Moving in Cyberspace

I moved.  I moved my blog.  That's an easy thing to do logistically speaking, but in cyberspace that translates to you not finding me.  So this is me reminding you that you can find me at the address below and be sure to subscribe while you're there so you don't miss a single post.

Jen's Walls Talk

I look forward to seeing you there.

Make it a beautiful day, friends.

-Jennille

Because 10 is Less Than 50

We finished our #Whole30 body-food-mind reset this week.  Whoo hoo!  Then there were donuts at work yesterday...and I didn't need one.  It's good.  I feel good.  As a result of continued working out, eating well, and supplementing well, I ended up losing 5 pounds by the end of the month.   

If you know me live and in person, then you know I'm not severely overweight.  Other than when I was pregnant with my kiddos, I have never gained a significant amount of extra weight.  I tell you this not to brag, but to shift your thinking a bit.  It has been my practice for the few times I have gained some extra weight to address the issue before I get to an extra 10 pounds.  Why?  Because 10 is less than 50.  It's a whole lot easier to address the issue when it's smaller than wait until you have a bigger problem...and more side effects.

The same concept applies to a lot of areas of our lives: personal finance, marriage, conflict at work, organizing/decluttering, and the list goes on.  Why do we wait until it hurts really badly before we address the problems? We don't have to. Just so you know.

As a disclaimer, I am speaking to a normal, otherwise healthy person.  There are some medical conditions or medicines that can cause weight gain, and under those conditions, we just have to do the best we can to feel as best as we can.

What issues do you need to address?  

Make it a beautiful day, friends.

Very soon you'll read these posts on my website.  Stay tuned!  

Why Shout?

From time to time you see me give a shout out to someone.  It might be someone who has helped me. It might be someone who has inspired me.  Maybe it's someone who shall not be named because they've insulted, hurt, or attacked me.  I strive to not live in negative land as I grow myself and my business, but life happens sometimes and I want to vent...  Nevertheless, life goes on, business grows and I am much happier living in the place of gratefulness and empowering.

For you my reader, I want to talk about this for a minute.  I want you to understand that when I give a shout out, it's not because the recipient has asked me to.  None of the lovely people I have highlighted on here have ever asked me to post something about them. (In all reality, I'm sure that sounds really scary and vain to ask someone to write about you.) Because it would be weird and because I am truly grateful for the help offered to me, whether I paid for it or not, I like to further offer thanks by letting others know what an awesome job someone has done for me in whatever arena it is that they have assisted me in.

So thank you to each of you that have inspired me, encouraged me, challenged me, helped me, fixed my mistakes, or just given me something to write about.  Some of you may not have known it was you I was writing about.  Not everyone is okay with living a bit in the public eye, and that's fine, too. I respect your privacy by not putting your name out there, but I'm still thankful for you.

For those of you reading posts with a link to a business, I hope you take the opportunity to visit those websites.  These people are awesome.  I wouldn't put it out there if they weren't.

Who do you have to be thankful for in your journey?  Tell them today.  Share it with someone else.

Make it a beautiful day, friends.

Very soon you'll be able to find my blog at www.JensWallsTalk.com.  I'm not done yet and may be jumping the gun by putting this out there.  I just want you to know where to find me.  See you soon!

...AAAAND  HAPPY 250TH BLOG POST TO ME!:0D 

Do the Right Thing?

Martin Luther King, Jr. is credited with saying,

"The time is always right to do what is right."

...as Mr. King knew, it's not always easy, though.  Just like every other action we have, there are consequences when we face a moral dilemma type of situation.  I had one of those this week.  I can't share what happened, but I knew if I took action, it would directly affect someone else's life, and maybe not in a way they would enjoy or appreciate.

The problem with the world we live in is that it's broken.  The father of lies is a master of deception. I struggled with doing the right thing because I heard a voice in my head telling me that I would be causing some very unfortunate consequences for someone else because of me taking the initiative to call this person out on their actions.  Did you get that?  I was feeling guilty for calling someone out on a illegal action because I knew they would get in trouble.  I was feeling guilty for the other person's actions.  And then I realized that I didn't make them do what they did.  That was all on them. It was their choice.  Not mine.  But it did cause me to have to make a choice of my own: whether or not to tell the truth.

I was at peace with the choice I made...but I kept hearing those little lies nagging me in the back of my mind.  Then I read my devotions the next morning and this was the verse,

"The LORD detests lying lips, but He delights in men who are truthful." Proverbs 12:22

God is good.  This devotional is on a schedule and He planned it for that day after my situation occurred.  This verse affirmed to me again that I had done the right thing...because the time is always right to do the right thing. 

I am not infallible, friends.  I am not perfect.  I mess up plenty.  Believe me.  This time I made the right choice.

Make it a beautiful day, friends.

Next week you might see my blog in a different location.  (Remember that change I was talking about?)  I'll keep you posted.  

Call for Backup!

I'm in the process of rebuilding my website...basically from scratch.  I thought it was pretty good the last go round--until I had a professional web designer look at it for me and give me some feedback.  I was swiftly reminded that I don't know what I don't know.  

As I evaluate and re-evaluate and process and reprocess what it is that I want my professional website to say to my clients, it would be very easy to get lost in the minutia that is the psychology of selling and dispersing information online.  It's no wonder companies spend thousands and thousands of dollars to build websites.  It's madness!  But I don't have thousands and thousands of dollars to spend (yet) and I don't believe in going into debt, so I'm finding a way to make it work.  I'm asking for help.

I know a lot of business people.  Many of my friends are entrepreneurial.  It's pretty cool, actually. So I looked at who did the website for the successful dentist, the exploding headband company, the jammin' custom jump rope maker, and you know what I found?  It was all the same person.  So I called him.  He was gracious enough to acknowledge my budget restrictions and meet me where I was at.  A consult became the plan to head my internet ship on the right current.  A consult he did and a website to rebuild, I have.

Want this for your wall?  Get it here.

I am under no illusions that having a great website automatically makes a great business, but it is often the very first interaction people have with a business in this digital age we live in.  So where am I going with all this rambling about ineffective web presence and business friends?  I simply want to remind you that it's okay to admit when you don't know something.  Even someone like me (who appears to know a bit about everything) is at a loss sometimes.  Call for reinforcements.  You may just end up better in the end...in fact, I'm sure you will.

Make it a beautiful day, friends.

When you're done learning your lesson for today, and you realize you are ready for a better and more effective web presence, check out this guy.  Justin Farr is really creative and smart...and very patient with those of us that insist on doing it ourselves.  He does an even more amazing job when you let him do what he does best.

Change...

Change is coming.  It's inevitable.  I'm not talking about today's presidential inauguration, though I'm glad for change in that arena (and that's all I have to say about that for the time being).  I'm actually doing a big change up on my blog.  

I've been blogging since January 1, 2015, in this particular space.  I'm not ready to spill all the details yet, and, quite frankly, some of them aren't ready yet.  Keep your eyes peeled for some fun new things to be featured in this blog space.  

No need to fret.  I'll still be posting regularly.  I'll still be sharing snippets of wisdom and inspiration I've gleaned from living my life and seeing the wonderful, crazy, silly folk around me.  Things will just be...a little different.

Stay tuned, and in the meantime...

Make it a beautiful day, friends.

Catch up with me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  See you soon!

Color Makes it Better

I've mentioned before that we got a screaming deal on a fixer upper 4 years ago.  With the skills of my uber-handy hubby, we have made great strides since we've lived here.  The kitchen was remodeled and the basement finished before we even moved in, but in the fashion of a true fixer upper, we are still working on many projects.  We live in it and have to work around that tiny little fact.  We are also paying cash for any renovations we've done, so many things are still in progress...my master bedroom included.

If you have ever visited my website, then you know that I do color consulting and specialty painting on the side of my day job.  I love it.  It's one of my creative outlets, but you know how the cobbler's kids go barefoot?  Combined with mommy-puts-herself-last syndrome...well, that may be why I have no color on my bedroom walls, in addition, the paying cash for each remodel project slows down this project because this room needs entirely new drywall.  You get it.  It's a process (and also confirmation that we will never buy another fixer upper that we have to live in while we fix it up!).

Get this little art gallery for your little artist here.

I need a band-aid for the issue.  My room feels blah and incomplete.  It doesn't feel like the sanctuary or retreat, like I would like it to.  It was actually hubby's idea, but we're going to paint that room because it's not the next project on the list, and we need it to feel better.  No, I don't think the room has feelings.  Let me rephrase that: we need to feel better when we are in our room, and mismatched colors (it was two rooms made into one) don't give that vibe very well.  Color changes the way our environment feels.  I believe that, and that why I do what I do.  A little color change can make everything feel better, but don't do it wrong because that can open a whole other can of worms...

Sometimes the answer to a solution is very simple.  What are you trying to over complicate today?

Make it a beautiful day, friends.

You can see my color choices if you pop over to Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.  Jen's Walls Talk.  Do yours?

Almost Ruined by a Noodle

"What are you doing? You can't eat that!" yelled my son incredulously as I stuck a spaghetti noodle in my mouth to check doneness. There wasn't anything wrong with the noodle.  I don't have any allergies to foods that I know of, but I am doing a #Whole30 for the remainder of this month...so no grain. 

I don't usually cook two meals at one sitting.  As in, you get what you get and you don't throw a fit when it comes to dinner around here.  But during a Whole30 might be the one exception. Tonight we had spaghetti squash with meat sauce. I made a package of noodles for the kids simply for time sake and to be an understanding mom. (It happens on occasion!) 

I simply put the silly noodle in my mouth to see if it was done.  While it wouldn't have been the end of the world, it would have technically ruined my Whole30.  I didn't even want to eat the noodle. The irony is that an hour earlier, I was at a meeting...with a tummy actively engaging in hungry rumbling and a pan full of delicious smelling, ooey gooey, chocolate, peanut butter and marshmallow goodness that I politely declined and walked away from. I didn't need it.  And THAT, friends, is the beauty of the Whole30.

The mindless eating is so often what throws us off kilter. We stuff food in our mouths because we're in a hurry, bored, craving _______ when we really need the opposite of that.  My encouragement for you is to simply pay attention to what you put in your mouth. If you want the brownie, eat it, enjoy it. But if you really don't need it, leave it.

What other mindless activities are sabotaging your efforts?

Make it a beautiful day, friends.

When your done spitting out your noodle, hit the subscribe button so you can have each blog post delivered to your inbox. 

Easier the Second Time

It's January.  Almost everyone has new year resolutions to get healthier.  Sometimes that includes weight loss.  Sometimes it just means to cut out soda.  At our house it means doing a #whole30. 

A Whole 30 is not for everyone.  It's a reset on your body in relation to food.  It's not so much a cleanse as it is a re-establishing of healthy tastes, cravings, and mindset when it comes to the substance we put in our faces everyday (that should be nourishing, not harming).  Here's the rules in a nutshell: no dairy, no grains, no alcohol, no sugar (in any form), no legumes.  At first glance, you might think that doesn't leave much to eat, when in reality it leaves an abundance of food in their natural form.  It forces us to try new foods and flavors.  It's more a food adventure than a self imposed torture session...and at the end, I know I will feel AMAZING.  I know this, because I've done it before.

Get this lovely reminder for your kitchen here

It's been a couple years ago, but I still feel some of the positive effects of having done a Whole 30 before.  As with any discipline habit we are just beginning, it is helpful to look to past victories to know that I can reach the win this time.  We're a week into this food reset, and I feel really good already.  Knowing how super amazing I'll feel at the end motivates me to keep going and making one good food choice after another.  It's easier the second time around because I know the victory will be real, so it's worth it.

Is your current struggle worth the end result?  Have you pictured in detail how that end result will feel?  If it doesn't feel worth it right now, then make your goal more detailed and maybe bigger.

Make it a beautiful day, friends.

You can find me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.  And at www.JensWallsTalk.com.  See you there!

P.S. If you want more info on the Whole 30 program, you can get the original book here. If you want more recipes to go with your current or upcoming Whole 30, click here.

P.P.S. A couple of support things I've been doing this time around are my emeals account (they have a paleo option that is very simple to tweak any questionable ingredients to Whole30 approved ingredients).  And I've been using this supplement system for the past 3 weeks...and have NOT had any coffee (except 1 cup and that was a mistake) to drink.  I'm not even kidding.

Your Application

A while back , I alluded to a relationship challenge.  It would be arrogant and ridiculous to imply that I never have any challenges, but it doesn't seem to happen too often, fortunately.  It would be inappropriate for me to divulge names and details of the rift, but suffice it to say, it's an ongoing issue to a certain extent, as sometimes we are unable to walk completely away from some relationships. The only other option is reconciliation.  As I pondered what it means to reconcile and heal, there came realization of what exactly is so hard: application.

Application is the self-discipline portion of the relationship.  Application is where we simultaneously acknowledge the wrong done and look you in the eye and say, "I still like you." It's the part where we act on the base of love that the relationship was built on, rather than the more recent hurt that we see every time we look at that person...and that is difficult.  There is no arguing that sometimes we want to be mad.  We want to live in our hurt place because we're justified.  We are righteous in our anger or hurt.  So what does it look like to apply healing in a wounded relationship?

I'm sure it looks like a lot of different things to heal a rift.  It could look like a hug and "I love you" when you see that person.  It could look like a smile and a bit of joking like old times.  It's sampling the waters and it has to come back slowly.  There is no quick fix for a deep wound.  Here's the part of application that takes the most tenacity: it's a choice. I must choose to act in forgiveness rather than in the hurt I still feel.  Let me say that again: I must choose to act in forgiveness rather than in the hurt I still feel.

That is your (and my!) assignment today.  Go.

Make it a beautiful day, friends.

After your realization that you've been hanging on to your anger sinks in, run over to Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for some fun.  Thank you for sharing and subscribing.  You're a rock star. Now go act like it.

It's My 10th Birthday Party--30 Years Later

When I was 10 I had planned the birthday party to end all birthday parties.  I had games, beauty stations, food, and sleeping arrangements carefully planned for each of my 15 guests.  Yes.  I had 15 10-year-old girls at my house.  I'm sure my mom tried to talk me out of it, but in my 10-year-old mind, I thought that was a good idea.  What happened in reality was that 15 different people have 15 different ideas about what it looks like to hang out at a sleepover.  Surprise!  So halfway through my party, I ended up in my mom's room crying because I thought the party was going horribly.

I learned from that obviously traumatic experience that people have their own ideas, and especially in a social gathering, will tend to wander in all different directions.  Fast forward 30 years to New Year's Eve.  I did it again.  In my effort to make sure everyone was included and going to have a blast, I did it again...and it was an epic fail.  How could a gathering of great friends and food and kids become an epic fail?  Because I didn't go.

I allowed guilty, liar voice to convince me that I would feel really bad if not everyone was able to go...and that I was responsible for that.  Ugh.  This totally sounds like something from middle school, but you'll recall I turned 40 just a few weeks ago.  The lesson I am reminded of and that I hope you hear as well is this:

I am 100% responsible for my own responses and actions...but I don't have any control over others' responses. 

It is kind to include others.  It is friendly to invite all--but I can't please everyone all the time.  It's impossible.  So continue to invite, include, and have fun in 2017, but for pete's sake, quit trying to please everyone all the time.  You'll both end up unhappy, or not.  It might just make only you miserable.

Make it a beautiful year, friends.

When you are done including everyone in your sharing of this post, click on over to Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for some fun color feeds.  You can also find me on www.JensWallsTalk.com .

What I've Learned About Resolutions

Today is a day just like any other.  Tomorrow will be a new day.  The day after is a brand new day. The day after that is a brand new day, too.  Are you sensing a pattern?  

It is almost a new year.  It feels like we should be starting over, setting resolutions and writing down goals.  And you should...if you do that in April or July, or another part of the year.  You should write new goals...if you've already learned that your goals are only as good as the habits already developed.  The daily habits that you set in motion way before January 1st are what will make resolutions stick.  

So enjoy this new day.  Enjoy tomorrow, too. Have a beautiful 2017.  Admit that a new day will not automatically get you to your goal...your established, productive habits will get you to your new goal.

Make it a beautiful day, friends.

Thanks for subscribing and sharing.  Visit me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Who is Rooting for Your Marriage?

Alone together.  That's how I heard one person describe our culture of social media.  We sit alone on our couch looking at other peoples' posts on social media.  The posts are the highlight reel.  It's not that they are bad things we post...it's just not all the things.

I don't believe we should air our "dirty laundry" on social media.  We've all seen the posts that are vague and specifically angry. Um.  Be a grown up and go talk to that person.  Don't post it on facebook.  But that's not where I'm going today. I found out last weekend that a couple I thought I knew is getting divorced.  Apparently, I wasn't the only one surprised by this announcement. Someone else commented that they had no idea the couple was having trouble.  

"They didn't want to air their dirty laundry," was the reply.

While I don't think it's everyone's business if someone is having trouble in their marriage, it's my hope and prayer that you have someone in your life that you can talk to and have that real conversation:

"I'm having a really hard time in my marriage right now with ___." Fill in the blank.  Anything, on any given day can be really hard when you are married.

I have a wonderful husband, but there are still times that I want to choke him with my bare hands.  At that point, I need a real friend to tell me that they are rooting for my marriage...not what a jerk my husband is and that I should leave him.  Divorce is not easier, friends.  That is the lie the world tries to tell you.  That is the lie Satan whispers in your ear.  Marriage is not always sunshine and roses.  It's work...and it's a choice.

If you are the one struggling, please reach out to someone.  There are so many resources available. You are not alone.  If you don't know anyone you think will be on the side of your marriage, please message me.  I will pray for you. (Here is one resource you can look into.) If you are in a real physically or emotionally abusive relationship, that is another matter entirely.  You need help, too, and know that is not okay.  Please, get outside help.

We all want our happily ever after.  Sometimes we need to roll up our sleeves and work for it.

Make it a beautiful day, friends.

I'm sad for the heavy topic today.  This has been weighing on my heart.  After you get done pondering the current state of your relationship, visit me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for some light hearted decorating fun.  If you are looking for some color change up in your home or business, stop by www.JensWallsTalk.com for ideas and consult information.  Thanks for sharing.  You don't know who might need to read this today.

Mountain Lions and Ninjas

I hang around funny people.  Life is more fun that way.  Two of these maybe-a-bit-competitive gentlemen may have an ongoing competition/hypothetical discussion about whether or not they could kill a mountain lion before it kills them.  Fortunately, this is only a hypothetical discussion and not a retelling of a real life, horrific situation.  This discussion has been going on for years, apparently, but now it's shifted...

A couple weeks ago, one of these pranksters approached me at the gym and told me that even with my black belt, he felt he could take me.  He could take me down before I could kill him.  I'll be honest, at first my feelings were a little offended.  Sure he may have 50 pounds on me, but I have some skills and some knowledge that should give me the advantage.  (I hope that studying karate for 8 years has taught me a little more than just how to punch or kick!) While I wouldn't say I'm super aggressive, I do feel like I could hold my own if there were to be a random "mountain lion" situation.

The funny thing is that I didn't know about this particular discussion before the throw down was issued at the gym.  I thought my friend was being the sarcastic, sometimes filter-less, often outspoken, albeit hilarious person that he is.  But the more I got to thinking about this weird challenge to my hard earned skill set, I realized they were comparing me to a mountain lion.  (If you live in Colorado, you know that if you encounter a mountain lion in the wild, it's probably too late for you.  Sorry.)  What I'm saying is this: it's kind of an honor to have grown men wondering if they can kill me before I kill them...an honor in a weird, twisted kind of way, I know, but I'll take it.

What strange compliments have you received today?

Make it a beautiful day, friends.

When you're done contemplating what kind of strange people would come up with such a discussion in the first place, pop over to Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for some inspiration that's a little more tame.  You can also subscribe to this blog simply by entering your email in the box below.

What Did You Ask for 10 Years Ago?

At my gathering of friends for my birthday-ness, one of my friends asked me about the highlights of the last decade. I'm sometimes hesitant to pull up to the bragtable, but I do believe it's good to reflect and see how far we've come, on occasion.  

My list accomplishments that I'm proud of could go on, but it wasn't until a week after my party that one of my friends pointed out something else that I have accomplished in the last decade: friendships. This particular friend, I have known since I was about 12. She reminded me of a conversation we had about 10 years ago. I was a stay at home mom and we had just moved back to the area and I was looking for relationship with depth and accountability and honesty. I had a few friendships that were close-ish, but I was desiring the next level in friendship and spiritual growth.

Through a series of circumstances, we ended up with a small group Bible study...that we're still a part of. Some of the faces have changed and there are some newer ones I've also grown to love, but these are my core people. We've even split a couple times because we were too large, but I still love all of  the people. They are the ones that tell me when I'm having unreasonable expectations of myself. They're the ones that will stop what they're doing to pray with me. They're the ones who bring me a coffee and a hug just because.  Ten years later, I'm glad we made the choice to find our people.

I know without a doubt that God brought each of these people into our life. He knew exactly what I needed to stretch, grow, challenge, and encourage me. That safe place to be vulnerable and honest has made me better at other relationships, too. My point is that it was a choice to put ourselves out there.  It was a choice to be vulnerable and willing to develop relationships...and I'm so thankful we did.

Make it a beautiful day, friends.

Subscribing is what all the cool kids are doing, so put your email in the box below to get each post when it's hot off the presses. You can find me having color and decor type of fun on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, too.

Rootin', Tootin' Flutin'

I played the flute all through school.  I won't say that I was exceptional, but I was good and more than anything, I enjoyed it.  

Last year, being the musical creature God made her to be, my daughter started to play flute, too. She was good, and, of course, a natural. Long fingers, great rhythm, and an amazing ear for all things musical, it was no surprise when she quickly picked it up.  Tonight, I was so proud to witness the legacy continuing.

It's the time of year for winter recitals, so away we went to watch our girl do her thing. Of course, every parent was proud of their child. They all did well. But I was especially proud to see how confident she was as she played in a duet and a solo that she volunteered for.  Volunteered. My baby girl who likes to think she's shy, but then has these glimpses of sparkle that break out every now and then.  It's really beautiful! She's amazing!

I appreciate your letting me brag on my kiddo for a moment, but I want you to understand something else about this little recital: she wasn't amazing just because she practiced. She was amazing because the music was in her and she couldn't help but let it out. She is living in and expressing her gifting. What kind of glow do you have when you're living in your purpose? What's in you?  Who were you created to be? 

Make it a beautiful day, friends.

Thank you for subscribing in the box below. You're terrific! After you get done here, let your fingers walk you over to my Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter pages. There you'll find my color adventures. Happy Friday! 

Planning for Help

I have a lot on my plate.  I think I always will, or at least for a good while.  It's just the season I'm in.  

I'm fairly organized, at least as far as my calendar goes, but I believe I can do better.  I do manage to get my family fed on a regular basis--just kidding. They have food available every day, and usually there is some semblance of a meal (thank you, emeals!).  That part of my schedule feels like it works most of the time. Where I run into trouble is my to do list...I don't think I'll ever get done with it.

I was discussing this issue with my coach last week and we decided I need to add some priorities to my scheduling, as well as changing the format a bit.  I know there are a TON of different planning and/or calendar systems out there.  I'm currently using Google calendar, which I really like in a lot of ways, but it has some short comings.  Here's where you come in: I'd love to know what calendar/planning systems you use. My qualifications are that it has to be portable and intuitive.  I don't want a wall size calendar to carry around with me all the time, or something so complicated that I can't use it well.

I don't usually ask for much feedback in this blog space, but I'd really live to hear what you know on this one.

Make it a beautiful day, friends.

Thank you for your feedback and for subscribing. You can also find me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, or pop over to www.JensWallsTalk.com for a peek at what I do for fun and a creative outlet.

Looking Back to Move Forward

Then I had a client ask me this question last week,

"Did you always know you would do something with artistic design?" I believe I did...it just took me a while to get there.

There were little snippets of my future sprinkled in my past...smoldering twigs, if you will.  I took art classes during summer...like a lot of kids do.  Coloring, painting, drawing.  I always liked to do that stuff.  At age 10, I started taking painting lessons.  Apparently, my parents saw something in me that I thought was just something people did, but they saw as more exceptional.  I'm not saying I was a phenom.  I wasn't.  But it was something I was fairly good at and that I could develop.

Along the way I have developed many skills and many more are still in the growth process, and hopefully will never leave that stage.  I love learning.  That is part of who I am.

What have you always known you would do?  What can you grow into a marketable skill?  What can you grow simply for the joy of learning?

Make it a beautiful day, friends.

Find me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.  You'll see some snippets of some of the things I'm having fun creating.  I've also added new posts and updates at www.JensWallsTalk.com, so stop by and see.

Happy Birthday to Me

I'm turning 40 this week.  I didn't think I'd be so contemplative about it.  I have several beautiful, amazing friends that are a few years ahead of me...and they make it look good so I'm not too worried. Nevertheless, conversations keep popping up in my mind.

      -Do you realize you're halfway through your life?  What have you done?  You'd better get started!

     -Do you realize you're halfway through your life?  What have you done?  You're too late.  You might as well lay down and quit.

They may not happen simultaneously, but both those conversations happen in my head.  Yes, I realize the dichotomy.  It happens.

Thirty-eight (as in, last year) was a exceptional year for me. I earned my black belt in karate.  I was offered and accepted (and completed!) a project in my business that was bigger than I had ever done before.  I learned some of what I was capable of.  

In the time since I've completed those bigger milestones, I haven't had other "huge" successes.  I didn't have the huge explosion I thought I might after I finished my big project. I have had some firecracker moments, though. Our karate school is growing and we've implemented some new programming I'm really excited about.

Cute up your birthday reminders with this adorable birthday board.
Just hang a mini card from each month with the birth date & name on it.

I've had some bummer moments, too.  I injured my foot and couldn't participate in my regular CrossFit routine for 3 months...causing me to slow down a little and gain a little weight.  Ugh.  My son fractured his leg in his first season of football.  I've had a slower season in my creative business.

But I'm not done yet and there are new adventures on the horizon.  I still feel like I'm just getting started. Maybe I'll always feel like I'm just getting started, and that's a good thing. It means there's room for expansion.  It means things are exciting and fresh.  It means I'm growing...even though I'm almost  40.  What new dreams do you have today?

Make it a beautiful day, friends.

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Little Man

"I might not have responded like I know I should have." That's what my 14-year-old son said when he called me to tell me he and his sister were fighting. He had the self-realization to know he was angry and that even though his sister was pushing his buttons, he knew he needed to not lose his cool completely.

It was one of those rare moments when I wanted to congratulate myself for being a great mom...then I realized it was more a reflection of the amazing man he is becoming despite my best efforts.  I have great kids. They aren't perfect, but they are terrific.  It's easy to get down on yourself when one of your offspring makes a choice contrary to what you believe you taught them.  

I often try to remember that I didn't birth little robots. They have ideas and dispositions that are all their own.  I'm comforted by the thought that God gave Adam and Eve a perfect world, environment, and an actual perfect parent--and they still screwed it up. I'm not throwing in the towel, and, just like my Heavenly Father, I will always love  my stubborn, feisty, smart-alecky, silly kids. 

Make it a beautiful day, friends.

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