The way forward

reverb 13 - day 20

Forward is the only direction.
The mirror never lies, but everything in it is backwards. 

Look at what you see in the mirror. How does it change if you view yourself with eyes that can only look forward?

What does the future hold? I am hoping to continue with my journey to a healthier me, a more positive and grateful me. Looking in the mirror with eyes that can only look forward, I see choices, and I choose happiness, I choose peace, I choose love. I am looking forward to what is forward! 

Self-Compassion

reverb 13 - day 19

The Buddha said, “You, yourself, as much as anybody else in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”

In the past year, I have been on a mission to understand and practice self-compassion, which is sometimes defined as "extending compassion to one's self in instances of perceived inadequacy, failure, or general suffering," and what I have learned has made me realize that this practice is at the heart of everything. 

How will you practice self-compassion?

I intend to practice self compassion with some of the things I have already mentioned:
- Looking after my mind
- Looking after my body
- Forgiving myself
- Perhaps a retreat
- Just taking time to do what makes me happy.

Peace

reverb 13 - day 18.

I am often surprised where I find peace, it is usually in the midst of chaos.
In the midst of living, did you find moments to breathe? Were there moments that held you in the embrace of peace and quiet and pure contentment? 

Did these moments catch you by surprise or did you create the space for peace to find you?

how will you make space for greater peace in 2014?

I am normally a calm and peaceful person, but this year has been a challenge. I think back about 4 months ago and I am sure I would have answered very differently. It would have been - I have had no peace.
 Now I feel like I am closer to the old me, and it has so much to do with finding moments to breathe:
I found peace when I had some time off work.
I found peace when I acknowledged I can't control everything.
I found peace when I let go of burdens that are not mine.
I found peace in forgiveness, this was a big one and I am still working on it, for my memory is so good and when you can't forget its hard to forgive. Forgiving myself is even harder.
I found peace with good old gratitude, because I am ever so lucky for all that I have.
I found peace with sharing, talking to friends and letting them know how I am feeling.

Pure contentment is another thing.
I embraced peace and quiet in the bath with a good book, sitting up the headland with my husband, reading to my girls at bedtime, and generally when I am at home.

Making space for greater peace for 2014 is a goal. That is why I am inviting in happiness! I am continuing with the above. I would love to go to a retreat, but think I will miss my girls too much. So I have been looking at some day retreats.

My word

reverb 13 - day 17.

What word did you select to be your travelling companion in 2013? What gifts did this word bring?
What word will you choose to guide you through 2014? What do you hope it will bring into your life?

My travelling word for 2013 was Gratitude. The gifts it has brought me are endless. I have never chosen a word to accompany me through a year before. The most important gift this word has brought me is knowing gratitude changes everything, it changes what we have into enough.

My word for 2014 is Happiness.It is a simple word and its all I want so I am choosing to be happy and it follows on from gratitude which will stay with me now throughout all of my days so I am hoping happiness will too.

Habits and addictions

reverb 13 - day 16.

Habits and addictions, some are silly, some serious; when we have issues without answers, they can hold us so tight that we stop moving forward with the life we intended.
Were you able to loosen those fetters this year, and if you were successful, how did you manage it? Did you accept outside help, or work alone?

If you still feel that grasp of addiction or hurtful habits, what will you do differently in the year to come?
I have blogged already about my healthy habit changes for 2013. I have managed most of the changes but the healthy eating is the one I come undone on most. 2014 I am committing to better eating and maintaining my exercise. I am accepting that I need support and encouragement for me to be successful and I am opening up to accepting that help.

Another habit from 2013 is falling back on my credit card, I go really well budgeting most of the time but sometimes I just use the card and then regret it. So for 2014 I will be cutting up the credit card and budgeting my way to completely clear the debt.

Sensory Highlights

reverb 13 - day 5

Give us a sensory tour of 2013. How would you describe the year that’s passing in terms of:
Sight?
Sound?
Smell?
Taste?
Touch?

Hhhhmmmm, let me think....

Sight? I have enjoyed watching my daughters grow, I see our beautiful coast everyday and I love the colours in my yarn stash too.

Sound? Our house is full of constant chatter and laughter, add in a few girly screams and our dogs barking at frogs and other guests to our garden.

Smell? At the moment my garden is in bloom, the house smells like my teenage daughters impulse deodorant and unfortunately the car smells like wet towels.

Taste? I am enjoying some nourishing vegetarian dinners, loving summer fruits and love sipping different teas.

Touch? My job brings me one of life's greatest touch sensations - I am touching newborns every week, that doesn't beat the touch sensation at home - family hugs and who can go past patting your dogs.

Decisions, decisions

reverb 13 - Day 14

What was the best decision you made in 2013? What were the results? How will you continue the good work in 2014?
The best decision I made in 2013 was to pay some attention to me. I focused on my health which as a mum I have often neglected. So this year I got myself a fabulous GP. My arthritis was diagnosed and I have had physio and seen exercise physiologists for that. Its good to know what I am dealing with and how I can improve it. I have been sorting out my women's health issues and have been getting on to my iron and Vit B12 deficiencies. Starting to feel more alive with all that in order, so I am now back to my weight loss journey. I have also been looking after my mind as I have mentioned before. In 2014 I am choosing happiness and am firmly committed to a healthier me. I will keep my health in check and will nourish my body with healthy foods.