21 Days of Christmas: Day 1

Posted on by rootedmama

The theme of 21 Days of Christmas is kindness. I believe at the root of kindness is hope and love. We will start with showing ourselves kindness!!

This weekend, my kids have been with my in-laws. Today, I was going to take a day to get it all done. Did that happen? No.

I didn’t change out of my pajamas today. I lounged around, watched Christmas movies, and my husband slept. All.day. We both needed a day of complete rest.

To be honest, with traveling and COVID, we haven’t had many days without any of our kids. I didn’t realize just how worn out we were.

When you are that worn out. It is super hard to pour into others. It’s hard to show love and kindness, when you are running on empty.

So, for day 1: Take time for yourself. Get rejuvenated and refreshed, as best you can with the resources you have.

Take a nap. Read a book. Go on a walk. Do nothing. Whatever it is for you. Do it. Because, you can’t show others love and kindness well, unless you are doing it for yourself first.

21 Days of Christmas

Posted on by rootedmama

This year has been hard, there’s no doubt about that. There’s been hardship for practically everyone this year. Fighting a world pandemic. An intense election. Much needed fight for social justice.

So much division.

I feel like this year was inevitable.

Over the past 10 years, it has seemed that each passing year there’s been more anger, more division in the US and across the world. It feels as though this year was the eruption point. The lava has been building for years, and now it’s seems everyone is shouting and not many are listening and doing, and frankly showing love to others.

What if we took the next 21 days, and created a new habit to love others when we disagree, even if we don’t want to.

Ya’ll. This is hard. Yet, I know that if we dig deep, find it within ourselves to say “enough is enough”, we can make a greater change and impact in our social circles. When we do that, I know it’ll make a big difference.

Now, I know I’m writing and sharing this later than I planned. The beauty is. . .we can take 21 days of Christmas and extend that into 2021 when most people feel the hope of Christmas leading up to Christmas Day, and the “magic” fades away. Let’s take that “magic” and keep spreading into the new year and beyond.

Travel and transition

Posted on by rootedmama

Over the last few months, we have spent most places at the minimum in one spot, monthly. When we started traveling more, in August, we only got to see a couple of places – before I got a job work camping for a couple of months.

And now, we are moving more often, hence the lack of writing over the last couple of weeks!

I liked the predictably of staying in one spot monthly. I like being able to see family and friends for longer. . .

And also, I long to be able to travel places we have never been. It’s harder for us to do that, if we are staying places monthly.

For me, I’d like to find a balance of how-long-is-just-long-enough-to-stay-in-one-place, be able to explore, and not stay there too long.

Which is what I think we are on our way to finding!

Anyways. . .Starting our travel, this year of all years, brings its own set of challenges. Just like for everything else. And one thing I’m really good at is giving up when things get hard. Not this year.

This year, is going to be different. I don’t know about you, but I need this year to be different. I need to know that I can push through a tough season. Or that if I fall off the productivity train, I can hop back on. It’s not the end of the world.

I will not give up on writing and my photography. I enjoy it too much.

As we learn our new normal, of moving more often, I’m working on a few posts that I can’t wait to share. My writings just may be a tad off from what my goals are, and I’m deciding that’s just going to have to be ok!

And just know that if you are feeling the same, you can do this!

Just don’t give up!

December!!!

Posted on by rootedmama

I’m not really sure how we are already over a week into December. . . And, I just wanted to send well wishes out to you all!! I hope that you are receiving joy, hope, and love. That you see light in the world.

It seems like there are a lot of people who need to feel the love.

A lot of people going through tough times.

And, I know, I know- that’s honestly been the theme of 2020. It’s been a tough year for all.

Through these types of seasons- It’s easy to get stuck inside our own thoughts and our own problems. What if we saw the opportunity in this last month, of this ridiculously hard year to spend each day, of the rest of the year gifting love, compassion, and kindness.

And then, carried it over into next year!

That’s what this season is about!

It takes 21 days to make a habit. So. Let’s take 21 days of Christmas, and give the gift of love, compassion, and kindness. Let’s show up, and come together. Let’s show up, and show the people in our world love.

Stay tuned.