdown. Where's the excitement? Where's the fun? Regular activities can bring the small "ah" moments. Looking each day for something that is passionate and fun takes energy and a commitment to enjoying the day. By living each day to the fullest as best we can, allows our lives to have meaning. There will be days that are a struggle. Even getting through that struggle can gives a sense of accomplishment. It is difficult with young children or caring for an older family member to find time for ourselves but setting aside even thirty minutes a day to read, exercise, or doing something pleasurable brings the little fireworks back into our lives. Do you enjoy fireworks? Do you struggle each day? How do you find the "ah" moments? What would some of the moments be?

NANA SAYS ENJOY YOUR CHILD'S LITTLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

And they will lead to good self-esteem. Parents have a lot of power in their children's lives. They are always looking to us for approval. Look at my drawing! Read to me! With older children, they may tease the younger ones just to get your attention. Comparing children's school achievements can be very touchy. There will always be a brighter child in any family. The parenting skills come with acknowledging each child uniquely and not comparing. I remember when my girls had their first part-time jobs. Actually for both it was in a donut shop. I went and visited them to see how they were doing. I saw the pride on their faces when they were serving a customer well and tidying the tables. All the birthday parties were at home. The girls planned the menu and decorated with me. I was proud of their organizational skills developing. Guess what? When it came to planning their weddings, both girls tackled it with skill, knowledge and organizational abilities. Little accomplishments lead to big accomplishments. We have a role as grandparents too in valuing each grandchild individually. More than one fridge in any family can become full of "art work" by little hands. Attending concerts or sports and encouraging our children in all walks of life is important. Occasionally, our children pay us back by telling us what a good job we are doing or thank us for being there during all the rough patches. Have you told a little one today how proud you are? Do you acknowledge the accomplishments of the children/grandchildren in your life?

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

A day to celebrate all the accomplishments
women have done. We have come a long way
baby and there is a further journey ahead of
us.
Modern men have learnt to appreciate the
women in their lives. Shared parenting has
become more of the norm. Women have been
breaking barriers in the workplace. Support must be given to those women in other countries without the freedoms we have here in Canada.
Raise your children to see the beauty in being human without gender discrimination.
Do you have a story to share about what the day means to you?

SAYING HELLO

To 2011 as our new year begins. May everyone continue to enjoy the things in their lives that bring meaning and purpose. And do not forget to dream. Your dreams- always have dreams! Dreams can help us to set goals or steps for a more meaningful life. Even if every dream is not accomplished, the journey along the way can bring unexpected joys or accomplishments. My husband had a dream of building his own house- that dream has been our home for almost 24 years! It was never my dream but I have benefitted from his. Do you have dreams! If so what are you doing to try to fulfill them? May 2011 bring you closer to them.