Monday Motivation

The time change sucks. There. I said it. As a teenager, I loved when DST ended and it got dark around 6:30 p.m. That meant I got to go out and party a little earlier. However, once I became an adult, and then a mom, it really put a funk in my routine. Pair it with seasonal depression* and you have a recipe for some pretty low times (read: months). Where before I’d throw a bandaid over it with a crap ton of caffeine - my current dietary restrictions do not allow me to have energy drinks yet. So, I’m trying to figure out how to push through/manage it without stimulants. And let me just say, that it has not been easy.

All of that said, it’s November, y’all. It’s a new month! We’re so close to the end of 2023, but it also feels like we just got started. The change in foliage has been beautiful, and the cooler weather has been nice too. Hallmark Christmas movies are in full swing. We’re ironing out plans for Thanksgiving, and I’m so ready to have time off for the holidays. Here’s hoping you have a great Monday and an even more wonderful November!

*Not officially diagnosed with seasonal depression, this is just based on my observation over the years of when my depression gets the worst for me. 

Gratitude Journal // Eleven - Three - Twenty Three

Gratitude Series: Sometimes, the bad days get the better of me. Other times, I get so caught up in my little world that I forget to give thanks for all of the blessings in my life. And sometimes you just need to write down the things you're grateful for to see all of your blessings. Though I admit that sometimes I find myself taking things for granted, I'm doing my best to be thankful for all of the good in my life. So, today, I’m choosing to give thanks for all of the things.

Freeze Warning: This week, we had a freeze warning. It lasted from Sunday to Wednesday morning. Temperatures dropped down to 30 degrees and we had rain all day Sunday. I never thought I would say that I enjoyed the freezing temps, but it was wonderful! We bundled up, made sure our heaters were in working order, moved plants, and got the animals prepped. I called it Texas’s “pre-game” before winter actually comes through. And now, I’m ready for it!

Chocolate Cake: On my birthday, I ate cake. It was amazing! It was everything that I had dreamed it would be and more. The aftermath wasn’t the greatest, but I will happily take that pain over and over again for some chocolate cake. It's safe to say that this is my weakness when it comes to junk food.

ASMR: I have been listening to ASMR for a long time now. I had experienced it since I was a child, but I learned of the actual term for it 10 years ago. That’s when I started to listen to/watch ASMR videos. It helped with my anxiety, served as a form of stress relief, and allowed me to fall asleep more quickly. I go through phases of which artists I watch, and I’ve currently been enjoying ASMR Twix and esteASMR - can you guess why?

Little Goats: I love my little goats. Donkey and Gus Gus are THE best! They are low maintenance and cause ZERO trouble. While I used to be a “dog person” many moons ago, after the last “puppy” I announced that we would not get another dog once ours all passed away. No worries, we still have a ways to go before that happens. Anyway, instead of a dog or cat I want one or two more goats. They’re just super easy to handle, very chill, and don’t require a lot of attention. And that’s all I want out of an animal these days.

Work Friends: At the beginning of October there was a “New Employee Reception” that I attended at our university. It was to welcome any new faculty/staff that had started within the past 9 months. While there were a few people I knew who attended, the majority were strangers to me. But I walked away from that event with two new acquaintances and future lunch plans. We’re hoping to set up regular lunches on campus to get to know each other better and to provide support for one another. They are both new to this area, new to Texas, and are in completely different career fields from me. However, just like me, they were seeking work friendships. So, I’m grateful for their willingness to get to know me. Here's hoping for the best! 

And that wraps up my gratitude post for this month. What are you grateful for today? This week? This month? What do you do to help bring some positivity back into your day if it's been a bad one? How do you make sure to stay grounded? Do you have any fun things planned for November? Thanksgiving? Do you live somewhere that sees the changing seasons or does it just go from one extreme to another? Let me know below. Until the next post, I hope everyone has a really lovely weekend! Adios!

“It’s okay if growth means slowing down this season.” // Dhiman 

❤

Wordless Wednesday