The Fruits of My Morning Routine

Several months ago I started a new morning routine based on The Miracle Morning book.  It suggests beginning one's morning on the right footing results in a more productive day, and I am seeing the wisdom in this.  It now seems so obvious.  Clearly rising an hour earlier anyone would accomplish more, but the actual results of this hour are far more than simply an hour's worth of work.

It is the way the day begins that makes the difference.  Embarking on a day with a clear intention and focused mind sets me up for a successful day. 

By starting with a 10-20 minute meditation, reading a spiritual or other uplifting book for 10 minutes, visualizing my long term goals, verbalizing my affirmations and journaling; inspire, motivate and energize me so that I am looking forward to my first activity of the day.

Now it's time for exercise and off I go to either the gym for a class or a hike up the mountain with my dear friend Shannon and sometimes my sweet Golden Retriever accompanies us.

After that daily chores are on the roster and even these are more bearable having had a great morning start.

The afternoon is usually time for some creative endeavor.  I've recently taken up a new form of art for me; collage. I've completed two, both of them about my oldest son.  Previously, I painted landscapes and still lifes but haven't picked up a paint brush in close to 10 years. Obviously, as you can see, I've begun a blog.  I'd been procrastinating on this for several years and being alcohol free plus my morning routine has given me space in my brain for these new hobbies. In addition, I've taken pickle ball lessons and plan on continuing that. Who knew that at my age I'd find so many new ways to grow and learn and appreciate life!

I'm sure my husband hopes that my love for cooking will return - thus far it hasn't! Poor guy.  I've told him how in my younger years and when my boys were little I loved to cook gourmet meals.  I'm sorry but my new hubby most likely will not experience that in this marriage. Hey, my hobbies take up a lot of time!

I'm enjoying life and the fruits of my morning routine and sobriety make it all possible.

xo

My Morning Routine

This may sound like an odd thing to write about, but honestly, changing my morning routine has made a huge difference in my life. I now am able to accomplish so much more than I had before adopting this practice.  Yes, I am getting up a bit earlier and it is well worth it. I've had various morning routines before but abandoned them for one reason or another. This one infuses my day with purpose, discipline and direction.

I came upon the book The Miracle Morning for Addition Recovery written by Hal Elrod, Anna David and Joe Polish.  There are several versions of The Miracle Morning but since I was questioning my drinking, this one resonated with me. (I have since given up alcohol completely).

The Miracle Morning (the actual morning not the book) revolves around the acronym S.A.V.E.R.S.  The S is for Silence, either simply sitting in silence for 10-20 minutes or meditation, prayer, gratitude, deep breathing, etc. I often use a guided meditation for the first 10 minutes and then silent meditation for 10 minutes.

The A is for Affirmations. As you probably know, affirmations have been around for a long time and have been proven to work provided you are not simply affirming the end result. You must state how you will achieve your goal and see yourself in action taking the steps necessary to produce the desired result. You can create your own to coincide with your goals and intentions or use the ones provided by Miracle Morning.  I do both.

V is for Visualization.  Simply sitting quietly visualizing what you intend to create either in your day or more long-term.  I tend to visualize as I affirm aloud what it is that I want to produce.

E is for Exercise.  The suggestion is to get at least 10 minutes of jumping jacks or other cardio in right away.  Personally, I put exercise as the last thing in my Miracle Morning after completing the other parts of SAVERS, as I exercise for 30-60 minutes daily and the MM routine is suggested for the first hour of your day.

Then comes R for Reading.  A spiritual or uplifting book is what I gravitate to or you could choose one that motivates you to reach your goals.

And finally S is for Scribing or journaling. I have been keeping a journal for well over 25 years and as a child kept a diary. My thoughts, feelings, gratitude all make into my journal.  Often, as I write, insights I'd hadn't anticipated pop into my mind, along with clarity and appreciation for all I have.

So, what time do I awake to begin my morning?  When I first began I started at 6:00.  It's not always easy, especially during the winter when it is quite dark and cold.  I do use an alarm though my body clock is beginning to adjust and often I wake before it goes off.  Just this week I have changed my time to 5:45. Yes, it's still dark at that hour even now with spring approaching.  I light a candle and begin with my meditation and my day is now underway.

I'd love to hear from you regarding your morning routine and how it helps jump start your day.

xo

My Creative Friends

Somewhere around 20 years ago - none of us really is sure how long it's been, a friendship formed.  There were six of us originally. We met at an Artist's Way class at a local high school in Mill Valley, CA.  Each one of us there to either discover a hidden talent, find a creative outlet or help decide if we were on the right path.

The class followed Julia Cameron's book and I highly recommend the book or better yet, a class if there is one near you.

There were approximately 20 people in the class and over the course of the 12 week program, the six of us gravitated toward each other, sharing our experiences as we did our homework and exercises.

After the class ended we decided to get together for a hike.  One of the six dropped out not long after as one of the tenets that brought us together was complete honesty and sadly she wasn't able to fully comply.

We developed a friendship that has grown and nurtured into a true sisterhood.

Another friend from the group moved out of state, quit her insurance company job and is now a full time collage artist.

Now we are four.  And we are a close tightly knit group. I, too, have moved but Arizona is not that far and I return to California every other month or so.  We always arrange to get together for lunch and/or a hike.

The four of us have been a tremendous support system to one another.  We all share the same spiritual beliefs and one of them is the love and desire to learn and grow.  We believe that God (the Universe, Spirit, whatever name you choose to use) wants us to be happy and to evolve into our best selves.

Meredith is a full time artist teaching mentally challenged adults,  Jennifer is a highly sought after chef with a catering business and Jill is a compassionate and insightful therapist with a thriving practice.

I retired and dabbled in several "hobbies".  I've (obviously) started this blog, taken pickle ball lessons, and most recently enrolled in  a collage class and just yesterday finished my first "masterpiece"!  In addition, I've been replacing furniture that no longer suits me and little by little (hopefully) I will have replaced most of it.

My life is so enriched by this friendship and I have learned so much from each of them and I'm sure they appreciate me for my contribution to their lives, as well.  A true collaboration of like minds and a blessing for all of us.

xo

My Oldest Friend

In my last post I wrote about Shannon, a new friend I made in the past couple of years since moving to Arizona.

Today I'd like to introduce you to Cindy - my oldest (not as in age but in the years we've known one another) friend.  Cindy and I met 37 years ago when I moved from Marin County, CA to Nevada City, CA.  Nevada City is a sweet town in the Sierra Nevada foothills, less than an hour from Lake Tahoe.  It was a gold mining town back in the 1800's - the Gold Rush days.  The population when we lived there was around 3500 and it's not a whole lot more today.

Cindy and I were both stay at home moms and were so lucky to live next door to one another - though next door meant at least an acre of woods between us.  We lived on a small mountain known as Banner Mountain and it was beautifully forested with old abandoned gold mines dotted throughout, including on our properties.

My oldest son was 3 and Cindy's son was 4 when I moved there.  The boys immediately became best friends and spent endless hours together exploring the forest together.

Four years later, my husband, unfortunately, decided to change employers again, and back to Marin we went.  However, those 4 years were wonderful for not only Cindy and I, but or our boys as well.

Not shortly after we left Nevada City, Cindy and her son came to visit and there began many years of she and I driving back and forth to spend weekends together - both for us and the boys.  This continued for over 10 years; until the boys were off on their own with college and other adventures.

Cindy and I continued the round trips spending weekends together.  All those sleepovers brought us much closer than we would have been if we simply stayed neighbors. We celebrated our birthdays, holidays, took art classes, vacations both with the boys and without and had many funny escapades.

Since I am now in Arizona our visits are fewer, however, we do still see one another at least twice a year.  She is still one of my dearest friends and always will be.  There is no way to replace a friend like that.  Cindy has seen me through divorce, death, new marriages and more and I have been lucky enough to share with her, the marriages of her son and daughter, college graduation and the birth of her grandchildren.  There are far too many occasions to name.  She and I will be friends as long as we're alive and I consider myself so blessed to have her.
xo