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How Will You Celebrate the Last Week of 2022

Posted on by M Miller

     This week begins the last week of 2022 and if you are anything like me you are exhausted.  The last quarter of the year flew by.  The new school year flew by (for those that have children or are in education) and then Thanksgiving and the mad dash to get ready for Christmas.  (whew that’s a lot)  but we can now check that off our to do list and move along. Some years tend to go by faster than others. This one seemed to travel at a rapid speed (lol).

     For a lot of people this week marks a week that they have set aside for vacation. The kids are home on break and it is simply a woosah moment (lol). If you are not a part of that group don’t worry you can still pace yourself and get through the week. You may even benefit from the traffic being lighter and the crowds a little less.  So turn on your favorite music or podcast in the car and enjoy the ride to work without the bumper to bumper traffic. There is always a brighter side to something if you take the time to look for it.

How will you celebrate

     During this last week, please don’t feel like you need to be out and about.  I have had some of the best parties ever at home(lol). You don’t have to spend much and you get to choose what you want to do. It can be as simple and as  fun as binging on Netflix while eating your favorite snacks. You can also treat yourself to an at home spa day which includes a facial, mani-pedi and a glass of “vino”.

     If you are of the Christian faith, for most New Year’s Eve is a time to go to church and give thanks for the old year and welcome in the New Year. Whatever your choice is, be safe and enjoy the last week of the year in your own special way.

Setting Priorities

  • Begin to reimagine certain things in your life.  
  • Prioritize self care
  • Education and career
  • Healthy eating habits exercise
  • Socializing more
  • Socializing less
  • Revist hobbies things that you liked but have not made time to do 

Level Up Your Expectations

     Now is the perfect time to level up your expectations. Don’t settle for what is and what was chosen. You can choose to  redirect or simply add to your expectations not just for yourself but for those around you.  If you are good with everything around you, then you can continue on this path. If you are not good with how things are going this is the perfect time to plan. 

There is no right or wrong way. This is a personal task. Try not to use this as a comparison. It is about your expectations for yourself and what you choose to do or not do to create an even better path for yourself.

      Make it as creative and fun as you can but keep it realistic. Leveling up your expectations can be a challenge but it is also a great way to measure how your year went and what you can improve upon going forward in the journey. We will revisit this topic in January and stretch it out a bit to cover certain areas. So look for more details in my January 2023 blog posts. 

     Whatever you choose to do this week. Simply relish the fact that you have gone through another year, learned so much and hopefully grew as a person. My hope is that you take those lessons and memories into the New Year and anticipate an even better year for yourself and your loved ones. Until next time my readers May you continue to… 

Live your Dreams Out Loud 

We will talk again in the New Year ……

  

        

Looking Back on the Year 2022

Posted on by M Miller

2022

     For some, the year went fast, for others it went slowly.  No matter what the pace was for you it is almost over.  I must say it seemed to go by really fast for me. I might also add for me, it wasn’t a bad year.  It just seemed to be one with a lot of unnecessary stress.  You know the type of stress that comes from external unnecessary factors, but I will write about that another time. 

      Hopefully, for most of you it wasn’t a bad year. Yes, everything might not have been exactly the way you wanted it to be but, in the end, you made it through and together we are going to reflect, assess and anticipate what the year ahead may hold for us. So, stay with me.

Reflections

     This brings me to how we reflect on this year. Did you feel productive? Did you feel that you grew as a person? Are there some things that you are better at than you were before or are there some things you need to work on improving. Hopefully, you are not too hard on yourself.

      The fact that you made it through the year is something to not only celebrate but give thanks for. There are so many that have not made it. Some that gave up on the journey of life, but you are here. Yes, older but wiser, nonetheless. You may have put on some weight but that is ok, you are just fluffy, more of you to love (lol).  You may have gained something or lost something but that too is okay.

The year sometimes reminds me of a box of cracker jacks. (For those who don’t know) It is a box of candy that had a prize in it, but you don’t know what the prize is until you get almost through eating it. Sometimes it was a good prize. Sometimes it was a prize you didn’t like. That is exactly what a new year can be seen as, you get what you get. You can choose to be mad about the prize or happy with the prize.

The choice is yours. How you see the year and yourself within the year is up to you.

     The one thing that you learn in the process is what you like and what you don’t like. So, as you reflect on the many moments over the course of this year, break those moments down and analyze how you felt and what you can take away from those moments to make things even better. 


Assess

     As we assess the year it is important to be fair minded. When I say this, I mean to not compare yourself to anyone. There is a quote from a movie called, “A Raisin in the Son” and it says, (I am paraphrasing) “When you measure someone, measure him right, take into account all the hills and valleys they done been through when you measure them”. 

This simply means that everyone is working from a different experience or level and to be fair we have to take that into consideration. So, I am asking you to be kind to yourself, measure yourself right. I might also say to try and do that to those in your family and friend’s circle. It might help to see them in a different light. It might also help you in seeing yourself in a better light.

Anticipate

     Lastly, as we look to welcome a new year in soon may we anticipate the possibility of what’s to come. Setting aside anything that may attempt to put a damper on the new year. This could mean changing jobs or going back to school. This can also mean removing certain people from your circle of friends or even certain unhealthy relationships. Remember it is filled with endless possibilities and we are anticipating great things in our future. 

     That is where I believe, “LIVING YOUR DREAMS OUT LOUD” really takes place. When you create the life that best suits YOU and makes you feel your best, you then are living your dreams out loud. Until next time my readers continue ……LIVING YOUR DREAMS OUT LOUD

Christmas is Right Around the Corner

Posted on by M Miller

     Well, we made it through Thanksgiving, and we are just a few short weeks away from Christmas. There seems to be so much to do and so little time to get it all done! So, as you begin to think about the many things you have left to do. Remember to keep your holiday expectations realistic. If it is not realistic you can and will place unreal expectations on yourself.

      An example of this is knowing that your budget this year is not big, but you then charge up a storm. Then next month, you get the credit card bill, and the shock begins. You are not stuck with an unnecessary bill for the new year for items that you should not have brought in the old year.  Thus, starting your new year off with unnecessary debt.  Not good – Another example is that you went all out for Thanksgiving, and you are tired, but you overcommit to Christmas festivities. Remember that “NO” can be a good word when you are trying to stay True to the real reason for the season and not all the extra frills that are added along the way.

    Having said all of that, it is time to organize yourself. The way that I tend to organize myself is by having a to do list. It is a wonderful way to navigate your many tasks. This list can be broken down by the different tasks that you have to accomplish. Remember to check off tasks once they are accomplished.  

Sample Simple Holiday Checklist

  • Complete your outdoor decorations
  • Complete your indoor decorations
  • Make a list of people that you need to purchase gifts for
  • Shop for those people on your list for gifts
  • Purchase just in case gifts (those are the gifts that you have for the unexpected gift exchanges)
  • Make a Christmas menu
  • Shop for items on your menu that you can store ahead of time
  • Clean and prepare your home or apartment for guests

Note– The above simple Holiday Checklist is just a sample, you can add or remove what does not apply to you on the list. Remember the goal of a simple list is just that, to keep everything as simple as possible.

The Feeling of Accomplishment

Once you have completed your list, you are now able to go about completing each task on the list. Once you are done you should feel a sense of accomplishment. If you are not done on time at least you tried (smile). 

Wrap Up

     Setting realistic expectations based on budget, time and your ability to fit everything into the allotted time that is left.

     Finally, the last few weeks in December always go by quickly and somehow it all seems to get done.  So, try not to panic.  Remember to enjoy the journey and the experience of another Christmas and the beauty of why we celebrate this awesome Holiday.     

      Until next week my readers. May you know and experience the true reason for the season and the gift of Christmas. 

And Continue ………Living Your Dreams Out Loud 

It’s Time to Celebrate

Posted on by M Miller

Why Celebrate?

We celebrate because it is the last month of the year and we have navigated all the twists and turns of the past eleven months. For some it has been devastating, for others it has been exhilarating. We’ve lost someone along the way, we gained someone along the way.

Our bosses drove us crazy. Our kids drove us insane (lol). Whatever the case has been for you , we celebrate because we made it through to December and we know that in just a few short weeks we will be looking at another year.

Yes, it could have been better. Yes your money might be funny. Yes you almost got a divorce. Yes you wanted to run away (grown ups) but you stayed and worked through whatever it took to get you to this place. This is why you celebrate. Celebrate everything that makes you (you). Simply put, celebrate you.

How will you Celebrate

Some may say it is not my birthday or holiday, it is just an ordinary day. Do you need all those things to celebrate you? I used to have just because parties. I would come in the house with pizza, balloons and cupcakes and my family would ask me what are those for, and I would respond, ” We are having a party.” They came to understand those moments as a just because party.

A celebration of everything that you go through every day that goes unnoticed or taken for granted. Celebrate the little things that only you know and celebrate it alone or with those you choose to but by all means celebrate.

When will you Celebrate

When will you celebrate?

Now You dont wait for a special occasion.

You celebrate the moment in the season you are in. The fact that you made it through another week, another month, and another day. You celebrate that everything that was meant to destroy you did not destroy you.

Celebrate the beauty and strength of what makes you and only you that very unique and special person and what you bring to the table of life. You celebrate all those things now, today and enjoy the celebration. I want to leave you with a challenge this week.

Take this Week’s Challenge

The challenge is to take inventory of all that makes you (YOU) and list those things. I want you to take inventory of the many daily and weekly challenges you have had over the past eleven months and how you have managed those things. When you are finished taking inventory of these things, my hope is that you will be pleased with yourself and begin to see the need to Celebrate.

So begin the celebration and until next week my readers….Simply Celebrate

Simply Celebrate

Finishing 2022 Strong Pause-Reset-Move

Posted on by M Miller

Pause

You have navigated your way through the Thanksgiving holiday. whether you celebrated or not, we are all caught up in the pace. There are deadlines at work, school activities and if you work in retail the rush to keep the shelves stocked. If you are not careful you can run the clock only to realize that you are in the last quarter of 2022. So this is the perfect time to set a pause button on the many things that need to get done. Catch your breath and indulge is some well-deserved self-care.

Do something fun with friends and family or just do you! There is so much going on that you can enjoy at this time of year. The possibilities are endless. You can take in a Broadway show, go see the tree or just simply hang out and laugh with others. It can be as simple and as fun as you like. Even a nice walk can be a great way to recharge or curl up with a good book. It is about “You” at this moment and making the most of your well-deserved pause. It can be for a few hours, a day or even a weekend. It is whatever you need to bounce back ready to continue.

Reset

Your appointed pause is over (smile), hopefully, you are now able to get back on track. It is important that you reset to a pace that is more realistic and manageable. The pace should be adjusted to you and not your environment. The pause should have allowed you to catch your breath and prioritize what is important and what is not. The months ahead (Nov/Dec) are filled with so many things that need our attention that our pace seems to be totally driven by external sources. Know your pace and know when you are moving beyond that.

Reset Reminders- (Just in case you forget)

  • Every invite does not have to be a yes
  • Everyone is not entitled to a gift (coworkers, teachers, etc.) choose wisely it can become costly
  • You don’t have to be the designated have it at your home person this year
  • Simply just stop by and show your face at after work social gatherings and it is okay to not stay long
  • Control your time and money by setting the rules in advance

Move

After you have taken that well needed Pause and Reset. You have recharged and set your priorities. The next thing is to just simply move. This time you will have adjusted your pace to determine your moves. The months of November and December always seem to go by quickly. Before you know it we are crossing over into another year. May this pause, reset and move help to navigate you through the next few weeks so that you will not only finish the year strong but step into the next year ready to see what lies ahead! Until next time readers, don’t forget to pause, reset and move your way through the busyness of the season, remembering that you set the pace.

Being Thankful

Posted on by M Miller

November marks the month that has been set aside for Thanksgiving. Some may say there is so much going on in my life that is not good what do I have to be thankful for. First, it can always be worse. Just turn on the news and you can see proof of that locally, nationally and globally. Yes, we are challenged daily but there is always “SOMETHING” to be thankful for.

Preparation

Now having set the stage for why we should be thankful. We can now begin to prepare for the week ahead and the festivities that come with Thanksgiving. Remembering to pace yourself and do what you can when you can. The celebration is not about perfection but about truly just “Being Thankful”.

Hopefully, you have created your menu for Thanksgiving. This should include all your main dishes. Then you add your side dishes and desserts. When your break down your menu by categories. It allows you to do two things. It allows you to take each dish and break it down by ingredients. Then you can also take inventory of whether or not you already have these items on hand. This may take some time because based on who is coming to your home they may not eat certain items. Please take this into consideration.

Organizing

Once your menu is done, you will need to prepare a list of ingredients and seasonings. If you have taken the steps outlined above. The next step is easier. Take inventory of what you already have at home to work with and complete your shopping list. Try to prepare this list carefully so that you make the best use of your time and travels. You can do this by breaking down the trips to no more than three stores to complete your list. Once you are done with the food portion of preparing for Thanksgiving, you can now focus on getting the house ready for family and friends.

Remember that your family and friends are not coming over to inspect your home. They are coming over to have fun and enjoy a great meal. Turn on some music and dance your way through cleaning. Making sure to include each room. You can break this down over the course of a few days, so as not to wear yourself thin. If you are short on time and or energy, might I suggest you call in a cleaning staff. Shop around for pricing and reputation and if you are satisfied keep them on standby for moments when you just need that extra sprucing up.

Last Minute Preparations

After the cleaning is done, begin to prep (food) that you can days out from Thanksgiving to save you time in the kitchen. This can by done by seasoning your meats a few days in advance, chopping vegetables and even preparing some of your deserts such as pies ahead of time until they are ready to bake. Please be mindful when doing this to know which items are able to be prepped ahead of time. Prepped is not the same as being cooked. It is a way of doing the tedious work ahead of time to cut down on some of the time consuming tasks involved in the kitchen on Thanksgiving Day.
Now that your house is clean, the food is prepped add your flowers and last minute special touches to your home to set the mood. You have done all the necessary work and are all set!

Rest Up

Whew, this was quite a workout! Now take the time to rest up and relax so that you have energy to not only cook but enjoy your company. Remembering that there is always something to be thankful for. November is marked as the month of Thanksgiving, but we can all practice the act of being thankful everyday no matter what is happening in our lives. May all my readers have a great and festive Thanksgiving. Remember to stay Thankful.

Navigating Transitions with Ease

Posted on by M Miller

Seasons Change

September is always a sign of new beginning. The start of a new school year, the leaves changing colors and marking the approach of a new season. Summer is slowly fading. Marking the beginning of a fresh start, new week, new day and endless possibilities to envision your life and make the best of every moment regardless of what is happening around you.

Clearing the Path

That seemed like that was just yesterday I had that thought and now here we are in November, weeks away from Thanksgiving and the holidays and where did the time go. Heck, where did the year go. It seems as if the leaves that were just turning beautiful shades of red and yellow are now scattered about for us to clean up and make way for the winter ahead. The year is racing by at rapid speed and if you are not careful you will get lost in the race. If you are on the Northeast, you are currently adjusting to the recent time change (daylight savings).

Embracing Change

We can use this time of transition to reflect and prioritize what is most important to us. In this way we are able to navigate transitions with ease. This is also beneficial to us in alleviating and ridding our lives of unnecessary stress by allowing us to clear out what is not necessary to enter into this new season. We are also able to discard what is not working.

It is a perfect time to slow down and just challenge the way you see your life. Begin to see possibilities in everything. This is the ultimate of selfcare. A renewed mind equals endless possibilities and that is where dreams are birthed. So, this morning as you wake up, get ready for a great day. Start your morning off by taking the time to exercise, pray and reflect. Drink your herbal tea or coffee and prepare for the day ahead. Be mindful throughout the day to stay committed to continuous self-care.

Self-care is at the center of everything you do and in being mindful of how you handle self from moment to moment can be the best gift you can give yourself. So just as the beautiful fall leaves are a reminder of the change in season and the approaching winter season ahead. Use this time to slow down and adjust to the new season approaching. Get ready for the new season ahead and move forward with confidence. You’ve got this. Transition your way into the Fall season with ease by formulating a plan to navigate into the new Fall Season. Who knows this may be your best season of this year!!