I don't have time.

I am chronically a busy person. Our schedule always feels packed and I even thrive amongst the busy-ness. It's hard though because I feel like certain things in my life have gotten neglected because of that divided attention. I used to make sure our lawn was mowed once a week, but shamefully I admit we allowed 3 weeks to go by last time. I used to exercise every single morning, but lately I feel like sleeping an extra few minutes wins out. 

I came across this article in the Wall Street Journal about being busy. It really hit a sensitive spot! It suggests that we change our language when it comes to our time. A common excuse is "I don't have time to ...." I don't have time to exercise. I don't have time to read. I don't have time to do your ironing. etc. Instead, try saying "_______ isn't a priority." "Exercising isn't a priority." "Blogging today isn't a priority." 

Say it out loud. Some things aren't going to sit well! Saying that exercise isn't a priority makes me really uncomfortable! Now I have no problem saying doing your laundry isn't a priority. But, watching an entire season of a show in one sitting somehow is a priority? Another sentence that makes me feel icky.

Changing the way we think about time v. priority really affects how we feel about that task. If I'm honest with myself some things have just become not really that important. Mowing my lawn each week is just not important to me anymore, which is totally cool. But, there are certain things that have no excuse. Health is a priority, and using the don't have time excuse just won't cut it for me. So I am really making it goal to change how I think about my to-do list and how I think about my time. Hopefully it will change how I end up using that time!

Leave me a comment: How guilty do you feel after trying this?? Or do you feel better about figuring out what exactly is important to you?

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I don't have time.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

I'm happiest when...

You know those moments in your day when you are just completely content and comfortable? Like, everything is just perfectly fine. As a person whose mind is always racing and always planning, those moments don't happen too often for me. 

Rarely do I feel settled. I just feel like there is always something that needs to be done, and there probably is something I need to clean. It's been a goal of mine for a while to just relax and take a deep breath once in a while. Our lives are so busy and time is just going by so quickly. I want to take note of when I feel happiest and content. 

I feel happiest when I wake up early. I feel happiest when I exercise first thing in the morning-and when I really work out as hard as I can. I feel happiest when I drink a cup of Earl Grey tea with my breakfast. I feel happiest when I'm not running late. I feel happiest when I have a plan for the day. I feel happiest when I meet a friend for a lunch date. I feel happiest when I don't raid the junk food drawer at work. I feel happiest when the sun is shining. I feel happiest when I have a cute outfit on. 

But, mostly I feel happiest at the end of my day. My favorite nights are the ones that end hanging out on the couch. It is an amazing feeling of contentment. The kitchen is cleaned. I've got my blanket, and I'm totally stretched out on the couch. I think Blake has gotten used to my feet being on him by now. Delly is all snuggled up-usually with me! That's how I know I'm her favorite. I'm happiest when we've found a good show to watch. I'm happiest when my husband is cracking up. I love his laugh, especially when he thinks something is really funny. I'm happiest when I feel so comfortable I fall asleep on the couch, and I know Blake will wake me up to go climb into bed. 

Leave me a comment: When are you the happiest? Is it hard for you to notice those little things?

xoxo Kristen

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I'm happiest when...

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Negative Reviews

I'm pretty proud of the little side business I've got going on with selling items on Ebay! I've managed to make some extra money with stuff I don't even miss. The other day I was leaving some feedback for a customer, and noticed that I had still had 100% positive ratings from everything I sold. Then glaringly I noticed a single neutral review. I clicked on that review so fast, and promptly got really angry. The neutral review said that the item they bought was not as I described. First of all, I photographed that item perfectly-including a close up of the fabric, which they were complaining about. Secondly, I accepted a much lower offer from them than I had originally wanted. So this person had the nerve to complain about something I had clearly photographed, and they got it for super cheap. I think that's why they left a neutral review, rather than negative. 

So, I know what you are thinking. It's neutral, not a negative review! While my brain totally comprehends that, I still can't help but be irritated. They are tarnishing my reputation! If this Ebay review had legitimate complaints, I could have tried to resolve the issue. It is a business after all, you do need to make your customer happy. 

I noticed though, that is how I react to all negative "reviews" or comments about me. I could not get this dumb review out of my head for the whole day. Tons of positive reviews, but all I could see what this one. Anytime I see or hear anything negative about me-it's all I can think about. I was able to stop obsessing over this ebay thing after I decided it was unfounded. I want to apply that same strategy next time I get any type of negative feedback since I have such a lovely history of obsessing over them. While I don't think I can completely ignore negative comments, my goal is to give them less thought. I say less thought, because I do think you need to notice them. I needed to give thought to that neutral review to decide if I could do anything to fix it. Most of the time the answer will be No, I can't fix that. Once that is decided, there is nothing else to be done. If what you are doing is right, and you a doing your best, that negative comment really doesn't even deserve a second thought. Focusing on the negative is just such a huge expenditure of energy. I don't know about you, but I have so many other things going on that I really can't afford the brain drain and distraction of negativity. 

Leave me a comment: How do you deal with negative reviews? Is it something you can easily ignore? What about negative comments? Do you reply to them?

xoxo Kristen

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Negative Reviews

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

A Little Less Judgement

Recently, in two totally different situations, I have learned about someone casting judgement without knowing the whole story. I guess I'm feeling sensitive to it because in both of these situations I am aware of the the whole story and the judgement wasn't fair. It made me so upset. But, then I realized, I do the exact same thing all the time. 

I'm a judger! I know I do it. It isn't usually out-loud, mostly just privately in my own head. After listening to these stories about others being so hurt by other's judgements, it really hit me about how often I do it too. If I see a messy house, many times my first thought is "lazy". Someone orders a refill on their soda, "whoa, tons of sugar.." It's horrible, I know.

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I came across this quote, and I don't know the source, but it is so powerful and it really hit me:

"We are very good lawyers for our own mistakes, but very good judges for the mistakes of others."

We will passionately defend everything we do, but will quickly jump to conclusions about what other people do. 

I'm not sure why we are naturally negative in this way. It is probably something we do in self defense, to make ourselves feel better about our own insecurities. I'm not even sure when I developed this habit, because usually I'm pretty positive. But, it has really bothered me so I'm setting a few goals:

1. Give people the benefit of the doubt.

Instead of just assuming someone is lazy because their house is messy, I'm going to believe that they are incredibly busy doing something else really important to them. Which is probably true anyway.

2. Don't listen to other's judgements.

Judgement can be silent, but we also hear it all the time in the conversations of others. I want to help the person being judged by ending those conversations. I would want the same done for me! When those conversations come up I can either a] Defend the person or b]Change the subject. My hope is that people will notice that I do this, and stop talking that way around me all together. I'm thinking this may even mean a change in who I'm spending a lot of time with. I want to surround myself with positive people! 

I'm sharing because I want accountability! Bad habits are hard to break, and I really want to break this one. So, leave me a comment! Are you trying to break this habit too? Do you have any good subject changers when things get negative? 

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A Little Less Judgement

Monday, January 12, 2015

Blossom

"Blossom where you are planted", a popular phrase. This is something that I truly believe in, and have personally embraced. 

Growing up, my family traveled very often. From a young age we all developed wanderlust. I know my sister and I both don't feel complete without a trip on the calendar in the near future. 

Now that I am a grown up (yuck) and married, I don't get to take as many trips as I'd like. We travel fairly often, but it is usually short distances. 

Blake and I would love to be able to pack up and go! We have purposely put off having kids so that we can have the freedom to do that. But, the problem is we don't really have that much freedom. Owning a house ties you down so much. 

We also own a house in a small town. 

I noticed that when I dwell on that fact, I have to admit that I start to feel a little trapped. 

I just want to go! anywhere! 

Here is where the Blossom quote comes in. 

I could obsess about all of the things I can't do.

Here is a fact:

I may want to see the world, but I can't right now. (sad face) 

But, what I can do: Blossom. 

I can make the most of my life whatever/wherever that is. 

While there are many things about my house or small town that I dislike, I choose to focus on what I do like!

Contentment means being happy where you are and with what you have.

 Complaining will not make anything better. In fact, complaining will only make people want you to go more than you want to leave. 

How do you guys stay content? 

& Have you embraced any popular sayings? 

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Blossom

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

What To Do When...

You find out someone has been talking behind your back.

It is never a good idea to talk about someone behind their back, because somehow-someway it will get back to them. 

Recently this happened to me. It hurts! Finding out someone has a negative opinion of you can be devastating. When this happens to you, you have a few options. 

1. Decide if it matters to you what they think. 

To help you decide:

How do other people (people you respect) view that person?

Do they have the same standards I do?

Why do you think they chose you to talk about?

Is there any truth to what they said?

When you decide that you do value that person's opinion, that is when you should confront the situation. 

If you do not value the person's opinion, let it go. (cue Frozen sing along)

Proverbs 26:4- "Do not answer the stupid one according to his foolishness, so that you do not put yourself on his level."

&

2. Prove them wrong.

Whether or not you value that person's opinion, all you can do is your best. Be the best person you can be, and prove them wrong. All I can do is show the world who I really am. 

Do you have any strategies when dealing with bad mouthers? 

What To Do When...

Friday, October 17, 2014

Positivity

Free Printables!

I really do think you can choose your mood. Even if you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, that day you can choose to be nice to people and smile anyway! Fake it until you make it!

We tend to feed off those around us. If you are happy, then people will reply with a similar disposition. Have you ever tried being mean to a really nice person? It's hard. If you let your bad day shine through, people may respond negatively back to you. & now you have a vicious cycle of my bad day just got worse because someone was rude to me. 

Instead, feed your mind with good. Think about everything that is going right. It is so easy to dwell on things that are all wrong. There are so many things to be happy about, and there are so many good things to come. 

Choose to be happy! Because who is stopping you?

Positivity

Monday, October 13, 2014