Skip to main content

It's been 6 Months...

 ...since we have been home.

Summer came and went in a blur of birthdays, outings, mini-trips, and adjustments. 

Fall is almost over and we have found our rhythm now that Lana has started school. And by rhythm, I mean a vague sense of a daily schedule that allows for some curveballs. There is still a pandemic. There are still protocols to follow if any one (mostly Lana) is a "close contact" with positive Covid-19 person. So are schedule allows for possible quarantine situation.

Winter is coming (see what I did there, #GoTFans?). Holidays, family gatherings, cooking fun. That is what I have in store for our family. 

I spent this second half of 2021 investing in me. In my last post, I talked about hitting that Pandemic Wall. The post was mostly about the joy I found with music, which did/does help. I just needed more. 

When we returned home from Germany, I was back in my zone. I am back in a environment where I can navigate, where I can advocate for myself. I set some boundaries. I focused on me. Somethings were tangible. Spa days to pamper my body. Fashion pieces to elevate my look. Books to nourish my mind (or escape). Again, ticking all the self care boxes. 

Other things were not so tangible. I said No to things. I've told myself to "Stop" when my mind spirals. Whether it was a fear that I made some terrible mistake, or whether it was learning that someone in some capacity is not happy with me. I've told myself "Stop." I didn't make a mistake. I can't make everyone happy and THAT IS OK.

To be honest, that non-tangible investment into myself are the things that I am most proud of. It's taking me a long time to get to this point. It's been an eye opening journey and I celebrate the progress that I made. 

So what's next? 2022. What is the plan? Mindfulness, Create, not consume.

More about that later. Until then, take a breath, make a list, and do your best without burning yourself out. 

Love,

Jessica

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Finding Joy in Music.

 Dear Friends, I will be honest with you. I had a rough couple of weeks in the middle of February. It was just another day and as I sat down on at my desk to start another day at work and I just yelled out in frustration out into the universe "I HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO GIVE." Marcin was also in the office and gave me a look that pretty much said, "Yep, she lost it." In truth, I did.  Since then, I gave every aspect of my life about 15% because I was trying to hold onto the 35% percent of my sanity and actively get back 50% of sanity back. I did all the self-care tips that one reads on Buzzfeed, Pinterest, podcasts, and blogs. Yoga, go for a run, take a bath, etc. Marcin even started to take both Caesar and Lana out for long walks so that I can have time to myself. I started writing in a journal again. I ticked all the "self-care" boxes and probably got my sanity back to 60%. But there is one thing that always take me to such highs - Music.  I don't need m...
Post a Comment
Read more

2020, the year I managed to.../2021, the year I hope to...

Dear friends, 2020 is almost at an end. To say it has been SOME YEAR is an understatement. Through the ups and downs, through the global pandemic, through the hateful violence, it's hard to feel accomplished for the things that you might have done this year.  At the same time, if there is one thing I learned this year is that I have the right to celebrate myself. So in 2020, I.... 1. Relearned how to crochet and made a beautiful afghan for Lana. *Fun fact - I call this the Pivot blanket. 2. Learned how to make pasta dough  3. Ran a total of 26.2 miles which ended with a 5 K on my birthday. 4. During a break in the pandemic, visited Prague. A place that was on my Travel Bucket List. 5. Conquered Polish cooking by learning how to make Golabki and Pierogis. I know everyone is paranoid about making grand statements for 2021. To be fair, I think 2020 taught us to be a little bit more humble, a little bit more patience, a little bit more kind to others who are NOT like you.  Ha...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Little Girl That Was...

Hold on to the Firsts. The firsts smile, the firsts laughs, the firsts steps. That's what many new moms hear. As the years go on and the kids get older, the message becomes, "You'll never know when it will be the lasts. The lasts "Mommy," the last time you pick up and hold your child, the last time they grab your hand. I'm in the middle, and I am trying to hold onto these in between moments. The moments when she comes to me for a hug. The smell of her hair after a shower. The snuggles and giggles in her bed before it is time for her to sleep. The weight of her in my arms while I still have the opportunity to hold her. These moments make me smile, make me cry, and even sometimes, make me a little sad. Sad for the little girl that was, who wanted desperately to be held. Sad for the little girl that was, who just wanted to hear that she was good enough without the A's. Sad for the little girl that was, who wanted surprises, because that meant her family knew...
Post a Comment
Read more