Tag: Family

Have A Conversation

Spring has arrived. The weather has been up and down as usual for spring. We had a really warm day a few days ago and I took my kids outside to play. Nature is amazing and so healing, we spend as much time outside as possible.

My neighbor who we will call, Jenny, was out with her children as well and we got them together to play for a while. As they played, we talked. Jenny is an incredibly kind soul and a very genuine person. I feel so blessed that we are neighbors. Our children are all very young and close in age, which makes for a lot of fun.

Some other parents may know how challenging it can be raising little ones. It is an absolute joy, but it comes with its challenges for sure. Jenny and I can openly communicate our feelings and concerns about motherhood or certain childhood behaviors and situations.

We Aren’t Alone

It’s always refreshing to talk to her because I don’t feel so alone. It melts the stress away by realizing that we and many others are in this together and doing the best that we can. Had I kept my thoughts and feelings to myself, I may have not gotten the chance to realize that all that I am experiencing and going through is “normal.” I don’t like that term too much because I don’t think there is such a thing, it’s a very broad spectrum. My main point in all of this is that we can see that we aren’t alone in this life journey.

Experiences 

Have you ever had the feeling that you are so different from everyone? Maybe you feel like no one can relate to you, or that no one truly understands where you’re coming from and who you are.

Have you ever noticed how this can be wrong? Having conversations with others can really be very eye-opening. We realize that we are not alone. There are other people that think the way that we do, and there are other people that have gone through what we have.

Sure, we are all on a different journeys with unique struggles, but we are all human and we can relate to each other if given the chance. There have been things that I don’t want to bring up out of fear of being “alone,” but when someone else brings it up, it’s like “wow!” I cannot believe that this happened to you also. It’s also important to note that being alone is not necessarily a bad thing. We are all unique in our own ways, but we find comfort knowing that others can relate to us.

We are more alike than we are different. We all have different sides of us and experiences. Sometimes we may feel ashamed or embarrassed, and we don’t want to talk about certain things, but opening up and being vulnerable can really take a lot of stress off of us if we can find connections with others.

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“We Are All Just Walking Each Other Home.”

I came across this beautiful quote by Ram Dass. I was in awe of its beauty and how it can represent several meanings. I love quotes, especially ones with a deep meaning. They often awaken something within me and help me see life in a different light. They offer encouragement and are beautiful words to ponder.

I took this quote two different ways, both equally beautiful. Perhaps, others will see this quote and understand it in a different way than I have. That’s what makes life beautiful, we all are working towards something together and see things in many different ways. It truly makes the world go round.

Meanings

The first meaning that I thought of when I saw this quote was that “home” represented Heaven, a place that I feel that we go after we leave our physical body. We are all here on Earth discovering our path to life and learning along the way. We are learning lessons, teaching lessons, and sharing a bit of ourselves with the world around us. In return, we are helping others to do the same. In a sense, every step that we take, every decision that we make, and every time that we help others, we are walking them “home.” We are with them in their life path from the beginning to the end.

The second meaning that I got from this quote was that “home” is regarding our “soul” and “heart.” When we talk and share with others, we are learning about them and helping them learn more about themselves. Often, we can learn even more about ourselves as we encounter different people and situations. In a sense, we are walking each other “home” to our true selves. Our home is a place where we tend to feel loved, secure, and safe.

Interpretation

How do you interpret this quote? This quote speaks volumes and I find it very beautiful. 

Pondering life is one of my favorite things. I like to think deeply about why we are here, what our mission is, and how we all relate to each other. I find it amazing that we are all truly miracles. Just being born is a miracle in itself!

Santa Claus and Cinnamon Rolls

The holiday season is getting into gear! The roads are busier, the stores are more crowded, and many people seem jollier than they usually are.

Traditions are being honored as we make our way through this joyous and magical season. Christmas trees are being assembled, gifts are being bought, and family traditions are about to take place in a matter of weeks.

The Mall

When I was little, my mom took my sister and I to the mall every year to see Santa Claus. We sat on his lap a few times to express our Christmas wish list, but we mainly went just to see him and watch him interact with all of the children.

We were always so excited to witness Santa Claus right there in the mall! The jolly man who made our lives happier and left his magic was right there in front of us.

My mom would take us into some stores to see all of the toys and be a part of the holiday hustle and bustle. It was a very exciting experience for us each year. The mall was beautifully decorated with wreaths, a large Christmas tree, and adorned with Christmas lights.

A Special Treat

After our mall tour and our visit with Santa, it was time for our traditional mall treat!

We made our way over to the Cinnabon. My mom ordered three cinnamon rolls, one for each of us and she ordered an iced coffee.

We sat at the table and looked through the glass at the staff making our delicious cinnamon rolls! We watched them roll out the dough, sprinkle on cinnamon and sugar, and then roll it up perfectly into a log. The dough was then cut to make separate rolls and placed in the oven. Watching this was an experience all in itself!

A Delicious Memory 

Smiles were all around as the cinnamon rolls were brought to our table covered in delicious, gooey white frosting. My mom had her iced coffee and she let us take a few sips, we loved it!

This tradition of Santa and cinnamon rolls quickly became one that was carried out every year. As we got older, we stopped this tradition, but the wonderful memories live on.

Every Christmas and holiday season, I think of this tradition with my mom and sister, we still talk about it today. I now have children of my own and I carry this tradition on with them every year. Mom even comes sometimes as well!

Whatever traditions you have, keep them alive. They will fuel happiness for many years to come!

Thanksgiving Magic

Exactly two weeks from now, many of us will be celebrating Thanksgiving! It is so hard to believe that this time of year is here again. I am very excited for the holidays to arrive!

Though this time of year can be crazy, busy, stressful, and emotional, I try to focus on the good that the holiday season brings.

I have always been the type of person that goes all out for the holidays and enjoys them to the fullest. They bring me joy and excitement and they add a little spice to life.

Thanksgiving Day Traditions

We get up early on Thanksgiving morning to get food prepped and to set up the dinner table. Time passes quickly as we prep as much as we can.

Before we know it, the time has come to sit down and enjoy Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade on TV! Watching this parade has been a tradition ever since I was a little girl. For those that have never seen it, the parade takes place in New York City every year and consists of floats, dancers, singers, and the grand finale is Santa Claus! I’ve never been to the actual parade; I just enjoy watching it from the warmth of my home!

The parade lasts three hours long and gets my family and I extra excited for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Traditions truly do make the heart happy as they transport us back to happier and simpler times.

Dinner Time

The turkey goes into the oven while we are watching the parade and takes several hours to cook. In the meantime, the side dishes and desserts are being made and set out on the table.

We always eat our Thanksgiving meal around 2:00 pm/3:00 pm, this is much earlier than we usually eat. It is almost a meal that is smack-dab in the middle of lunch and dinner. Very outside of our normal meal times.

Back when my grandparents were still living, Thanksgiving was hosted at their house and our family would all travel and meet there for good food and good company. I truly miss my grandparents and other loved ones that have passed on, especially during the holidays.

Since they have passed, we all have started celebrating within our own immediate families for the most part. The holiday memories will live on, and we are continuously making our own.

After the table is set, we all sit around and say a prayer and mention all that we are thankful for. It’s important to practice gratitude every day, but we make a point of saying it out loud on Thanksgiving Day.

 Being Thankful

Life is never going to be perfect or anywhere close, but we all have something to be thankful for this holiday season. It can be as simple as having hope or having the chance to be with our loved ones.

However, you chose to celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope that you stay safe, have lots of fun, and realize all that there is to be grateful for!

We Don’t Talk Anymore

The other day I was scrolling through the Contact list on my cell phone, trying to find a phone number that I needed to jot down.

As I was scrolling trying to find the name of the person that I was looking for, I came across several people who are no longer in my life. So many emotions came over me.

What I Found

I came across contacts that have mutually faded slowly over time, ones that have ghosted me, and ones where there was a falling out. Sadly, one of my contacts that I came across had even passed away within the last year, but I didn’t have the heart to remove them from my phone.

After jotting down the phone number that I needed, I was left in a state of reflection. I felt sadness for the people that I had lost. I was left thinking of the memories that I had with each of these people. A brief sadness came over me.

State of Mind

After feeling initial sadness, I quickly thought of the phrase that describes how people are in our lives for “a reason, a season, or a lifetime.” Many of these people on my contact list have been there for a lifetime thankfully, many others were there for a reason or a season.

Seeing the names of people from my past brought back so many memories. I reminisced about where I met them, what we talked about, what I learned from them, and how each of them touched my soul in some way. Each individual, regardless of how the relationship ended, helped me grow in some way and even taught me about myself.

Acceptance

Unfortunately, losing touch with others is a part of life, but we are left with memories and what they have taught us. They have each shaped us in some way and we can be grateful for that.

I truly believe that other people are placed in our lives for a reason. Sometimes we may find that they are placed there at just the right time.

I have no closure with several of the contacts that I came across. While this does bring me sadness and wonder, I have to accept this fact. Maybe one day, our paths will cross again, and maybe I will never know, but it’s up to me to be at peace.

Message for You

As always, we should cherish the individuals that we have in our lives right now and express our gratitude and love for them. We should strive to directly and openly communicate to keep these relationships alive and thriving as long as possible.

If you have people in your life that you have had a falling out with, or that have left your life in some way, I encourage you to spend a little time thinking about the positive aspects of what that relationship brought you.

Maybe you learned about yourself or the world around you, or maybe you learned what you do and don’t want from a relationship. Sometimes we focus mainly on the negative things that we have experienced with someone, but even if we have to search for a long time, there is bound to be a positive that we can discover!