Welcome to Motivational Mondays in March! This month I wanted to do something a little different by sharing various ways I'm staying motivated in specific areas each week. In January, I set some intentions for ways I wanted to do better in 2016.
Last month, I had a really interesting experience with Psychic Medium Chris Medina. He is an intuitive as well as having the ability to call forth messages from people who have passed on. We sat together for an hour or so, and I really connected with him and the messages he felt inclined to share with me – we also shared a lot of laughs! Overall, Chris really encouraged me to trust my instincts and to go forward boldly in to what he described as a "transformative" period of my life.
In the spirit of that, I felt motivated to revisit my New Years Resolutions and really focus on specific ways that I can achieve my goals! Stay tuned here each Monday in March for something new.
This week, I'm going to focus on my desire to unplug a little. When you run an online-based business, the pressure is there to be constantly accessible and available. I actually love Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter – but I find the balance between staying connected to my online community and staying connected and present with my family and friends, to be a little foggy. I think we have probably all been guilty of setting the scene for a beautiful dinner party, fun brunch with friends, or gorgeous day at the park with the family – only to be distracted by capturing the perfect "square" to share. I've been trying to set boundaries for myself by having some "no tech" family time designated each day, but as with any regimen (I've never been able to diet, for example) I sometimes feel like the rules I set for my self end up feeling restrictive and leave me frustrated.
To re-motivate myself, I thought I would combine this idea with another interest I had for the New Year: exploring my surroundings more! I thought, "What if I designated a couple hours of time a week to trying something completely new…with Marlowe!" Unplugging with my daughter, and just enjoying a new experience in each other's company, really allows us to get back to basics and create memories. Plus it serves as an amazing break in the week for me to check out of my work responsibilities and just have fun. It doesn't matter how simple or silly your outing is – the point is to do something entirely new and to have an adventure!
The other day we explored a nature preserve near our home in California. From the moment we got there, Marlowe wanted to run ahead and scurry down the trails all by herself! The location was beautiful, so expansive, and teeming with wildlife. We saw bunny rabbits, squirrels, birds, and even a few little animal homes. Marlowe loves picking up sticks and rocks and carrying them along the trail. She kept on running far ahead of me, totally independent – an explorer at heart for sure. I couldn't believe how fearless she was in a brand new place. It really reminded me that our children have so much to teach us if we take the time to learn. I brought our lovely friend Nina along for the adventure to capture it for you, but ideally the point is to leave the phones in your purse and retain the memory…in your iBrain. Ha!
I can't wait to plan our next adventurous outing! Do you like to unplug with your kids and get out of your comfort zone? Let me know what kinds of activities you like to plan in the comments below!!
xoxo
-EAM
Images via Nina Suh for Love And Lemonade Photography
*Many thanks to Covergirl for sponsoring this post! As always, the thoughts and opinions expressed above are entirely my own.
