Tag: mental health

Tough day 😏, so let’s enjoy some flowers 💐

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Daily writing prompt
What’s the best way to deal with negative thoughts?
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This question of the day is very timely, as I am having a tough day on this Wednesday. 😏

Our minivan needs some costly repairs, and it’s our only vehicle. So, it immediately triggered my anxiety.

Negative thoughts and questions started swarming through my head, and I felt a little defeated, at first.

What about this…? What about that…? How will we…? How much will it cost…? Trying to hurriedly come up with solutions, and so on.

Beautiful Cosmos flower 🌸

Pause and just breathe

But instead of letting it get me down, I took a few slow deep breaths and quietly sat in the kitchen for a moment. 😌

The kitchen is the heart of our home, so it just made the most sense to pause here. 💜

I decided to stick with my morning routine: light the prayer candle, morning prayers, get the tea kettle on, tidy the kitchen, start breakfast for the kids.

And then I spent the rest of the morning in my garden. My happy place. 😊🌼

Potato flower in the garden! 😍🥔🌸 We will be harvesting potatoes very soon! This made me SO happy. 😊

It doesn’t make the problems go away. We will still have to get the minivan fixed. I know that.

But I also trust in God; He is my hope. 🙏🏽

A timely message of encouragement

Yesterday, we went to the Tuesday evening Mass. Fr. Jim’s homily focused on having hope and trusting in Jesus even when life throws us some curve balls.

I’m thankful for his very timely message. It turned out I would need it this Wednesday morning. 💜🙏🏽

Our spider flowes are doing their best in this heat. 🥵🌸

And tending to the vegetable plants and admiring our flower blooms was the joy and peace I needed to help me take a break from the stress of auto repair issues. 🥰🌸💜🙏🏽

💜 XO

Happy Friday

Three things to reflect on in honor of September 11th.

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Take a deep breath

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Today at Mass, a mom was trying to console her crying toddler. They were in what I call the Quiet Room—a small room separate from the main part of the sanctuary for anyone who needs a quieter space.

Zaya (5) and I just so happened to be in the Quiet Room at the time because it connects to the restrooms.

As the little boy (bless his heart) continued to cry loudly, his mom remained very calm, and she did something that surprised me.

She sat down with her son and in a gentle, loving voice said to him, “Take a deep breath.”

At first, the toddler didn’t comply. He just kept wailing. So, his mom calmly repeated, “Take a deep breath.” This time the little one listened and through his faint sobs I could hear him take a deep breath.

“Breathe in and breathe out,” his mother said. And together, mother and child took deep breaths—in and out. Breathing slowly and mindfully.

I was also silently saying a prayer for the mom and her son. I know exactly what it’s like to have an inconsolable toddler get upset in public (and at home).

After a few deep breaths, the little boy stopped crying, and I smiled to myself and thought, “Well done, Mama!”

It also made me happy to see another mom use deep breaths as a way to calm her child. I do this with my children, too, and the majority of the time it helps the kids calm down.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if more adults would stop and take deep breaths when they are feeling upset?

💜 XO

“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” ‐— Thích Nhất Hạnh

Happy Friday!

Four fun things for Friday, including a new art exhibit I’m excited to see.

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Feature image credit: Nienke Burgers.

Working on my Jane Austen puzzle

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If you have trouble slowing down, try doing a puzzle.

Trust me—you will be amazed at how this quiet activity nudges you to focus on the present moment and slow down. 😌

Today, I started working on a 1,000-piece puzzle I got for Christmas from my favorite bookstore. It’s a Jane Austen-themed puzzle made of different book covers from her works.

As much as I love slow living and try my hardest to practice it daily, I actually struggle with slowing down.

I always think of things I should be doing to stay busy when I have downtime.

But now that I am sick with a cold—which I caught from the kids—I have no choice but to slow down.

So, I opened my new puzzle, and made myself sit down and get started. Two hours later, I found myself immersed in organizing the pieces and putting it together.

It will probably take me a few days to complete my Jane Austen puzzle. I plan on working on it a little at a time as I will need to take breaks to take care of the kids and rest in bed when I can (a mother never really gets full sick days 😆).

But I welcome the slower pace because it will give me something fun and low-key to work on while my body heals.

“My son, when you are ill, do not delay, but pray to God, for it is he who heals.” Sirach 38:9

The Day We Enjoyed Our Cozy Christmas Tradition

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Three Christmas Eves ago, I stepped into a local bookshop scrambling to find last-minute gifts for Travis and the kids.

I loved the coziness of the charming shop that it soon became a treasured Christmas tradition I look forward to every year.

📚 A Mother-Daughter Christmas Tradition

Last Christmas Eve, Mj (23) joined me on my visit to the bookshop. I asked her if she’d like to go again with me this Christmas Eve, and she happily said yes.

So, I hope this means it is now our mother-daughter Christmas tradition that we do together.

🙏🏽 A Quiet Refuge That Lifted My Spirit

I think the reason why this has become a Christmas tradition for me is because the cozy bookshop gave me so much comfort and peace during a challenging season of my life.

During that challenging season, I felt overwhelmed and sad. Yet, inside the bookstore I felt a quiet refuge that lifted my spirit.

Then, the next day was Christmas Day. I had a two-week break from homeschooling and my part-time work-from-home job.

During my short holiday break, I was able to focus on resting and slowing down. My time off helped me find some healing and peace that I desperately needed.

😌 Slow Season is Here

I like to think of my annual Christmas Eve bookshop visit as the kickoff to my slow season— a season where I take an extended break from busy schedules, rushing around, life stressors, and my anxiety.

It’s a time where I get to reset for the new year.

I read Cold Sassy Tree when I was in the 11th grade. I thought I’d revisit the book.

😌 Taking Time to Heal

This year’s visit was a good one for me. I realized I was in a better place in my life mentally and spiritually. The time I took to heal this year, truly helped me.

It’s funny how a small thing — like stopping into a bookstore — can leave such a meaningful impact on your life. 😊

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Matthew 11:28-30

All images in this blog post are my own photography. If you’d like to use a photo, please contact me first for permission. Thank you!