Mental Health Day

I'm in need of a 'mental health day'...or at least that's what I like to call them.  Basically, I need a vacation...time to de-stress, not worry about anything, just enjoy the surroundings, not plan anything and just BE.  Be in the moment of unexpectedness and spontaneity.  That's what I need right now.

But, I also need time to get "things" done...around the house, marketing my book, and all those other little projects that pile up!  Time!  Time to rest and time to catch up!  Is that possible?  I don't feel overwhelmed just behind...and tired.  Not a great combination, but we all find ourselves there more times than we care to admit.

What to do about it?  Take a few days off!  A week would be better.  A month would be ideal!  But, who has that kind of time away from work?!  So, a few days will have to suffice in the short term.  I just hope it recharges my batteries enough until I can actually take a week off!

So, until then I'll keep keepin' on like we all do week after week.  Wishing you blessings for a productive yet relaxing end of April/start of May!

Learning to Forgive....

It's one of those "life lessons" we all have to learn at some point in our life and I'm still trying to learn this one....how to forgive.  I'm definitely better at forgiving others than I am myself.  I think we can all be harder on ourselves than anyone else and I definitely am.  Those thoughts of "It was my fault.  I don't deserve to be forgiven.  I'm not worthy of forgiveness." All those kinds of thoughts creep in.  So, how do we forgive ourselves?

Yesterday, my mom and I were out running around shopping as we typically do on the weekends, but this time we had my 2 year old niece with us, as well.  It was a beautiful, sunny day...finally, after all the rain we've had lately...and it was close to 90 degrees.  Late in the afternoon as we were driving back home, we had a slight accident.  No one was hurt, thankfully, but I was driving my parents' car and it got damaged.  I felt horrible.  If we had been in my car, as we normally are on the weekends, it would have been my car and my inconvenience to clean up, but now it's my parents and it's the last thing they need to deal with.  So, of course I felt bad and just wanted to rewind the clock.  But, my mom wasn't mad just a little shocked and my dad wasn't initially mad, but I'm not sure how he felt after he actually saw the damage.  No one yelled at anyone, it was all really, really calm.  My mom didn't blame me and told me that it could happen to anyone and not to beat myself up over it....but, that's easier said than done.  Although, I'm truly grateful for her reaction and her instant forgiveness...so, why can't I forgive myself?

I know the most important thing is that no one was hurt and because my niece was with us this time that's truly the most important thing.  She actually slept through the whole thing and had no idea of what had happened...go figure!  But this morning as I think about it over and over again all I can think about is how to 'punish' myself.  Last night, it was eating badly.  This morning is was with an intense workout.  How will I 'punish' myself this afternoon?  Maybe it's my way of forgiving myself, but I don't think it's the most healthy way and am I really forgiving myself or just trying to over-compensate in an extreme way?  Either way, I don't think it's the right way to forgive myself.  In some consciousness I know the right way is to just forgive myself and let it go, but my doubt or guilt or something else blocks total forgiveness for myself.  The non-compassionate voice towards myself (not others) is not as forgiving as it is towards others.  Why is that?  Why are we so hard on ourselves?  So, if this incident was another lessons in learning to forgive myself it's got me thinking about it, focused on it...the question is will I learn the lesson this time?  I can't answer that at the moment, but lets hope so.  I'm a work in progress and hopefully I'll learn the lesson this time and move on.

Here's hoping that whatever 'life lesson' you are facing today or in the week ahead, you realize it, embrace it and let it propel you forward in life...in your journey!  I pray that for you and for myself!!  Blessings to you today and in the life learning week ahead!! 

Let Me Know...

It's been awhile since I've done any interviews/articles about my book, so if you know of any local (to you) magazines, organizations, etc that would be open to me either writing an article or doing an interview with them please let me know!  It's time to continue to spread the word and get my story out there!

And, if you haven't read my book yet you can order a hardcopy from www.kimfenneman.com or if you prefer an ebook you can order it from Amazon.  Get yours today!!  And, let me know how I can support your local area by getting the word out on adoption!

I'm also to book signings/readings or any local book fairs that may be coming to your town.  Just let me know!

Thanks for all your support and have a very blessed week!!

Flowers Blooming

Sorry for missing last week's posts.  I was traveling for work on Sunday and didn't get home until Thursday, so completely forgot to make my posts.  It was an exhausting week at a major healthcare tradeshow in Chicago with approximately 38,000 people in attendance!  Needless-to-say my feet hurt everyday (even though I was wearing flats), my shoulders and neck were already killing me on Monday by noon, and the days were long!

But, back to the normal, regular routine this week...thankfully!  I just cut some roses from my rose bush out back along with some of my white irises.  They both smell soooo good!  I love fresh cut flowers set all throughout my house!  They just make me smile!  My peonies have buds on them and can't wait for them to bloom since they are my favorite flower!  Ahhh, this is one part of the spring that I love...brightly colored flowers to cheer up my days!

Besides the flowers blooming what else is blooming in your life right now?  A job change?  A new addition to your family?  A new career venture?  A new relationship?  It's the time to re-plant, re-grow and rejuvenate what's been dormant in our lives.  Spring into a new chapter, a new season of your life and see what blossoms!  You'll never know until you take a chance, a risk to see what beautiful things lie ahead for you!  So, what are you waiting for?  Get going!

I hope you find the strength, courage, determination and/or motivation to spring ahead in your life to greater things!  It's time!!  Blessings to you in starting your new venture, adventure, and/or personal growth journey to a better you!

Visiting the States

Sorry I missed Sunday's post, but I spent my 3-day weekend helping my parents move.  Packing, moving and unpacking....ALL weekend!  Every day I was tired, sore and exhausted.  I went to bed feeling that way and woke up feeling that way!  It was a long weekend and not our typical Easter weekend.  But, we got them all 'settled' for now so that's the good news!

During the same time, a friend of mine from Taipei was visiting the west coast for a friend's wedding.  All weekend I saw the Facebook posts she made of all the scenic locations they had visited and ALL the delicious food they ate...ALL the food!  It was fun to see her family's excitement over their visit and all the American food they were enjoying!  It made me think of the simple things and the types of foods they were actually excited about that we probably take for granted or don't think much about...eggs with mushrooms on sourdough bread for breakfast.  Simple yet so American and wonderful to them!

Plus, it's always interesting to see what tourists are into once they arrive in the States.  What they've heard about certain places, things, people in the U.S. or what their food preferences are...because as you know, Asians are notorious for posting food pictures on social media!  I don't know what it is or what the obsession is to post all their food pics, but in this instance I was intrigued to see what they were eating here in the States.

If you were visiting the U.S. what would be the first thing you'd want to eat?  For me it would probably be a big juicy burger or some sort of dessert like apple pie...how much more American can you get than that?!

I'm hoping and wishing you a safe and wonderful rest of the week!  Blessings to you and your family this first full week of April!

Happy April Fools Day!

Have you been pranked yet?  Found yourself gullible to a joke or "news" statement?  Well, Happy April Fools Day!  I always wondered where this day came from and now with social media it's a lot easier to pull a prank on someone.  Have you pulled a prank on someone today?

I'm always a little relieved when April 2nd comes around and I haven't been pranked!  I've never been a great prankster or joke teller.  I just don't have that comic timing, but we all know someone who is the joker of the group who keeps us all laughing.

If you're read recently about the Korean adoptee who is facing deportation because no one ever filed his naturalization papers when he was younger it's a sad oversight for this adoptee...and that's no joke!  It's a little hard something like that would and could happen, but it's the reality he is facing.  I'm sure he wishes it were a joke, but paperwork and laws have caught up with him.  Hopefully the government will allow him to correct the issue before a total injustice takes place.

I hope you make it through the day without any major prank being pulled on you and if you're the prankster good luck with your execution.  Have fun with this crazy day and I hope you get a good laugh out of the day!

Blessings to you and yours this week!