our2018journal

[our2018journal]

January prompts. From @boho.berry on Instagram

[our2018journal]

January 10, 2018

People who matter:

My partner. You can call him my boyfriend. You can call him the dude I’m having sex with out of wedlock. Whatever, he’s still my partner. He’s my partner on adventures. He’s my partner on adulting. He’s my partner when the shit hits the fan. He’s been through hell and back with me and I don’t know what I’d do without him. I love him fiercely and I can’t imagine anything changing that.

My best friend. If I were able to just make her my sister, I absolutely would. I’ve unofficially adopted her. We talk everyday. Even if it’s about nothing or to just to check in. She gives me her words and I can feel her support from wherever she is, no matter how far away.

My brother. The only blood family that I have left that attempts to “get me” and doesn’t judge me. He is part of my frame of reference and we have some amazing inside jokes.

My brother’s family. My sister-in-law is indispensable. She is the glue that holds that family together and I’m very thankful that she showed up all those years ago. My niece and nephew are amazing kids with fantastic brains in their heads. 

[our2018journal]

January 9, 2018

Letting go of:

People who can’t hang. Life is intense. I’m intense. My emotions are intense. Deal with it or unfollow.

Negativity. There’s enough of it in the world. I don’t need to make my own.

[our2018journal]

January 8, 2017

Things I love:

My family (the people who go the distance with me, every time).

Books. I mean, c’mon. You already knew this one.

Candy. Chewy. Crunchy. Chocolatey. You name it. Candy and I are good friends.

The Fall. Crisp air. Leaves changing. 

Kissing. 

Sleeping. 

[our2018journal]

January 7, 2018

Top 3 Weaknesses:

#1 I’m lazy. I come from a long line of lazy people. I’d pretty much rather read a book about it than actually do it. If it doesn’t actually have to be done, I won’t do it. My kitchen sink full of dirty dishes is evidence.

#2 I have the tendency to rationalize anything. I can find a good excuse to do or not do something. Need me to do it for you, too? I’m game.

#3 I have the tendency to hold on too long. My patience and ability to rationalize anything leave me with a lot of baggage on my hands. I’m working on it though. 

[our2018journal]

January 6, 2018

Top 3 Strengths:

The first strength of mine pertains to the first entry on this blog. I’m a warrior. I fight and fight and fight. If I’m passionate about something, my inherent laziness disappears and the fighter comes out.

#2: I take care of my people to the best of my ability. I may not always be able to fix things, but I am supportive and available. My love for my family is fierce and I want to do everything I can to make my presence in their lives as positive as possible.

#3: I perform well under pressure. If “chaos manager” were a job, I’d be perfectly qualified. This isn’t limited to completing projects at the last minute (which is one of my talents). I can hold pressure on your bleeding wound, while dialing 911, and give your census information when the EMTs arrive. I can also raise my voice loud enough to quiet any size crowd.

[our2018journal]

January 5, 2018

Top 3 Values:

The first value that comes to mind is that I’m allowed to do whatever I want as long as no one else is hurt. I try to hold this value upon myself as well as others. Go ahead and live your life, but as soon as your life imposes on someone else’s, there’s a problem. I’m gonna do the same for me.

The second value that I hold very closely is honesty. I don’t mean brutal honesty. I mean telling the truth over choosing to cover your own ass. The honest truth will make me feel better than any lie to “make my life easier”. 

A third value is hard to dig up. I don’t know if it counts as a value, but I firmly believe in love. Love is a miracle.

[our2018journal]

January 4, 2018

New Year Mantra:

I’m giving “Cautiously Optimistic” a try this month. It’s going pretty well. Being optimistic allows me to find the good in things instead of the usual bad. 

I’m trying to frame my life in reference to the things that can go well. 

And of course, I’m cautiously optimistic about this mantra.

Could change in February... could last me all year. We’ll see.

[our2018journal]

January 8, 2018

Things I love

So, this one is just too hard... I love so many things. I know everyone says they do, but like, I love little turtles and baby bunnies, and bird prints and glitter and dolphins and insects and rivers, etc. You get the drift. 

Things I really love

My family (inclusive of my daughter & husband because they are my life)

The sound of the ocean

Feeling the warmth of the sunshine on my skin

A home cooked meal that I prepared

Snuggling with my frito smelling dog in the mornings

New art and/or school supplies

Exploring new places and meeting the people that live there

Smelling the summer air when it’s about to rain

[our2018journal]

January 7, 2018

Top 3 Weaknesses

As with anyone, I’m sure my weaknesses feel so much closer to the surface. I don’t find myself to be a weak person in general therefore I don’t think of myself as being full of weaknesses. I do, however, have more than a few.

My ability to compartmentalize and be objective

Not seeing people for what they really are until it’s too late

Peanut M&Ms

[our2018journal]

January 6, 2018

Top 3 Strengths

I cheated a little bit for this one because I decided to ask those around me (partner and child) what they consider my top 3 strengths. I was delighted to hear the results and think they know me pretty well. They are:

Open-minded

Logical

Creative

[our2018journal]

January 5, 2018

Top 3 Values

What I love about journaling is that a prompt can bring out so many variations of one thought/idea. When I think of the things I value, it’s more intangible. Well, sort of. They existentially exist, but have no actual monetary value. Sheesh, anyway, they are as follows:

My family (kid/husband/people)

Love/Charity (I know these are not the same thing, however, to me, to be someone who is loving means to be charitable with your time, patience and love. Also, you need to love others to feel charity and if not, you might be a bad person ;). 

Creativity (even if that shit is a mess, I appreciate that you made it.)

[our2018journal]

January 4, 2018

New Year Mantra

Be the change you want to see

I feel strongly about this phrase in general, but this year, I feel like the world needs it even more. 

[our2018journal]

January 3, 2018

Resolutions

This is a tough one for me to write because resolutions and I aren’t super good friends. We don’t get along. We run from each other screaming in protest... Having said that, I do have some goals that I think would be appropriate

Lose that extra 20 lbs 

Find a way to make an income that I enjoy

Find a place to live that is advantageous to Nelly

Write more

Love more

Connect with other humans more

Take a shot at least every other day

[our2018journal]

January prompts. From @boho.berry on Instagram

[our2018journal]

January 2, 2018

Who I want to be

I work very hard to do the things I want to do and to be the person I want to be. I’m mostly happy with the person I’ve become, but there are still so many things I’d like to work on and those are:

Strategic, Planned

Loving

Charitable

Giving

Self Serving on occasion

Financially viable/stable

Confident inside

[our2018journal]

January 1, 2018

Who I Am

Like the good ole’ Ani DiFranco says, I like to think I’m a ‘32 Flavors’ kind of gal, but to choose some adjectives, good or bad, would be to choose the below:

Adventurous/Bold

Loving

Particular

Needy

Stubborn

Bubbly

Peppy

Kind

Generous

Occasionally lazy

Creative

Artistic

Anxious

Eager