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Venting Sessions

~ where moms can let it out

Venting Sessions

Monthly Archives: January 2017

Ways to de-crank your winter

26 Thursday Jan 2017

Posted by Jackie in Uncategorized

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I know, I get it. There are many reasons to be in a cranky mood right now.

It’s winter. It’s raining. It’s fil_570xn-835145738_fg7treezing.

Your to-do list is a mile long.

The amazing Mary Tyler Moore (R.I.P.) sadly just left this world.

You know who is making headlines. Sorry, it’s not my thing to talk politics here (or at the dinner table).

But if you stop for a moment, without checking your feed, breathe (and breathe some more), you may realize there is a reason or two to NOT be a total crank. To not put everyone around you in an even crankier mood.

Even in winter. When it’s effing freezing.

Embarrassingly enough, this truth came to me while recently binge-watching the HBO series, The Leftovers. You could call it my “cotton candy for the brain” after the kids go to bed. Let’s just say when you’re the only one up at 10:30 p.m. watching this show and your husband (and the dogs) are simultaneously snoring, you tend to put things into perspective.

So here it is…

My list of reasons to de-crank and crack a smile this winter:

  1. Just be effing grateful to be alive.
  2. You never know when those around you will suddenly disappear, without a trace. (OK, I get it, The Leftovers is a fictitious show.) But you NEVER KNOW. That alone should put a pig-eating grin on your face.
  3. Things may be crazy right now, but it’s not like we live among monsters and have to run from them every morning just to get a stinking coconut.
  4. The Zombie Apocalypse is not real.
  5. And even if it was real, you’d still have an opportunity to pick up an adequate supply of clean water, food (and axes).
  6. Do you have a roof over your head? A way to pay the bills? Grin.
  7. Do you have your own teeth? Smile for crying out loud.
  8. Do you have access to wine? Beer?
  9. Chocolate chips? Cashews? M & Ms?
  10. I recommend pouring #8 into a glass, then carefully combine ingredients from #9 into a small mason jar, shake it up, and binge-watch something after everyone goes to bed!

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Happy, Hurried, Joy, Joy

13 Friday Jan 2017

Posted by Jackie in Uncategorized

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Tags

commuting, consultant, full time, mommy insomnia, time for joy, working mom

When I was in my 30’s, I was a working mom. A bit harried (but a happily married) working mom. When I was working full-time, I have to admit, I didn’t have time for a lot of things. I’m not just talking about professional eyebrow pluckings or pedicures. There were moments when my friends wondered how I even managed to leave the house with a clothed child, let alone remember to put my own clothes on.Working mother and child. Vector.

Although I’m proud to say I never commuted to work naked, (now THAT would have been an interesting blog post) I do remember times when I’d arrive in two completely different shoes. With dried up baby barf on my blazer. And split nails. (Not broken nails. You see, that would imply that I actually had enough time for an occasional professional manicure.)

I do vividly remember plucking my eyebrows during traffic jams.  (And I also recall my son getting car sick all over the back seat two blocks from the daycare. On more than one occasion, the poor thing.)

Thankfully, I managed to quickly jog, shower, fix breakfast and slap on some concealer (and clothes) before my daily commute. But most days, I’d arrive disheveled. Sometimes with a pounding head. And most days, with a hankering for a tall hot tea containing enough caffeine to wipe away weeks of mommy insomnia.

When I look back, I don’t know how I did it. I just did it. I had no choice. Then again, I was much younger.

Time. Ahhhhh, time.

Back then, I never seemed to have enough time. And although I’ve always been a positive person, not having enough free time made me downright cranky at times.

These days, I no longer have little ones. And I no longer work full time. I’m blessed with a  healthy tween and teen and work from home as a consultant, and most days, I’m transformed into a glorified but unpaid mommy uber driver.

Over time, a lot has changed. But then again, I’m still a happily married working mom. But I’m no longer harried. Harry, yes, in between eyebrow appointments, but not harried. My husband and I are happy together, raising two kids who are growing up before our eyes.

But these days, I have to say, I’m less hurried, less harried a heck of a lot less harry.

I actually carve out time for myself. I find time to fit in more joy. It took years of hard work to get to this place in life. I didn’t just wake up and randomly become a consultant. I built up my career over the course of more than 20 years. Two decades of sleepless nights, crazy schedules and budgetary sacrifices. And we planned things out together to get where we are now. Sure, there’s still crazy days. Occasional sleepless nights.

But somehow, I find time to fit in more joy. In everyday moments. From singing in the car with my kids to watching them play sports to joining my husband for a “date” night at home on a Friday night (in between ubering) to taking a walk to the beach with my best friend.

Life is fleeting. And all I’m saying is, it’s worth it to find time for more joy.

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Hello, January

03 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by Jackie in Uncategorized

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Tags

2016, 2017, a year to be, being real, December, hello January, January, January Jones, new year, new you

ht_january_jones_lb_150403_16x9_992January.

Ah, January.

(I’ll bet January Jones (aka Betty Draper) is feeling especially important this month.)

So many look forward to you.

So many look forward to saying goodbye to December. (Side thought to ponder: Could December ever be a contender for a Hollywood baby name? Probably not, but you never know?)

Now is the time to embrace January. In all its glory. (Not the adorable actress, the month.)

(Freezing rain, snow and all.)

Just think- a whole new year.

A year of brand new days.

A blank slate.

New promises.

New habits.

A new you.

Me?

Oh, I’ve been part of that “so many” before. And I’ve been away from this page for a while too. For many unexpected reasons. I don’t want this to be all about those sad reasons, except to say that this year, I’m not about unrealistic expectations. (Except I do hope the new hair brush I bought recently helps calm my frazzled winter hair.)

I don’t want it to be about crazy, unrealistic promises.

Or unattainable habits.

Or a new me.

I actually like the “me” I am today. And the one I was last week. And last year. Fly-away hair and all. When you’re over 40, I’m pretty sure you know what I’m talking about. Not just about unmanageable hair, but celebrating who you are.

Rather, I want 2017 to just “be”.

I want it to be about appreciating the people in my life.

The people who have come and gone.

About being present.

Quiet. (Well, maybe not completely quiet, bust listening more and talking a little less. Or maybe not talking less, but taking a teensy pause here and there.)

Laughing, like I always do.

And not sweating the small stuff.

And doing everything with meaning.

So yeah, 2017 is going to be a good year.

But I think last year was pretty awesome too.

Remember, it’s not about the headlines.

It’s not about what an article promises.

It’s not about what some expert says…or doesn’t say.

When it comes down to it, 2017 is about what YOU make of it.

 

 

 

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How to Spread Sanity on a Cracker Wins IndieReader Discovery Award!

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