​I worked a lot this summer and to be honest, I was very close to burnout. Outside the time we got to spend with my family at the lake, we didn’t really get a dedicated vacation to commemorate summer.

With all the talk of Halloween and pumpkin spiced lattes on social media and the holiday decor already lining the shelves in our local markets, I knew I had to act fast.

Or should I say, slow.

We’re hardwired to constantly be on the lookout for the next best thing, the upcoming holiday, the next occasion, or party.  We’ve been conditioned to do more and to stay busy and productive, but we’ve lost the art of presence and have zero tolerance for rest and quiet restorative practices.

I took a stand this weekend and took my daughter on a spontaneous girl’s trip to Savannah. I almost panicked at the last minute and didn’t go because I had too much to do.

Oh, the irony!

I knew we desperately needed the time together, but I didn’t really know until we were in the car driving.

It was just two short days, but they were the BEST days. I will even go to say, magical! There’s too much to share here so if you want to know the details, let’s schedule a chat or even better, a coffee. And no, not spiced (yet, anyway).

Something magical happens when we choose ourselves over responsibility … time with our kids over work … pleasure over pain … fun and play over the endless list of to-do’s.

Don’t let life pass you by … don’t put off the thing … the vacation … the special handwritten note … the time to be fully present with ourselves and the ones we love. Life is too short.

Nature doesn’t rush … trees don’t compete … birds don’t worry … nature exists in perfect harmony … patiently awaiting and fully present to all the mysterious unfolding moments of each passing season.

Enjoy the last days of summer. Be present with the light filled days. Float in the pool. Wear your flip flops. Go out for ice cream. Don’t worry. The rest will come. 
​
Xx - BeAnne

​I’m not here to distract you with all the shiny things. I’m here to keep it real and if we’re being honest —> summer is HARD.

And it shouldn’t be.

Summers are supposed to be fun. School is out and it’s time to play. The pool and beach and vacations are beckoning us to unwind and get some much needed rest & relaxation, but that’s not reality, is it?

Any perimenopausal working mamas out there with children home for the summer? The stress is real and every day is a struggle to find balance.

When you’re working you feel guilty that you’re not with your children and when you’re with your kids, you feel guilty for not working. You’re getting up early and you’re going to bed late and there just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day.

It’s stressful and exhausting and you are NOT alone.

All we can do is our best and then get up and do it all over again. I do know that being fully present with your kids is the most magical gift we could ever give to them AND to ourselves so let that be the goal. Every. Day.

Let the house go. Forgo makeup. Work in your gym clothes. Eat out for dinner. Set some house rules. Create a little structure. And let the rest go.

You might not be able to change your circumstances, but you can control your behavior. Focus on the good and practice gratitude. It’s a powerful tool my friends.

And give yourself some grace. Take a time out. Like literally … put yourself in time out. I do it all the time and it’s awesome. Sometimes mommy just needs a break. Do whatever it takes to stay healthy so you do not burn out. We all know we cannot give from an empty cup. Put your oxygen mask on and breathe slow and low.

And remember … you are a LIONESS. Today and every day!

The Lioness is a figure of strength, but her strength is rooted in her gentleness. While she is an expert hunter able to outsmart her prey and take down a target twice her size, she is also a devoted mother, protecting her cubs and teaching them the skills they need to survive.

Can I get an AMEN??

Have a beautiful weekend and take care of your cubs!! AND you.

I attended a beautiful wedding last weekend. The first one since my divorce. Gulp! I didn’t expect to be so vulnerable, but it hit me hard.

I remember getting married so vividly AND I remember signing the divorce papers even more clearly. One burst my heart wide open. The other, a large hole in the center of my chest (like a grenade).

Married life was not perfect, but the hard stuff was easier because having a best friend by your side provided comfort, support, stimulating conversations, laughter, intimacy, space to bounce around ideas, accountability, safety, shared responsibilities, and companionship.

I’m very aware of my “aloneness,” and it’s too easy to be the victim or wallow in the sorrow of my plight so I have to be mindful and NOT feel sorry for myself. There is a different way that I will boil down into 3 manageable steps for you to apply to your own version of hard.

Step #1: State the Facts + Name the Emotions ->> Do not Wallow in the “Story”

My facts: Being a single mom is hard. Having the emotional bandwidth and mental acuity required to manage the day-to-day is hard. The financial responsibility … HARD. The presence of mind. The physical exhaustion. Showing up (fully) for my child while working full time and managing the household responsibilities. Being flexible and patient. Getting up early. Staying up late. HARD!

To keep my head above water, I have to keep swimming. Feeling sorry for myself or being a victim = Drowning (not an option).

Step #2: Movement

My movement: The Gym. Breathwork. Yoga. Biking. Hiking.

Find something to do and DO it. Moving the body moves energy. It moves emotions. It moves tension. It’s healing and therapeutic and life-changing.

Step #3: Focus on the Good

My Good: I’m happy. I’m free. I have an amazing connection with my daughter. I have a safe place to live. I have an incredible job I love with the flexibility I need to be present, as a mom. I have the most genuine and loving friends, family, & colleagues. Like, the BEST!

These (3) steps work. Every. Time.

Try them out and see how things shift and move in your own life.

Cheering you on in your own version of hard.

Xx-
BeAnne