A few weeks ago I announced to you all that LoveBrownSugar would be taking a brief hiatus. In celebration of the blog’s 5 year anniversary, I decided to take some time off, reflect and enjoy the last few weeks of summer with my new bundle of joy who is growing so incredibly fast. What I didn’t expect was how eye-opening the experience would be. Just having time to “be” instead of “do” was such a huge shift for me. I’m always on a tight schedule with multiple deadlines and somewhere to be, someone to see, or something to do. Having time to reflect and brainstorm and discover this little thing called “spare time” really helped me develop a sense of gratitude about my life and the wonderful things in it, including my daughter.
I think what I discovered most of all during my summer hiatus is that the small things in life (cliche, I know) can really bring you immense joy. Here are three important lessons I learned:
1. You can be anywhere, whenever you want.
It’s as simple as that. Small bits of your favorite places on earth can really help bring you there, whenever you want. Personally, my favorite place to be is on a tropical beach. I spent alot of time during my hiatus in my backyard soaking up sun, lounging by the pool, breathing in the fresh air and sipping Crystal Light (even on hiatus I tried to watch my calories with NYFW right around the corner!)
Something as simple as a Pina Colada reminding you of your last tropical vacation, a Berry Lemonade reminding you of your childhood summers or a ray of sun can change your entire mood.
2. Small Triggers Are Powerful
You should take some time out each day to indulge in something that reminds you of your favorite place, your favorite person or an enjoyable point in time. Work can get stressful, the kids can be driving you crazy, you could be lonely or confused. Whatever is bringing you down, look for a mini escape in the form of a picture, a song, a mocktail or even a color. You’d be surprised at how powerful triggers like this can be.
3. It’s All In Your Mind
How you feel really has so much to do with how you think. Ever hear about those people who battle terminal illnesses and win because they determine within themselves in their minds that they’re going to beat the odds? I believe every bit of it. So I encourage each of you to take some time out of your day to indulge in and embrace your “happy”. Find a #tinywin in your life to get excited about. The mind is a powerful thing.
What gets you through the day? Share in the comments section!
This post is sponsored by Crystal Light. Opinions expressed herein are my own and not those of the company.
