I had a photoshoot this weekend with a professional photographer (because, you know, I’m fancy like that), and she gave me a piece of advice that resulted in awesome photographs.

The advice?  Breathe.

Yeah yeah, I know.  We hear that all the time.  But she showed me the difference.  It was right there in her camera, undeniable, staring me in the face: when I took a deep breath and then let it out, my face relaxed, my eyes opened up, and I looked more present and connected.  When I wasn’t breathing I looked nervous and tense.  I had visible proof that breathing makes a difference.

So what’s the big deal?  We all breathe.  And we tell ourselves and one another all the time to slow down, stop and breathe.  I’ve said it here before.  We all say this. But what does it mean?
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Autumn.

This is officially my favorite time of year.*

Yep, when the leaves start falling, it feels like time to strap on the walking shoes.  Time for a little crunch action underfoot.  Put your kid in the stroller, grab an apple for Mr. I’m-too-big-for-a-stroller Preschooler and another for yourself, and get out there and enjoy the next month or so of gorgeousity.  The colors are intense and the air is a little crisp.  It feels really alive, yet when you get back home, your ears a little reddened by the slight bite of the wind that you never felt because you were too busy enjoying those rays of sunlight arching through the trees overhead, you feel really glad to be indoors again.  Glowing.  Completely alive.

There’s a reason this feels so good.
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I figured something out this year about my parenting style:  I am really really good at being the mom of infants and toddlers and even preschoolers, but somehow that style does not translate well into being the mom of older kids.  The elementary years.  The tween thing.  The [shudder] teen thing.  I am really good at nurturing and creating a supportive and safe environment, but I suck at letting go.

Is this you?
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It’s hard to believe right now while our kids are still small, but one day they will be grown up and they’ll be looking back on their childhoods, reflecting and remembering.  Certain things will stand out to them, certain things that were important or intense or simply memorable.  What will they remember? 
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Yep, my weight loss journey is at a stand still again. Now that the wedding has past, I knew I had to set a goal to keep me on track, but it’s been difficult adjusting to the new school schedule.

Being a solo mom all week, driving the kids to New Town from the rental so they can attend the school they would be in if the house was built, cooking, cleaning, shopping…well I’ll be honest and say although my intentions are good, I’m falling into a funk with snacking and not going to the gym.

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The absolute best day in the universe EVER was the day I made an important discovery.  It was the day I figured out that those crazy Other Parents, the ones I secretly mocked and swore never never never to be like, were really The Most Intelligent Beings on the Planet.

And why were these mockable parents so smart?

Because they had figured out The Secret of Sane Parenting.  Which, in exchange for storing all the refrigerator art ever produced by your first-born (a more than fair trade, if you ask me, because hello, what were you going to do with it anyway?), I will divulge to you now.

Early bedtime.
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One of my original goals was to fit into a bridesmaid dress for my brother’s wedding. Seeing as I was a size 16/18 when I started this journey in January, I was sure excited when the zipper went up on a Junior size 12/13 last weekend, which the saleslady said was the equivalent of an adult 10.

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There are three ways of getting things done:

1.  Procrastinating until the last minute.  Deadlines are motivating.

2.  Sucking it up and just doing it.  Pain works!

3.  Perfect planning, organization, and execution.

[If you are #3 I don't want to talk to you.  You are clearly a robot.  You can leave now.  Go!  Shoo!]

There, we’re alone now and we can talk.  I’m not a fan of pain, are you?  I hate making myself do stuff I don’t wanna.  It’s so much easier to pretend it’s not there as long as possible … and then do it.  You know, after I’ve let it hang over my head awhile, making me crazy.  I’m funny that way.

While the just-get-it-over-with approach has some merit, I’m proposing that instead we find ways to make procrastination work.  Here’s how:
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The Law of Attraction. You’ve probably heard of it.  It would be difficult not to have.  But … what is it, and how can you make it work for you to help you create the life you want?

A few weeks ago I was in Portland Oregon attending a Law of Attraction workshop given by Esther and Jerry Hicks.  Esther channels the entity called Abraham, and their material on the Law of Attraction forms the basis of what has become a huge empire for Esther and Jerry.

It also works. Here’s what you can take from it:
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I moved recently, and I’ve been hitting up Craigslist, Freecycle, and other groups both to download stuff at my old place and to upload new stuff at the new.  From all these interactions, which have ranged from good to bad to downright ugly, I’ve learned a few things.  Things that are totally applicable to the business world, and, well, to Real Life.  Things your mother should have taught you.  Things you are likely already passing on to your own kids:
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