Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen Hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is. — Mary Anne Radmacher
Oh boy, can you say Intention Derailment? I feel like I am living on the edge.
Stuck on that dammed edge, wishing like hell that I could go back to last years word… to pick it up and wrap it around me because I really need something familiar right now. Something easy.
And then I read this:
Whenever something bad happens, keep calm, take a few deep breaths and shift the focus to something positive. — Roy T. Bennett
Yep, that is where I am right now… trying to stay calm, trying to breathe, and unsuccessfully seeking anything positive.
If this was all just about me only…I think I’d be fine with little or no hiccups in my day. But every day there seems to be some new thing to be concerned about for those I love (specifically my kids) and, honestly, it is damned hard to “put on a happy face” or find something positive.
But I have discovered that even small breaths are good. And faking calm works in a pinch – or at least for the duration of a phone call, then all bets are off.
And silent tears sometimes are the most positive thing in a day.
And that is all I’ve got.
Now, please go visit Honoré and see what everyone else has!
You can see my Intentional Journey here.
Hang in there, Kat. You can only do what you can. It’s hard to live with any intention when every day is a new odyssey and we have so little control over our lives. Focus on what you can control and try not to give too much brain space to the other things. Hugs.
Thanks for your honesty, Kat. I have left my poor word (focus) by the wayside; I just don’t seem to have any. I can imagine that it’s hard to live with intention when we hardly know what fresh hell the next hour will hold. I don’t have any words of wisdom, but please know that I can focus enough to hold you and your kids in my heart and thoughts, and send all of you the best juju. XO
I think you are doing the best you can and maybe that’s all you should be expecting of yourself right now, friend.
Sometimes life gets in the way of our best intentions! Holy moley . . . who could have predicted what’s happening this year???? So. It sounds like you’re finding your way – slowly and painfully (like the rest of us, I’m afraid). I tend to learn the most from my words when they DON’T go the way I think they’re going to . . .
XOXO
Oh Kat. Breathe deeply. Know that you are doing the best you can and are doing ALL that you can for your children. These are extraordinary days and it’s much like we are all navigating at sea with no rudder and no map and no wind. Thinking of you and wishing you some serenity and calmness…and understanding that what you are doing is enough.
Sometimes it’s a relief just to name it, isn’t it? ‘This is hard. It’s scary. Surreal. I love my people and can’t protect them…’ All of that. It’s the most complicated grab bag of emotions–with little to no warning (or ability to imagine!) what was coming… I think you’re beautifully human.
Oh Kat, I so appreciate your honesty. I think you ARE finding intention in many ways – being there for your kids, keeping an open heart, and showing up here … also taking deep breaths when you you. Love you!
(oops, I meant “when you can” xxoo)
Oh, goodness. Things are so scary right now! Your kindness to me has made such a difference in my life – so thank you for making such efforts to be so kind and positive all of the time.
I’m thinking of you – I hope all is well and I wish that our lives weren’t so upside down right now!
praying for you and the peace that you are searching for comes to you. I am stressed out. I find watching JUST the PA governor’s update daily (around 1-3pm) helps me immensely. I find their calm delivery helpful and informative. Praying for you!!
Hang in there! Worrying about others is devastating, it’s so easy to spiral down that hole. It’s easy to say “let go of what you can’t control” and so hard to do it! it’s impossible.
Thanks for being honest. This is just the oddest most stressful time. Being there for your kids is doing something even if it doesn’t feel like it. I don’t have any good advice except keep breathing, keep knitting, keep listening.
So many challenges today, and finding the positive it certainly one of them.