Shake off Winter's Doldrums with Imbolc: Embracing the Light and Energy of the Upcoming Spring (with New Seasonal Journal Prompts)

Imbolc, also known as Brigid's Day, is the midway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, when we welcome the return of light and the coming of spring. It begins the evening of February 1st and concludes the evening of February 2nd. 

The observance of Imbolc, (or St. Brigid's Day for Christians) is a lovely time to mentally transition from the darkness and indolence of deep winter to an energy of renewal and light. 

Here are some ideas for incorporating the spirit of Imbolc into your everyday, for when you're ready to shake off those winter doldrums.

1. Clean and declutter your home. Imbolc is a time of renewal and new beginnings, making it the perfect time to do a deep clean and declutter of your home. This will not only help clear out the old to make way for the new, but it will also create peaceful and harmonious energy in your home, hearth, and spirit.

2. Light candles. Imbolc is a time of returning light, so lighting candles is a simple way to welcome more light into your home. Consider using white or yellow candles to symbolize the return of the sun or choose candles in colors that align with your intentions for the season.

Enjoy a traditional candle-lit, Imbolc-inspired meal, like a hearty stew made with root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and turnip, which symbolize the emergence of new growth and renewal. Serve your stew with a side of crusty bread to represent the hearth and home and finish with warm, spiced apple or pear crisp to represent the return of the sun and the coming spring. 

3. Reflect on your goals and intentions. It's still winter and winter is a time of rest and reset; however, at Imbolc, you can begin to think about what you want to create or grow in the coming months. Take some time to think about your goals and intentions for the year ahead, and envision a plan for setting them into motion.  

4. Celebrate the natural world. Imbolc marks the gradual awakening of the natural world, the first signs of spring. Take a walk, observe the changes you see, and document those changes with photos, mental notes, or journaling as a way to connect with the season and the natural world. 

5. Practice self-care. Imbolc is a time of renewal and rejuvenation, so take this opportunity to practice self-care and nourish your mind, body, and spirit; whatever that looks like for you. 

Do you journal? Here are some Imbolc-themed prompts for you to consider.  

1. Think about the themes of Imbolc, such as new beginnings and rebirth. How do you want to grow and change in the coming year? What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

2. Consider the symbolism of the goddess (and Saint) Brigid and what she represents. Brigid is the goddess of fire, poetry and healing and Saint Brigid, the patron saint of poets, midwives, newborns, and smith crafts. How can you tap into her energy of creativity, inspiration, and healing in your own life? What kind of work or projects do you want to undertake in the coming year?

3. Take stock of your relationships and connections. Who are the people in your life who support and uplift you? How can you strengthen those connections and build new ones?

4. Think about the element of fire and how it relates to Imbolc. How can you use the energy of fire to ignite your passions, creativity, and motivation? What steps can you take to bring more fire and vitality into your life?

5. Consider the idea of balance and how it relates to your own life. Are there areas of your life where you feel out of balance? How can you bring more balance and harmony into your life?

Incorporating the energy of Imbolc into your everyday life can be a meaningful and fulfilling way to celebrate a season of renewal and new beginnings. Whether you reflect on the past year, set intentions for the future, or focus on relationships and balance, there are many ways to align yourself with the natural rhythms of the world around you. 

Imbolc is a time of transition, a time to honor the goddess Brigid and her energy of creativity, inspiration and healing. It is a time to take a deep breath and let go of what no longer serves you and to welcome in new beginnings. 

By taking the time to reflect and make intentional choices, you can make the most of the Imbolc season with renewed energy and peace of mind.

Start Today...Joy Jar 2018

Happy New Year, friends. 

This is not my idea, but it's a good idea. Thanks, Liz Gilbert. 

Cheers to joy in 2018. 

Are you starting a new tradition in 2018? 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Love Day, friends. 

Celebrate and spread the love today; our lives and our world are better for it. 

Groundhog Day and Days Worth Repeating

In the 1993 film Groundhog Day, Bill Murray's character, Phil Connors, finds himself in an endless time loop, repeating the same day over and over until he re-prioritizes his life and makes things right. 

All of us have days we wish we could do over again, and days we wish had never happened, but then there are days that are worth doing over and over because of the joy they brought and the smiles they bring today. 

In no particular order, here are some of the days I wish I could do over for the feelings they bring to mind. 

• My first day in London, emerging from the tube station in Trafalgar Square with a big sigh in wonder on my first solo travel experience. 

• The day I went kayaking and a manatee swam under my kayak.

• Our wedding day...all of it. 

• The day I finished my first 5K at 295 pounds and the day I finished my first 5 mile race at 165 pounds. 

• Our first day in Paris, looking out the window of our hotel room and seeing the Eiffel Tower...cliche, I know, but so, so fun. 
• The night I danced salsa, merengue, and bachata all night and knew what I was doing. 
• Just because days with my niece. 

• Sunday coffee dates with the Señor. 
• Drive to no where like this. 

Those are some of the days I would love to relive. What are some favorite days?

SaveSave

Ahora 20: Currently

Happy New Year!
As someone who has a genuine dislike ambiguity about the winter holidays, I am grateful to wake up on January 1st with all of that behind me and nothing but a fresh, clean year filled with opportunity. 

Here's what's happening ahora...now, in my world. 

Reading...

The Gratitude Diaries by Janice Kaplan. 
I loved reading Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project, so I thought this could be a great way to frame my year in gratitude. Kaplan organizes the year into seasons with themes like marriage and family, health, or money and finance. She is a proponent of the gratitude journal, and admittedly, I am enjoying the process of reflecting on my day by writing in my own gratitude journal. It's a quick and easy read and one of the most powerful takeaways is the power of perspective.

Eating...
A lot of soups and stews. We're even having one today, especially good after last night's snow. Tis the season. What's your favorite broth based soup or stew? 

Ali's recipe from Gimme Some Oven for a 20-minute Moroccan Chickpea Soup may make it into our winter rotation. Doesn't this look good?

Drinking... 
More water and tea. I'm making an honest effort to drink less coffee and more water and tea, and ultimately, tea with no sweetener. Here are a few of my favorites.

Planning...

My vision and intent for 2017. I did a vision board at the end of 2016, and it has already started working. Crazy! Ask and you shall receive. Want to make your own? Start here. 

Watching...
Like most in my social media circle, I am watching and loving This is Us. It's well written, relatable, and heartfelt. The musical score is pretty good too. 

Listening to...
My standard Pandora channels: Jack Johnson, Spanish Guitar, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Jimmy Buffett, and French Cafe Radio. And my podcasts:  Side Hustle School and Happier with Gretchen Rubin. 

Any recommendations?

Trying...
A light box. This one has low/medium/high settings and you can set it for 15, 30, and 45 minutes. Who knows whether it works, but for me, like others do with the salt lamp, it's worth trying. And speaking of salt lamps, any recommendations on size? Does it work for you?

So that's about it. It's winter, but it is pretty. 

What's happening ahora, now, in your world? 

Are you a Word of the Year person? Please share your 2017 word and inspire me. 

Merry Everything!

We made it! 

Some of us are neck-deep in gift-wrapping, baking, and planning last minute runs to the supermarket and mall.

Others are done with holiday preparations and are eagerly anticipating and celebrating the arrival of faraway family and friends who have returned for the festivities.

And others are wishing the next few days away.

People arrive here from many different paths; some are marked by joy and Norman Rockwellian images of love and belonging, and others are haunted by the ghosts of holidays past, scarred by pain and trauma.

Regardless of how you spend your holidays, enjoy them on your terms. 

Peace, strength, and love to those who struggle with this time of the year. 

Joy and merriment to us all. 

On this Winter Solstice

Wishing you peace, love, and joy this holiday season...today and always. 

I am grateful for...

Things I'm grateful for this year

• my husband and our marriage
• family, rooted in love
• our sweet Gracie-girl
• fabulous friends and partners-in-crime
• a healthy body and mind
• big dreams in motion
• a job that I love; one that is aligned with our goals
• road trips and coffee dates
• my passport stamps and a welcoming world that is ready to explore
• peace that comes with time and healing
• access to information and the freedom and make choices
• this space online, the visitors who have stopped by, and the friends I have made because of it
• the kindness of strangers
• people who are willing to fight for human rights
• clean water, healthy food choices, and access to health care
• the women who fought for my right to vote
• our U.S. National Parks

And mostly...

• having what we need and most of what we want and loved ones with whom we can share our lives.

What are you thankful for this year?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, friends. 
Blessed to have what we need. 
Grateful to have most of what we want. 

Wishing you a bounty of blessings, today and always. 

Reverse Advent Calendar: 10 Ideas

For many, Advent is a time of preparation. It's a time marked by an awareness of one's blessings and an empathy for those less fortunate. 

As Advent calendars build excitement of what's to come, a reverse Advent calendar can bring similar excitement in knowing you made a difference in the lives of others. 

Here are some ideas for your own reverse Advent calendar. 

• one food item or more per day or one food category per week to donate
• one dollar or more per day
• one closet item purge per day for donation or one clothing donation per week, like socks or outerwear.  
• one hour of service per week
• one toy per week
• one book per week to a school, cancer treatment center, nursing home, local library
• one care bag to local homeless outreach (socks, personal care items, toys, towels)
• one bag of pet food per week to a local shelter
• one pay-it-forward per week; for example, someone's coffee in the drive-through
• Determine a pre-set amount and pay toward or pay-off someone's holiday layaway.

Have you ever done a reverse Advent calendar or holiday service project? What was your experience?

Sunday Inspiration #20

It's a matter of perspective. 

Happy Thanksgiving, friends. 

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my birthday and I am as excited as the littles I work with at school every day.

Today I'm also going on a field trip, which if you ask my second graders, is probably the coolest thing that could ever happen to you in a lifetime...a field trip ON your birthday. 

While I can imagine other things that are just as thrilling, it's still pretty cool, as they say, and we're sure to have a fun day.

As I move through this life, it seems that so many opportunities are presenting themselves, and I feel like I'm on the cusp of everything, even at 45.

My mom's cake (and her special birthday dinner) still makes me smile, as does the special  order tortilla española prepared by my mother-in-law, and unlike when I was a little girl, the candles on my cake no longer represent my age...thank goodness.

I'm still pretty excited about my birthday. 

I don't remember when exactly, but at some point, my mom transitioned candle counts to represent decades, plus single years. Almost like today's Common Core bundling charts, my cake became a math problem as guests tried to figure out what was going on with the candle situation. 

So this year, my cake will bear nine candles...one for each decade, plus one for each single year in my fourth decade...nine in total if you're adding, and easier (and safer) to extinguish than 45 of them set ablaze all at once. 

It's an exciting time to be 45. It doesn't look anything like I thought it would when I was this young girl, but it's a lovely life, indeed! 

Happy Birthday to all of the special people who share my birthday month.

Here's to wishes come true made on our birthday candles. 

Here's to another glorious trip around the sun. 

Cheers to us all!

Do you still get excited about birthdays? How do you celebrate your special day?

Weekending: Hemingway, Toast, and Mother's Day

We had great plans to go out on Friday night, but with the rain and long week behind us, we opted to stay local, shop for a new laptop for the Señor, and have dinner at one of our local old-school favorites. 

Saturday found us running errands, like getting one of the cars serviced and getting the food shopping done for the week. 

On Saturday afternoon, we went to the BirchTree Bread Company, a wonderful local bakery that specializes in all things toast and coffee. The bakery is located in a great old building that houses a weekend farmers' market and the cutest collection of curated boutique items, antiques and handmade goodies. 

A lovely courtyard for al fresco enjoyment. 

The Señor tried an olive and herb toast spread with whipped feta and drizzled with olive oil...SO good!! 

I had my regular: local wheat toast with cultured butter, local honey, and sea salt. 

Then, it was a movie for date night, and we opted for the biographical drama, Papa: Hemingway in Cuba. 

Yesterday began with some playtime with Gracie. 

Then, we had the wonderful opportunity to take my parents and my mother-in-law out for lunch in honor of Mother's Day. 

We went to a traditional Portuguese restaurant, featuring food from Portugal and the Azores. The Señor and I had been there before, but it was a first for our parents. The restaurant and staff did not disappoint, and we all had a great time. 

Appetizers of cured cheese and prosciutto and 

above that, morcela (blood sausage) with sweet potato.

My husband and father took care of the morcela...it's not for me. 

Grilled octopus was one of the entrees. I opted for arroz marisco...a Portuguese paella of sorts.

Mom and me doing our annual backseat selfie. 

Backseat selfies with my mother-in-law. 

My Mom and Dad. 

I'm still my Dad's girl. 

An emotional mother and her son. 

And one with my Señor. 

And after what feels like weeks of rain, the sun came out, which seems to have brought a strong, cold wind. I'm grateful nonetheless because it was a lovely weekend, indeed. 

How was your weekend? 

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to my friends who celebrate. ¡Felices Pascuas!

Here's to love, to peace, and to hope. Cheers!

Thursday Thoughts by James Joyce

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

On this day when everyone claims to be a little bit Irish, I wanted to share a couple quotes by Dublin's native son, James Joyce. 

The James Joyce bridge, spanning the River Liffey, is designed to look like a open book. 

While Joyce may be known for writing the world's most "incomprehensible" modernist novel in Ulysses, much of what he had to say was quite wise. 

Here are three of my favorite Joyce gems. 

Are you a James Joyce fan? Did you read Ulysses? Do you have a favorite Irish writer?

Sláinte!

Love Big

Happy Valentine's Day, friends! 

Share the love...with yourself and with others. 

Dream Big: 2016 is Yours!

Like a hamster in a wheel, many of us travel through our days with the same schedule, broken up only by the errands of our weekends and the minute-by-minute activities of our limited vacation time. 

We do the best we can with what we have, but our batteries wear down. 

In the details of our day to day responsibilities, we begin to lose sight of our dreams; we nostalgically remember what once made us smile, and at those crazy times, it all seems like worlds away. 

So what do we do? How do we get it back? How do we recharge our batteries when it seems like all of our chargers are plugged in somewhere else? 

We re-group and we visualize. You can't manifest what you can't see. 

It's time for an arts and crafts project. 

Some rainy Sunday or maybe a quiet Tuesday night, clear off the kitchen table and channel your inner kindergartner, or, if you'd rather, set up a presentation on Canva and get going. 

It's time to make yourself a vision board.

If you're going old school for this project, you need a big piece of paper. Poster board works well. You also need scissors and a glue stick. 

Scour your house for magazines. If you don't have magazines, you can ask your friends for theirs or you can ask the local doctor's or dentist's office. If you have access to a printer, you can also print images. 

Using Canva? You can use a Google image search or scour through your own photos for ideas. 

What makes you smile? 

What do you want more of in your life? 

Where do you want to go? 

What do you want to do? 

• Want to travel to Paris? Find yourself an Eiffel Tower (or some other Parisian icon).
• Want to run a half marathon or get to a certain level of fitness? Find a picture of a runner with a physique that is appealing to you. 
• Want a new car? Find your car of choice and paste it on the board.
• Want to try paddle boarding or crossfit? Add that too.
• Planning an early retirement? Think about what that looks like from a day to day perspective and add those images.  
• Want to learn how to cook some fabulous new dishes from a certain cuisine or diet? 

You get the idea.

Arrange your images in any way you want. You can organize them by theme or in any way the spirit moves you. 

You can also add words and phrases. 

This is your board. 

Your vision. 

Anything goes. 

Now, find a place to put your vision board. It should be someplace where you can see it everyday. It should be in a place where you can ask the universe to deliver all that your heart desires.

And it should be in a place to give you the motivation to seek all that your heart desires. 

Did you make your board on Canva? Make this image be your desktop background. 

Look at it every day. 

Don't leave it all up to the universe; give her a little help.

Try to update your vision board at least once a year. Keep those images of what still makes your heart pitter patter, and remove those images of dreams you may have outgrown.

Will creating a vision board rescue you from all of life's stress?

Probably not.

But can it recharge your batteries and give you what you need to get through another week? Another month? Another year?

Maybe.

Especially if those images start to become a reality.

What do you have to lose?

Happy dreaming!

Do you make vision or dream boards? If you're comfortable sharing, what's the focus of 2016 for you?

Updated from the archives...the original post appeared January 3, 2013. As I scour magazines for my 2016 board, I am reminded of the importance of recharging the vision. Cheers!

Merry Christmas!

Taken from the archives...still important today. Merry Christmas to my friends who celebrate. Sending hugs, strength and peace to those who struggle with this day. 

Here we are; it's Christmas Eve. 

Many people are neck-deep in gift-wrapping, baking, and planning last minute runs to the supermarket and mall.

Others are done with Christmas preparations and are celebrating the arrival of faraway family and friends who have returned for the holiday festivities.

And others are wishing the next few days away.

People arrive at Christmas from many different journeys; some are marked by love and Norman Rockwellian images of love and belonging, and others have ghosts of Christmas past, scarred by pain and trauma.

Regardless of the lens through which you view Christmas, there are gifts you can give to others which cost nothing, but can change lives. 

Merry Christmas, friends. You ARE worth it. Enjoy your day, on your terms.