3 EASY WAYS TO BE MORE MINDFUL

3 Easy Ways To Become More Mindful - learning to savour the sweetness of the moment

OVERTHINKING VS BEING MORE MINDFUL

There is something in me that is always bubbling away under the surface and it used to manifest as worry or over-thinking. I finally realized how pointless it was to brood over the past, or to be trying to constantly plan my future in every tiny detail.Now I try to catch myself before the bubbling takes over and starts eating away at my happiness. Here's three easy ways I've discovered lately to calm my mind and to appreciate being in the moment.
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5 FUN FACTS ABOUT OUR FAMILY

a few fun facts about my family for Five Things Friday

For my five things this Friday I thought I'd share five (hopefully) interesting things about my family. They're short and sweet so hopefully they'll be as much fun to read as they were to write about.
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WHAT IS THE PERFECT FAMILY?

Do you have an unreal expectation of what makes the "perfect" family? Is there even such a thing as a family being truly perfect? #perfect #family

THE IDEA OF A PERFECT FAMILY

Somewhere along the line in my life, I managed to develop this absurd notion (my family refers to it as my “Brady Bunch Mentality”) that families are this amazing group of people who are interconnected, and inter-dependent, and want to spend lots time together, sharing happily in each others’ lives. I assume they want to do this because they are so in-sync with each other and love to be together....and because they have been parented this way.

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CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE - WE'RE THE "SANDWICH GENERATION"

How did Midlifers get to be the caught in the middle generation? Why are we the Sandwich Generation - caring for our parents but expecting no care from our own kids? #midlife #sandwichgeneration

THE SANDWICH GENERATION

I was having coffee with my sister-in-law (and great buddy) the other day and we were discussing the expectations placed on us and how that's changed with the next generation. Our adult "kids" have no qualms with living their own lives autonomously and they have no problem at all with leaving their parents to their own devices.
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5 QUOTES ABOUT REAL LOVE

Five Things Friday ~ 5 Quotes about what Real Love is all about


WHAT IS "REAL" LOVE?

This week's theme seems to be about love (Valentine's Day inspires me!) and how, despite what the greeting cards tell us, it's not always all hearts and flowers. Real, deep, honest, long term love is so much more than that. Midlife love has weathered a multitude of storms, it has faced crises and survived, it has had heady moments and times of drought and sadness. What makes it Real is the fact that it has come through stronger and more resilient from taking the hard knocks. 

 Real love is about connecting with and caring about a person who you are doing life with long term. Someone who has your back, who loves you despite your faults, and who will be there at the end of the day to hold your hand and give you a hug when you need one. At the same time, it is staying true to who you intrinsically are and respecting each other's differences along the way.

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MARRIAGE AND DEPRESSION

Marriage and Depression - 'Until we have seen someone's darkness, we don't really know who they are.

DISCOVERING DEPRESSION

I’ve always been a healthy person – fairly robust and not prone to illness in general. I expected that this was the same for everyone and had never heard of the term “depression” until it took a swipe at my family. Pre-Google, “depression” was what people got when someone died. I have subsequently found out it is also what people get when their family has a predisposition towards Serotonin deficiency.

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DE-BUNKING THE MIDLIFE MARRIAGE FAIRYTALE

It's time to stop holding onto out-dated preconceived ideas about marriage - Midlife is the time to move past the fairy tales and be real. #midlife #marriage

KNIGHTS IN SHINING ARMOUR

I was talking to a friend about midlife marriage the other day. She lives in a perpetual state of "hope deferred" (as she refers to it) and "constant disappointment" (as I refer to it!) She keeps waiting for her husband of 28 years to step up and be her knight in shining armour. She is certain that her marriage should be a fairytale and is so disappointed that it's not.

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5 QUALITIES OF RESILIENT PEOPLE

Five Qualities of Resilient People - have you ever wondered why some people bounce back after turmoil?

WHY GO THROUGH TOUGH TIMES?

Sometimes I wonder why we go through tough times in life. But really, deep down, I know the answer - those tough times are what make us stronger. They deepen us, make us more compassionate, and turn us into better people. One word sums it up - Resilience - the ability to face adversity and turn it around. To come out of it with a better understanding of ourselves and our fellow human beings is something to be grateful for after weathering the storm.

 Five qualities I've noticed that resilient people manifest:
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HOW ARE YOU TRAVELLING THAT ROAD YOU'RE ON?

How Are You Travelling That Road You're On?


BUMPS AND HUMPS

Have you noticed that life throws all sorts of challenges our way? We expect to have an easy ride, but those of us who have been around the block a few of times, know that there will be bumps along the way. Sometimes there are potholes the size of swimming pools, speed humps and "Men At Work" signs.
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WHEN YOUR MUM BECOMES A SUBSCRIBER

You know your anonymous blogging days are over when your mum becomes a subscriber to your blog

ANONYMOUS - I DON'T THINK SO!

The funny thing about starting this blog was that I never expected anybody to read it. I thought it would be good to have a space online where I could record my thoughts and one day go back and read them - something for posterity was probably my other thought. I didn't use my name or my photo and I thought I was flying under the radar. Even my husband didn't know I'd become a "Blogger".
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5 GREAT THINGS I'M GRATEFUL FOR

What are you grateful for? Here's my five greatest blessings

 Sometimes we get so caught up in all the trials and tribulations of our world and forget to acknowledge the wonderful stuff we have in our lives every day. Maybe it's time to put the world on pause for a little while and take time out to think about the blessings we've been given.

 Today these are the five great things I'm grateful for. I could probably sit and list another five without too much trouble, but these were the first to spring to mind. I wonder what other people would have in their top five - feel free to enlighten me in the comments!
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WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH

 Everyone faces tough times - how do you handle yours? Be grateful for all you've come through and the strength it's built in your life. #toughtimes #strength

CHANGES, CHANGES EVERYWHERE

For someone who is not good at coping with change, I seem to have had a lot of ups and downs in my life. My friend said the other day that my life looks a bit like a hamster wheel at times - running, running to keep everything on track.
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