Spring Forward

Hi. My name is Louise and I am a cliche. Or a Hallmark card. I haven't decided which yet.

Here's the thing: when I am down, I am REALLY down. When I am up, I embarrass Pollyanna with my perkiness. Not bipolar, as  such, just super-affected by what is happening around me and my mood often reflects that. 

I have been so flat-out busy lately that my self-image has really taken a hit. "Beached whale" comes to mind. Sigh. 

Luckily as team captain of our wellness challenge team, I must lead. Me, being me, is leading by example. I bought a FitBit (complete with extra pretty wristbands) and don't want to let myself down. I have pushed myself out of my office and out on campus everyday this week on lunch. Today, I even got to take a longer break and a longer walk. Yay. Striving for equanimity in mood and fitness. This is a big deal for lots of people, I know. Let's support each other. That's what life is REALLY all about, right?

Back from the Dead...with projects!

When you decide to become a blogger, you always have great intentions: posting valuable and timely content, being engaging and interesting, taking eye-catching photos. Then life happens. Careers change. Relationships need work. Self-confidence and self-worth plummet. Well, not always, but that is what happened to me.

Thankful Thursday: New and Improving...

In the last 45 days, I have been undergoing a major attitude adjustment and it has truly changed my life. I am not at all ashamed to say that I started an antidepressant and knew that I had to do some work to make that a major life change. I have been learning to let things go, not to take things personally and what really truly matters to me. I have little post-it notes around my desk at work on my lap top with gentle reminders to keep things in perspective. Rather than being stressful though, the effect has been lightening and has allowed me to really devote time that I used to spend worrying or catastrophizing or getting bent out of shape in creating and learning. I am so much happier.

With this life change has come a better mood, a sharper dresser and a new zeal to learn. I just completed my first ever crochet project and as you can see above, I am working on my second. I am about to start my first knitting project done from a commercial pattern. This weekend, I am going to try my hand and wool felt applique. I have cooked and prepped food for the next two weeks and have all my meals planned through early December. Blog posts are also planned that far in advance and I am happily working on projects to share. 

My life has become my own and I am thankful daily.