Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘reflection’

Today is the last day of November, and it happens to be the Saturday before I have to return to my day job. It has been a lovely week off, and I’ve enjoyed my down time; however, it’s time to get back in the saddle and accomplish a few loose ends before 2019 comes to an end.

I can scratch #18 Participate in NaNoWriMo in November off my 19 for 2019 list. This item will definitely be put back on my 20 for 2020 list, and I am determined to be much more successful next year. Frankly, I did not give myself enough time to prep. I did start a horror novel, but I only wrote 1,505 words of the 50,000 word goal. And, I only wrote for three days out of the entire month. My stats show that if I continue writing each day at this pace, my novel will be done by July 27th. HA! I will not abandon the idea of writing a novel. Although, it has been placed on the back burner to simmer for a bit.

This leaves me with ten items left on my 19 for 2019 list. There are three items that I will definitely NOT accomplish before the end of this year. I am not physically ready to run a 5K; there is no money in the family budget to visit my Aunt Carolyn in Utah; and sadly, I’m nowhere near paying off one of my credit cards. That’s okay! I still think all three items are worth accomplishing, yet they too will have to be placed on the back burner to simmer for a bit.

Soup

Fat Flush Soup made with leftover Thanksgiving turkey.

I am currently working on three items that I feel very strongly that I will complete by the end of the year. As for my weight loss goal, I am down another 1/2 pound which puts me at a total loss of 12.5 pounds since September 2nd. I have 6.5 more pounds to lose by the end of 2019 to reach my goal of 19 pounds. This Monday, I will start another round of The Clean 20 to knock out the remaining weight. Tomorrow, I will get back to scrapbooking, so I can complete Andrew’s Ireland scrapbook. Shelly and I are planning to scrapbook together for the next couple of days. Finally, I am successfully reading one book a month for self-improvement. This month I read Stillness Speaks by Eckhart Tolle. It is a terrific little book with a great deal of wisdom about being present and how stillness can bring about inner peace.

As for the remaining four items on my list, there is a possibility they could be accomplished; however, I am not holding my breath that all four will be completed. As long as I’m not anemic, I should be able to donate blood. If I buckle down, I could organize my master bedroom closet. Organizing my photographs/mementos and purging stuff in the house one room/closet at a time is realistically going to take more than a month to complete. We have been purging stuff in the house throughout the year with our remodeling projects; it is just an extremely slow process since my hubby is doing the remodeling. It’s tough since he only has the weekends, and there is the occasional weekend, he just wants to take a break and have some fun.

So, there you have it, dear reader. The remainder of my 2019 is going to be focused on tackling a few tasks that will add fulfillment to my life. This does not mean that the remaining month will be all work and no play. I have plenty of special events already sprinkled throughout the month, and in three short weeks, I’ll be on vacation again. Happiness!

“The moment you enter the Now with your attention, you realize that life is sacred. There is a sacredness to everything you perceive when you are present. The more you live in the Now, the more you sense the simple yet profound joy of Being and the sacredness of all life.” ~ Eckhart Tolle, Stillness Speaks

Read Full Post »

Today marks the end of the fourth quarter of 2018. Today also marks my 38th post for this year, and I completed #5 (blog at least once per month) on my 18 for 2018 list. I was a blogging fiend this year, and I’m delighted with my progress and consistency which I plan on continuing throughout 2019.

Blog Banner

Of the 12 remaining items on my 18 for 2018 list, I completed eight of them this quarter:

#1 Order two birth certificates for myself (contact vital records in California).
#3 Create a Google Photo account.
#5 Blog at least once per month (of course, more would be better).
#10 Try a voice (singing) lesson.
#13 Make an appointment with my eye doctor.
#15 Complete a 5K.
#16 Read Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days by Chris Guillebeau.
#18 Plan my 50th birthday celebration.

***************************************************************************************

Of my 18 items on my 18 for 2018 list, I did not complete four of them, and here are my thoughts on why I think they were not completed.

#4 Lose 18 pounds.

Losing weight this year was clearly not a priority for me. I could blame it on lack of time, but that would be an excuse. At some point, I gained back the three pounds that I lost which puts me weighing in at 158 pounds again. I will revisit this item in 2019.

#6 Plan a trip to New York City with Andrew for 2019.

Since putting this item on my list at the beginning of the year, circumstances arose during the year that put this item temporarily on the back burner. First, Andrew has the opportunity to go on another trip abroad with STA in 2019. He will be traveling to Germany, Prague, and the Swiss Alps during spring break which is when we were supposed to travel to New York. Second, my hubby has shown interest in going with us; however, his vacation time is limited, and he has already allotted two of his weeks of vacation for 2019 for other events. Finally, my Uncle Charles passed away in July, and I want to make a trip to Utah to spend some time with my Aunt Carolyn. Also, I’m not too sure how the summer will play out with Andrew starting college in August. I will revisit this item, but it will not be in 2019 unless our circumstances change again.

#11 Update my LinkedIn account. 

I’m not too sure why I could not complete this item. Lack of motivation, maybe? I met with Michelle in April to get a few tips on updating my account, but I did not really do much with it after our meeting. I’m not really active on this social networking site. This may change in the future, but I do not plan on revisiting this item in 2019.

#12 Organize my master bedroom closet.

My master bedroom closet is a thorn in my side. Honestly, my house and all its stuff is a whole tree with several branches full of thorns in my side. In order for me to organize my closet, I really need to organize the rest of my house (maniacal laugh). At the Loyacano homestead, we have too much stuff. I must purge my house of stuff. I will definitely revisit this item in 2019.

2018 was a terrific year for my family and me. We experienced awesome events throughout the year from attending concerts, traveling, interacting with a sloth, to working concessions at LSU football games. I read many terrific books, watched a bunch of super movies and television shows, took an ADR/Looping Workshop, and met one of my favorite authors. I was fortunate to spend quality time with family and friends, cheer Andrew and his swim team on at the State Meet in Sulphur, and celebrate 30 years with my hubby. And, those are just some of the highlights of a year well-spent. I am grateful for our year of blessings of which we had many. Dear reader, I hope before 2018 ends, you will have a moment to reflect on your year of blessings. Happiness!

“As we look to the new year, hold on to what is good. Let go of what is bad. It really is that simple.” ~ Mandy Hale

 

Read Full Post »

As my dear readers who have followed me over the years know, I struggle with time. It eludes me constantly. I am continuously amazed by the fleeting moments of my life whether those moments are enjoyable or miserable. Of course, I should have a firmer grasp on my time because after all, it is my time. However, the reality of the situation is I do not completely own all of my time. There will be those among us that argue how you spend your time is a choice. And, I somewhat agree with that assessment. I need to eat and clothe and shelter myself; therefore, I need to work in order to obtain those basic needs. As a result, time must be set aside to work. We all know that all of our time is not spent at work, so we must be good stewards with the time that we have left over at the end of each day. This is easier said then done if you take care of children, pets, or elderly parents.

Having children was a choice for me. I consider my two children the two most precious gifts that God has given me. However, when I made that choice, I was not 100% clear about how much of my time would be invested in their care and well-being. For a period of their life, the time spent on me was no longer flexible. It was no longer just “me” because I had become a parent. I was now responsible for these little people, and I not only determined how I spent my time, but also how they spent theirs. Many of the decisions I made in my life were based on taking care of my children. Consequently, I shelved a few of my dreams, so I could provide opportunities for my children to explore their own dreams. And, watching them over the years experience those opportunities has been a delight for me. They have both made me proud to be their mother.

ConcessionsAndrew is traveling to Germany, Prague, and the Swiss Alps with STA during spring break of 2019. He along with the other travelers were given the opportunity to work concessions at the LSU home games this football season. Each game, they will receive a percentage of the sales to help pay for their trip. Crazily, I also signed up to help. I have worked concessions over the years at STA for Barry’s cross country meets and at Southeastern for Andrew’s Boy Scout troop; however, nothing prepared me for working LSU’s concessions. Last Saturday was our first time working the concessions. Firstly, I had never been to LSU Stadium, so I was clueless about its size. A huge stadium equals a huge number of people. Secondly, we were understaffed for our first game. Thirdly, it was hot and humid. By the end of our shift, we were all extremely hot, thirsty, and worn out. All things considered, we survived and made some moolah. And, personally I thought it was fun. I enjoyed working with the STA crew and felt satisfied with the results of a job well-done. In fact, so much so, that I plan on doing it again.

I do the things that I do for my children because I want them to experience some of the opportunities that I did not have during my childhood. Soon, Andrew will graduate from high school, and I’ll be able to begin unshelving my own dreams. Eventually, I will gain back more time for just “me,” and it is important that I make good choices with how I spend it. Time may be elusive; however, time is also of the essence. Make the most of your time, so it feels well-spent, dear reader. Happiness!

“The days are long, but the years are short.” ~ Gretchen Rubin

 

 

Read Full Post »

IMG_1116

U2: The Joshua Tree Tour

Wow, New Year’s Eve 2017! Where did this year go? It flew by super quickly. I attribute this to being remarkably busier than in years past. Work, appointments, meetings, swim practice, extra activities…the list goes on and on. This was LIFE in 2017.

My year did not play out quite the way I planned. I did not complete my Happiness Project. My theme for the year (RENEWAL) was a failure. The only renewal I achieved this year was my driver’s license which surprisingly did make me happy. My new license is good for six years and can be used to fly around America. My weight fluctuated throughout the year, and so did my commitment to exercise. Organization, nope…my home is still in a disarray.

I could be down in the dumps about not achieving my goals; however, I am choosing NOT to wallow in self-pity. 2017 was a year of peaks and valleys. There were some notably awesome moments: being honored during Catholic Schools Week for being named Teacher of the Year at Holy Ghost Catholic School, attending four concerts (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Twenty-One Pilots, Stevie Nicks, and U2), attending my 30th High School Reunion, attending my annual Scrapbooking Convention, watching Andrew swim for his high school swim team, observing the solar eclipse, participating in Confirmation at Holy Ghost Catholic Church as a sponsor and as a parent, ordering Andrew’s senior ring, partying with friends at Kelsi’s Halloween party, accompanying Andrew to Baton Rouge for Kickoff LSU, attending the wedding of one of my former students, spending time throughout the year with family and friends, and SNOW on December 8th.

Then, there were the moments that were not so awesome or exciting: being hospitalized for five days because of cellulitis, my friend Kimberly being diagnosed with brain cancer, my male German Shepherd Sonic being diagnosed with perianal fistulas, having a painful dental procedure a week before school started, attending two funeral services, and Andrew having surgery the week of mid-terms. And, while these moments were unpleasant or ones that could best be forgotten, they can serve a purpose. They make me grateful and more appreciative of the awesome moments in my life, as well as the ordinary or mundane moments. They are reminders to be more appreciative of who and what I have as a part of my life (faith, family, friends, fur babies, a home, a job, my health…the list goes on and on).

Therefore, as I reflect on the past year, I feel hopeful about the new year. 2018! I’ve already picked out a new theme for the year, and I am participating in 18 for 2018. Both will be revealed very soon. Until then, my dear reader, may you have a wonderful New Year’s Eve. Happiness!

“Of all sound of all bells… most solemn and touching is the peal which rings out the Old Year.” ~ Charles Lamb

 

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

The four months of the year that I struggle with the most are the months without Daylight Savings time. I have a hard time dealing with it getting dark early, especially when it is cold. Admittedly, I am not as productive or motivated to be as productive as I am the other eight months of the year. I want to crawl into a cave and hibernate. However, I do have eight things that are saving my life right now.

1. The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo

Book of Awakening

2. My Gratitude Journal

I look forward to recording the blessings I receive each and every day. This daily practice has really changed my perspective in all areas of my life.

3. The X-Files/The Walking Dead

Thexfiles

I enjoy watching television. While The Walking Dead is on hiatus, I have been watching the revival of my favorite program The X-Files. I actually look forward to Mondays. So far, the episodes have been terrifically entertaining. The Walking Dead and Talking Dead return next Sunday (Valentine’s Day). I look forward to seeing my characters again.

4. My Keurig Brewer

There is nothing better than having a cup of coffee, cocoa, or tea while reading, writing, or grading papers.

5. Books (and Books-a-Million)

I do not think I could live without my books. There are many things I could do without in my life; however, books are NOT one of them. And, regular trips to Books-a-Million with Andrew definitely make me happy.

6. Tooty (aka Comet)

IMG_2795

My little black ragamuffin brings much joy to my life. He is quite a character who demands lots of love and affection which he equally doles out to his humans provided adequate treats are in hand.

7. Family

photo (38)

I LOVE MY FAMILY!

8. Words with Friends/Trivia Crack

I know, I know. I should not admit that I enjoy playing these games, but I DO. I am a word geek. And trivia, well, I just like answering trivia questions especially related to arts and entertainment.

There you have it, dear readers! I know that my list is small; however, I am grateful for these eight things that are helping me survive right now. Happiness!

What is saving your life right now? 

“The autumn twilight turned into deep and early night as they walked. Tristran could smell the distant winter on the air–a mixture of night-mist and crisp darkness and the tang of fallen leaves.” ~ Neil Gaiman, Stardust

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts

Mybookworld24

My Life And Everything Within It

Marcelo Oleas

Self-Love Champion and Life Coach

The Cozy Burrow

Books, Writing, & The Cozy Life

In Dianes Kitchen

Recipes showing step by step directions with pictures and a printable recipe card.

Grace Thoroughgoods life musings

Mostly Theatre, Books and Travel

Edge of Humanity Magazine

An Independent Nondiscriminatory Platform With No Religious, Political, Financial, or Social Affiliations - FOUNDED 2014

HappierHealthier.Blog

Creative personal growth toward better health and happiness

The Kat Files

Finding Adventure in Everyday Life

Get On With It

Writing and drawings by Nick.

theleadlesspencil

Doing the best that I can, at writing, running and living

Li. A. Wake

Author and Screenwriter

dastardly.reads

procrastination.queen

This West London Life

Attempting to live a better story ... and scrapbooking it.

Ask Dr S.

Lifestyle, Performance, Physical Medicine

ilovemyhomebusiness.wordpress.com/

Helping families one family at a time.