Another Circle Around the Sun...

“Another year has come and gone, another circle ‘round the sun”... 

I am so grateful for you, my babies, for choosing me to be your mama, and I encourage you to reflect on every area of your lives so as to be better today than you were yesterday.

Just Me & My Max

To my Max, who was born with a most unique charisma, or energy if you will, that is intense and passionate and kind, I hope that you continue to live a life filled with the curiosity that you have always had and determination for the way you want to be with people, young and old. Your larger than life way has always filled a space in my life that reminds me of how wonderful childhood is.

Thank you Bill Watterson for years of joy and possibilities.

To my Jillian who has an incredible drive and dedication toward connection in all that she does, and for the good that comes with that. I admire the ground you walk on baby and remember your long attention span that exceeded all that I had known. This too is a gift from your birth. Remember my darling to always gift yourself with balance of being, each and every day. 

"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." Albus Dumbledore

For both of you, I hold you in utmost awe, as I watch you choose to keep a vision of the life that you want to live, close to your heart and mind, knowing that you must work at it in the physical, to make it happen. 2020 is going to be an extraordinary year. Read that again… Extraordinary!

When you were living at home and every morning as you headed out to the bus that took you to school, I threw words at you. Do you remember them? 

Work hard 

Learn lots 

Have fun

Because…

“Days are never long enough”...

Love

~ me, your mom 

(Days are Never Long Enough - written by Steve Earle My favourite version is sung by Thomas Dybdahl & Lera Lynn)

2019

I am goal setter. Each day actually, as well as at the beginning of a new year and at the beginning of September. I set intentions and write out the process of how I will meet these goals and honour my intentions and reside in the “how”. I haven’t always done this strategically or even with a conscious knowledge. As a child, I began each day making my bed and tidying up my room so that I could play in an environment that was clear of clutter. The second thing I ever bought with money earned, was bedding so that my bed was pretty to look at. My room was always the guest room because it was in order. As a young adult, I set my sights high and had goals that I have never reached, but I’m okay with that, because it was the pattern of daily living that provided me with the wherewithal to keep soaring.

Through the years my New Year’s Resolution have been things like, run more, write daily and clean less, but this past year, 2019, I chose a word. My word was integrity. I feel that I have strong integrity of word to others, but this year I wanted to have integrity of word even for self. I decided I was going to stand by the things that I promised myself. Meditate more, practise yoga more, read more self-improvement books, and listen to health podcasts. More was easy for me to do because all I had to do was add one more day a week to each of these; that became more. Was I really practising integrity of word to self?

I live a reflective life in all that I do and I have been very good at taking constructive criticism in my work life. I even ask for it. As I look back on this year, I wonder, did I live up to my initial thought of what integrity of word to self meant? I’m not sure but I am glad that I set this in motion. 2019 was a great year for me. I smiled a lot, had fun with kids, read 19 books, skied and ran and worked and wrote and travelled and saw people I hadn’t seen in a very long time. As I close up this year, I am okay with not meeting all of my goals and I am grateful for yet another New Year to ring in…

~ Ellyn

Self Care

I learned to care for my emotional self during a time of angst and sadness. Not long after my mama 
died, I fell into a hole that I worked very hard to climb out of. With the help of a few practitioners and the 
undying support of my husband, I did it! I decided then that I never wanted to fall into that big of a hole 
again and so for about 13 years, I have followed a simple practise that allows me to keep my emotions 
forever in check.

The following is my daily routine:

My feet do not hit the ground in the morning until I smile warmly, concentrate on one deep breath and 
am thankful that I am where I am.

In the shower, I ask that I be cleared and released of any negativity that is or isn't mine and I again 
breathe deeply and am grateful.

Inspired by Matthew McConaughey, every morning I write in my gratitude journal:

1. I give thanks to for… (often something from the previous day, or a warm bed, a roof over my head, 
   etc.)
2. I write in thankfulness to for… (the opportunities I have been gifted)
3. I look forward to… (on school days it usually involves being with 5 year olds and sometimes it is 
   simply that I get to sit on my verandah in silence with a glass of wine.)
4. I write about what I will chase that day… (always one of my character traits, like, my best listening 
   self)

World peacemaker, Mahatma Gandhi said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the 
service of others.” Each day, I think of something good that I will specifically do that day and ask that I be 
shown of what service I can be. 

As I drive to work, I ask that all of my loved ones remain safe that day until they return to their 
respective beds and ask that all of the people that I love and the people I will meet that day (even if I 
just meet them in passing on the highway) stay safe and are cared for. I ask the Universe to help me be 
a better person that day than I was the day before.

Before going to bed at night I again check in with myself, to see how the day went and if I need some 
guidance so that I can be an even better person the next day.

I truly believe that we are here on purpose to use our gifts and talents to work and be together, lifting 
each other up, for the good of our world. 

These are my daily habits that I had to practise every day so that they would be just that, a habit. And 
then... I also, breathe easy lots, look people in the eye, discern intent, write,

laugh with friends, read for joy, practise yoga, garden and cycle. 

Will I fall into a hole again? Possibly, but I know it will not take me long to climb out again.

Love

~ Ellyn

Where I read...

A reminder...

Sample page

Hope?

Not only do I care deeply for people, I have great hope in them… in us.

My heart sits in my throat these days and like many, my emotions are at the ready. A senseless act has happened, in what would would seem a world away, but it isn’t. The world has become very small and I am thankful for this. It has allowed me to connect with many who are interested in the same things that I am interested in. People who care deeply about other people are able to come together for good in this world. Unfortunately, the reverse is also true.

So many lives were taken in #NewZealand this week and I struggle with wrapping my head around the why. I do not want their lives to be for not. And what about the gunman? How does one develop so much hatred for another. In this case, hatred for a group of people.

We must work together to raise the energy of kindness in our own little corners of this world and help to protect and honour each other, through compassion and understanding.  But how?

I am a teacher and it has been my practise and my way, to educate. Through education, we open our minds to a variety of ways of doing and thinking. Education gifts us with a knowledge of the world, for the betterment of the world. That’s what it is all about. We are here on this earth to use our gifts and talents and work with each other for good!

What will I do to help with those who are grieving over the events from last week? I will acknowledge what has happened, remove myself from any negative energy about others and listen.

I will move forward in hope…

~ Ellyn

Reflecting

I’ve been walking around with a lump in my throat today, reflecting.

You see, “sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven’t been brave?” Character Kathleen Kelly played by Meg Ryan from the movie, You’ve Got Mail.

I have watched this movie countless times. I love it and so much of it resonates with my very being. From the bouquet of HB pencils Joe Fox considers sending Kathleen, in September, to the remark about business needing to always begin, with being personal, the lines resonate with my very being. The odd thing is, I have never noticed the aforementioned line until my recent re-watching of the movie.

I truly believe that I too, live a valued life but it is small, and is it small because I have not been brave?

I don’t have any answers today, just thoughts, reflections.

~ Ellyn