My three words for 2018...Create, Community and Health
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| Wintry sunrise..Tahilla Farm |
I have a morning ritual, I rise, look out to the mountain and see who made it up first, me or "mama sun" (Mother Nature). It's a good day when I get to greet the far-reaching fluorescent starburst that vanishes as quickly as it rises. It’s all in the timing...you have to be quick with "mama sun"... she has a way of surprising you and shifting moods in the blink of an eye.
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| Capturing "mama sun" at first light. |
One..Two...Three
Last month I bumped around the back roads of our country town while listening to Laura McClellan's 'The Productive Woman' podcast entitled 'Focus'. Laura mentioned Chris Brogan and his idea of skipping New Years Resolutions and settling on just 3 words for the year.
She got me at '3 words'
In case you hadn't noticed...I am a bit of a self-help junkie. Some might call it obsessive, others might call it annoying...but for me it is like a deep breath on life. A little self-help soothes the soul, sharpens the mind and simply makes me feel good. Who doesn't like feeling good??
My three words for 2018...CREATE, COMMUNITY, HEALTH
I look at this as a three word personal recipe for the year. A recipe with one part creativity, one part community and one part health. The words are of my own design, they are the ones that came to mind first. I like top of mind goals. Each day I take active steps towards all three... fostering creative energy, reaching out to my community and taking steps towards a healthier mind and body.
A word roll...
Since establishing these three simple words I have been on a roll. I joined the local health center, met with a nutritionist and a physical trainer to set up realistic health goals. Fine tuning my health has allowed me to refocus my creative energy (last post) and through all of that I have been able to reach out to my local and far flung community.
Do I recommend this three word recipe? Absolutely! My words work for me at this point in my life and next year I imagine it will be something different..or maybe not. I highly recommend any amount of time thinking about life and how you intend to LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE.
How about you?
Do you have a recipe for life in 2018?
If you are interested, I am dedicating space on my blog sidebar to what is inspiring me at the moment. Feel free to stop by and have a wander...it just might inspire you too!
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| In our book nook....Tahilla Farm |
Speaking of inspiration, in my last post I talked about creative energy and tackling a few bookshelves at Tahilla Farm. I am feeling much better about our little book nook these days. While I was in Sydney last year I discovered the artist Matilda Dumas and was lucky enough to have my daughter, Miss Christine, carry this painting back for me from Sydney to Tahilla Farm. I pass this book space all day long and just love seeing my favorite books and this painting perched on our bookshelf!
"Where I create, there I am true"
Rainer Maria Rilke
I am creating the "sharing corner"...
In addition to posts on my sidebar I will occasionally add the ‘sharing corner’ into my blog posts. If you have something you would like to share please feel free to write to me! jeannecollageoflife@gmail.com
Podcasts, Books and Movies:
I love when I click on to something and totally "get" where they are coming from. I mentioned mother nature above and discovered yesterday that there is another mother to appreciate..."the mother of mindfulness". I learned all about it through Krista Tippett's podcast, On Being with her guest, Harvard social psychologist and best selling author, Ellen Langer. This was my first introduction to Ellen and I have to say the timing was perfect. "She defines mindfulness with counter intuitive simplicity: the simple act of actively noticing things--with a result of increased health, competence, and happiness." Right in tune with my three word recipe for 2018. ;)
You can listen to Krista and Ellen talk about The Science of Mindlessness and Mindfulness here, read about The Langer Mindfulness Institute here and find Ellen Langer on her website here.
I am happy to recommend The Beautiful Writers Podcast interview with Brené Brown: Daring to Create Greatly. Researcher, storyteller and proudly Texan, Brené has a transformative new vision for the way we lead, love, work, parent and educate. Brené gets you thinking and I love anything that gets me thinking! Changing tracks, if you are a blogger...you might like to follow Darren Rowse of Pro Blogger. I find his advice to be very helpful, and most recently his advice on How to Relaunch a Dormant Blog. I highly recommend this site to anyone who needs a blogging boost.
Yes...I am crazy about Laura McClellan's podcasts only because I find each and every one spot on....especially the 10 Essentials for Making a Life that Matters
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| An Irish tale. |
In an earlier post I mentioned the book ‘Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine’ and wanted to say that I completely agree, she is! I listened to the book on Audible and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I also delved into my first Maeve Binchy book with the library app, OverDrive. If you feel the need to escape to the coast of Ireland this winter, read ‘A Week in Winter’. It is a lovely Irish tale. 🍀
Have you seen the absolutely
I highly recommend it!
It is hard to resist an enchanting English garden...
this is well worth the visit.
“Set against the backdrop of a beautiful London garden, this contemporary fairy tale centers on the unlikely friendship between a reclusive young woman who dreams of writing children’s books and a cranky widower. Facing eviction over her neglected garden, Bella (Jessica Brown Findlay) meets her grumpy, loveless, next-door neighbor (Tom Wilkinson), who happens to be an amazing horticulturalist.”
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| This Beautiful Fantastic |
Good vibrations!
We are so so close...to grandchild #1, due the first week of March. I took this photo of Patrick and Cherie over the holidays...they were very patient with me as I snapped away. I love the gentle sweetness in this photo. The recipe for life in this photo is love, love, love!
On that note, I will say farewell and wish
you a wonderful week.
If you have something to share,
I am happy to share it here.
You can write to me
jeannecollageoflife@gmail.com
Jeanne xx
:)
As always, you provide tonnes of inspiration. I will definitely take a look at Darren Rowse's blog. I can always do with some advice. I've read a few books by Maeve Binchy and I've enjoyed them a lot.
ReplyDeleteJust lovely Jeanne. Some time in the next 2 weeks and you will see this new baby. Can't wait to hear. And we recently watched the movie Goodbye Christopher Robin. It was absolutely beautiful. Such wonderful imagery. I love your 3 words. I think I may adopt them for myself! Sending love to a grandmother to be,
ReplyDeleteGabrielle xxx
Jeanne,
ReplyDeleteA wonderful post. I love your 3 words. I think as we age it becomes a little easier to focus on ourselves and to realize that doing that means that we will be able to care for our loved ones better. Good luck with your trainer and nutritionists. Two years ago I started taking hot yoga classes 5-6 times a week and frankly it is the best thing I have ever done for myself. IT is the 1 hour a day that I dedicate solely to myself and frankly is so physically and mentally challenging that I can only think of myself while doing it.
I cannot wait to check out your suggestions. I am off to do that now as I too am a self-hep lover too.
Have a wonderful week JEanne.
OH, you are going to make the BEST GRANNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!XX
ReplyDeleteThe three words: CREATE, COMMUNITY, HEALTH are magical. Getting engage in community activities is wonderful. A shining path to follow.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to the parents and grandparents. Great news.
Have a wonderful week Jeanne.
Jeanne, I love this post and am going to peruse all suggestions, but my first was The Beautiful Fantastic, which I watched last night. Delightful! I loved it and will highly recommend to others. This is the second time you have introduced something I have enjoyed. The first was Outlander, which I am very close to being obsessed with...love On Being so that will be on my list to listen to. Keep the suggestions coming!
ReplyDelete