Practicing Personal Self Care with a Busy Life - day 13 UBC

When I was able to work, there were days I burned the candle at both ends (figuratively speaking) in order to get everything accomplished in a day's time done.

Not only did I have a full-time job working 8 - 10-hour days, but I was a mom of three children, a wife, and I also had other obligations outside of the home. (i.e., boards, Praise Team, Bible Study, and PTA just to name a few). Below are pictures of my three children and me. The bottom photo also has my mom in it and my #2 child. These were taken between 1984 and 1994.

Many nights, I'd be washing clothes at midnight, vacuuming the house after the kids were put down for bed, and ensuring the kitchen was cleaned up before settling down for the night myself. The next morning, the cycle started all over again.... get up two hours before everyone else in the house did, take a shower, get my makeup on, and fix my hair. I'd then prepare breakfasts, lunches (if needed), and then wake up the three kids ranging in age from 10 - 2 years old. 

I'd get them ready for school, pack their lunches, make sure they had something to eat for breakfast, and out the door, we went...there was no time for self-care. I was caring for three little people and their needs. My needs always took a back seat to everyone else. Can you relate? I could have used some self-care tips back in the day, trust me! I should have learned that two-letter word NO many years ago! 

By the time I arrived at work, I was exhausted from the hectic schedule I maintained with little sleep most days. Now mind you, my kids are grown and have families of their own. I'm no longer working - - but there are days I feel like I still burn the candle at both ends with little to no sleep. I can thank my health for this today. There is a difference today though, I've learned how to ask for help if I need it with the housework and preparing the meals. There are even days I just don't do anything. I can't...and I don't! 

Trying to balance personal self-care with the busy life I led seemed almost impossible to my family, but I did it. Day in and day out...no, this wasn't and isn't healthy. Burn out was setting in. Frustration was setting in. Days were beginning to run into the next and I began getting sick...

I needed to balance my busy life, but how? Back in the day, for several years, I was a single mom (the middle photo above, I was a single mom with a newborn baby and two older children) - I didn't have the luxury of having a partner to assist with the housework, the cooking, the financial assistance, etc. I just had to figure it out. Like I mentioned above, self-care wasn't even in the equation other than the morning routine of showering (and in most days, that was rushed) out of necessity. 

I had routines. These were necessary to keep my life in check and keep me sane...but at times, even the routines were difficult to manage. But I did it...when I think back to how life was back in the day; I'm amazed I accomplished all the things I did. But guess what...I did it! Sure, I could have done things differently now that I think about them, but then - I just had to manage and manage I did. 

Do you have a busy life? If so, how do you balancing it all? 

Continue reading along to learn how to tweak a few things in your life to balance personal self-care with your busy life. 

How to Balance Practicing Personal Self Care with a Busy Life

One of the most difficult challenges a lot of people face with self-care is finding the time to fit it in. When you live a busy lifestyle, it can seem almost impossible to find extra time to look after you.

So, how can you balance practicing self-care with a busy lifestyle? Here, you’ll discover some great tips you can follow.

Schedule it in

A good tip you can follow to ensure you can fit self-care into your busy routine is to schedule it in. Think about it, you schedule in everything else, so why not self-care? When you set a time to focus on yourself, you are much more likely to stick to it. No matter how busy you think you are, there will always be time for self-care somewhere in your schedule.

Establish a morning routine

If you are struggling to find the best time of day to practice self-care, you might find it easier in the morning. If you’re a busy parent, you might disagree here but think about it. In the morning, you could get up just 30 minutes earlier, or 15 minutes if you want. This can be the perfect opportunity to practice self-care.

Alternatively, if you are a parent you could focus on self-care in the evenings when the kids have gone to bed. It doesn’t take long to practice self-care so you should always be able to squeeze it in somewhere.

Look at automating daily tasks

There are all kinds of tools and gadgets that can automate various aspects of our lives. If you are constantly busy, you’ll find automating certain tasks can be a game-changer.

For example, you could switch from going to the grocery store, to ordering groceries online. If you have items you frequently purchase, these can be added to your favorites list, making it easier to add them to your order next time. Doing your grocery shopping online can free up a lot of free time during the week that can be used on self-care.

Start small

You don’t have to start by completely overhauling your lifestyle. Instead, you can start small with self-care. Begin by taking just 10 minutes out of each day to focus on a self-care activity. Focus on developing one positive self-care habit at a time. Once you have mastered that, you can move on to the next task.

By starting small, it makes it easier to fit self-care into your busy life. Many people mistakenly think they need to begin with at least 30 minutes a day. The truth is, however, much time you can free up for self-care is enough. Once you get started, you’ll find it easier to start focusing more on self-care due to the benefits you experience.

Overall, balancing practicing self-care with a busy lifestyle isn’t easy. However, the tips above can really help. You’ll find a lot of tips online too from busy people just like you. Remember, self-care is essential to your health and wellbeing. So, no matter how busy you are, you should always try and make time for self-care daily.

Now that I have given you the equation of how to balance personal self-care with a busy life, what is the first thing you are going to change? Do you feel you would be able to manage life better if you were able to implement a few changes that enhanced balancing your self-care and busy life? 

Drop me a comment and let me know how you could achieve balancing personal self-care in your busy life. 

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Fitness Tracker Smartwatch Review

A few weeks ago, I signed up to share a giveaway for the Fitness Tracker Smartwatch by UMIDIGI that was being hosted by Michigan Savings and More. I set up my post, recorded my links, and have shared the giveaway now several times since sharing the giveaway the first time. 

My daughter came over earlier today and when she came in, was carrying a box. I looked at her with surprise because I wasn't expecting anything in the mail by way of a shipment. 

When I looked at the return address, UMIDIGI was the name on the shipping label. I proceeded with opening the box very carefully. 

Inside of the brown package left by my front door was a smaller sleek white box. 

I carefully peeled back the tape on the sides and opened the package. WOW - to my surprise was a Fitness Tracker Smartwatch. I am so excited to review this product for them. 

This Fitness Tracker Smartwatch can automatically monitor and track your heart rate all day by turning on the Da Fit app. It can also measure blood oxygen, keep track of your sleep, and is a sedentary reminder. Once the watch tracks these things, it will provide a comprehensive data analysis to help you create a healthier lifestyle. 

With my continued health issues of environmental asthma and COPD (non-smoker) along with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), I am always looking for items that help me monitor my blood pressure, my oxygen levels, and more.

The Smartwatch that I received was Rose Gold. They have other colors in this style. Available colors are Space Gray, White, Titanium Grey, and Ocean Green.  

This Smartwatch is sleek. Looking at the description and the specs from the UMIDIGI website, I can see why this watch would be used by people who are wanting to track smarter and live better. 

Whether you are a runner, walk, a cyclist, play sports such as badminton, basketball, football, tennis, or exercise on a treadmill, dance, and other types of training, this Fitness Tracker Smartwatch is for you because it offers 14 different sports mode that can be used to track your every move.  

I began following UMIDIGI's Facebook page since I shared the giveaway hosted by Michigan Savings and More. 

They can also be found on Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube. I have also found this product on Amazon. 

About this item

·        【Lightweight & Personalized Watch Faces】 The 1.3 inches square color touch display covered with a 2.5D curved glass and aluminum alloy frame, Uwatch 2S smartwatch makes it elegant and light to wear, but also sturdy and scratch resistant. After connecting with your phone, you can choose from over 100 watch faces or choose your own photo to set it as the only wallpaper.

·        【Features of Smart Watch】 Activity tracker (pedometer, calories, distance), heart rate monitor, menstrual cycle calculation for women, 14 sport modes, sleep monitoring; Call, SMS and APP messages notifications, remote control of music and cameras, weather report, sedentary reminder, alarm clock, stopwatch, find phone, call rejection, brightness adjustment, power-saving mode, and other functions to meet your daily needs.

·        【Fitness Tracker for Men Women】The fitness tracker can automatically monitor your heart rate, sleep status (deep sleep, shallow sleep, awakening), and provide a comprehensive sleep quality analysis to help you create a healthier lifestyle. You can also set up to 14 sport modes to track your various workout accordingly. You can view a summary of your stats in the Da Fit app.

·        【Smart Watch for iPhone and Android Phones】The Uwatch 2S is compatible with most iOS 8.0 & Android 4.4 or above smartphones to notify you of call, text, email, calendar, and app notifications (Only display the latest three messages). If you have any questions about the watch, please contact us. We will get back to you within 24 hours.

·        【Long Battery Life & Waterproof Watch】One full charge (2.5 hours) gives it up to 15 days of working time, much longer than traditional watches. Uwatch 2S meet 5ATM waterproof standard, you can wear it when washing hands, in the rain, and swimming (notice: Do Not use in water more than 100. 40℉, such as showers, saunas, etc).

I am going to begin wearing the Fitness Tracker Smartwatch tomorrow. I am looking forward to monitoring my health so I can continue to live an active lifestyle in my future.

In closing, this product does not take the place of health monitoring provided by doctors and specialists. It only enhances your ability to live a life full of quality, helps you work outside of the home, assists with keeping kids healthy, active and off of the electronics.  

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Thankfulness - TTOT

Hello Friday...! It's a NEW day. Thank goodness. Where do we go from here? Lives shattered. Lives altered. Democracy challenged. Security challenged. Leadership in shambles...and yet, all I can say is - BUT GOD. 

Ten Things of Thankfulness today...do I have ten things to be thankful for this week? No, I have more than ten. I have a lifetime of thankfulness. I am thankful I am still living, breathing, and that I possess the power within me to know what is right and what is wrong. 

I am thankful GOD still SITS ON THE THRONE. 

I am thankful I CAN PRAY (loudly or silently). 

I am thankful I LIVE and BREATHE. 

I am thankful that I know the PEACE OF GOD in my heart. 

I am thankful that I believe in the POWER OF FORGIVENESS. 

I am thankful for DUE DILIGENCE. 

I am thankful for JUSTICE. 

I am thankful for PEACE. 

I am thankful for HOPE. 

I am thankful for FAITH. 

I am thankful for LOVE. 

I am thankful for LIFE. 

I am thankful for A NEW DAY...

I am thankful that I can SIT AND JUST BE.

I am thankful that I CAN BE STILL..and know ALL IS WELL within my soul.  

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Thinking Out Loud - My TOP 5 list

This last Monday, while I was looking for some specific journaling cards to include with the Junk Journal I was finishing up for the purchaser, I put my hands on this one. I immediately thought to myself this little sheet of paper would make a great blog post. I began thinking about my TOP 5 in each of the three categories: Movies, TV Shows, and Bands.

I placed this little card in front of my pen holder and glanced at it throughout the day while continuing to think about all the movies, tv shows, and bands I have watched or listened to throughout my life. I am sure I have watched and listened to 1000's... how on earth am I going to choose just 5?  Do I have you thinking about the five you would choose in each category? If so, what would they be? And then, why did you choose the 5 you chose? Did a line in the movie resonate with you or could you relate to a music lyric? What is it that makes us like this or that? CHOICES...

There are so many to choose from in each category...how does one decide WHAT is the TOP 5? I suppose we could agree to disagree on them all if we listened to the Grammy Awards or even the Emmy Awards. There have been times I just shake my head at the titles that win these awards. Many of them called out I have never even heard of, not to mention even watched or listened to. So again, how do they KNOW who the awards will go to? I wonder how these awards are really calculated. Is it by People's Choice? I do not recall voting on any of the TOP movies, songs, or TV shows. Do you? 

One theory I have is maybe they go by how many people frequented the Box Office...well, that is not going to help now with the COVID Stay at Home orders in place for so many states. What about Redbox movies? Nope, most of the boxes in my area have been put out of commission. Then there are the other streaming networks like Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, Amazon Prime, just to name a few. I know in our family, we watch movies and other television shows on a few of these channels I mentioned, and a few others not mentioned, such as Disney Plus. 

My TOP 5 list...let me ponder this a little bit more. In other words, let me 'think out loud'. If I were to pose this question to my husband, my daughter, her husband, my sister, and her husband - I am quite sure there would be many different responses. Now if I were to do a collaborative poll as a group of at least two individuals, we might agree on 2 - 3 titles, but I am not confident enough that my TOP 5 choice would match their TOP 5 choices. How many of you can agree with this theory? Would you match all your family's choices? How about your friend's choices? So again, HOW are these awards given out...I know, I know - - the polls have all the 'correct' answers. We have learned that theory does not work during this last election. No, I am not going to get on a political soapbox, but human beings can make things appear or disappear as though they were or were not and vice versa. I will leave that right there...getting back to the topic at hand. It is all about the choices...my choice, your choice, our choice. We all agree to disagree on many, many different topics every single day. 

My TOP 5 choices in these three categories: MOVIES, TV SHOWS, and BANDS. This is tuff...I am going to break this down by my age. No, I am not going to tell you how old I am, but when you see my TOP 5, I am quite confident you could probably figure it out...but then again, maybe not. 

In my teenage years, the TOP 5 looked different than the ones I would choose in my 20's, 30's and so forth, and so on. How about you? Do they differ much?  

In my teens, my Top 5 MOVIES were: 

1. The Godfather, Part II

2. Kramer vs. Kramer

3. Rocky

4. Mommie Dearest

5. Close Encounters of the Third Kind

The choices for the Top 5 TV Shows in my teens is easy. I can list them very quickly! 

1. Brady Bunch

2. Partridge Family

3. The Odd Couple

4. Family Affair

5. General Hospital - oh yea, the Luke and Laura saga...did it ever come to an end? just kidding...I do not want to know. But seriously, how many of you can admit that you watched this Soap Opera without fail day in and day out? I got a kick the other day during a phone call I was on as the person on the other end say they were watching, General Hospital. I busted out laughing and said, 'are you kidding me'? She knew exactly why I was asking... (chuckling out loud). Moving right along...I could stay here on Soap Operas for a while, but I will not bore you with my dialog. LOL

Last, but not least - the Top 5 Bands I chose were: 

1. Seals and Crofts

2. Bread

3. Doobie Brothers

4. The Carpenters

5. Petra (Christian Rock Band)

There it is. My TOP 5 lists during my teenage years in the three said categories. Did you choose any that I mentioned? If so, what were they?

Okay, moving right along...let us visit my 20's and 30's. Shoot, life has happened so much - trying to remember these three categories in my mind proves to be quite difficult. I mean, after all, I was married. I was a mother of two small children. I was a divorcee with two small children. Wait, make that three small children. TOP 5 Movies, TV Shows, and Bands from my 20's and 30's. (fingers are tapping on the desk...tap, tap, tap). I give up. I can only think of two movies right off the top of my head and maybe a song or two. As for television shows, I can only come up with one. ALF! LOL - -now who in here remembers ALF? 

My Top 5 Movies in my 20's and 30's were: 

1. The Last Temptation of Christ

2. Top Gun

3. Godfather (any of them) 

4. The Last Temptation of Christ

5. Mississippi Burning

My choices for the Top 5 TV Shows in my 20's and 30's were: 

1. General Hospital

2. 60 Minutes

3. The Cosby Show

4. The Facts of Life

5. Family Ties/ALF (tie for this spot)

Have I aged any of you?  As I write out my lists, I am thinking about my life during these specific times. I wonder if some of my choices were because of how life was back then? I never really was into comedy and I do not like watching it now or even listening to it...I am sorry if that offends anyone. Just my choice. 

The choices for the Top 5 Bands in my 20's and 30's were: 

1. Styx

2. Seals and Crofts

3. Fleetwood Mac

4. Bee Gee’s

5. Bebe and CeCe Winan

I have not thought about some of these choices in some time, but I knew they would be on my lists during a period in my life. I am going to move now into the present-day...yes, I skipped a few years. Have you aged me yet? Have you looked up any of these titles on Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Hulu? What about trying to find them on the radio? Have you searched the internet for any of these titles? 

My choice for the Top 5 Movies today are: 

1. The Passion of the Christ

2. Beaches with Bette Midler

3. Mrs. Doubtfire

4. Godfather (ALL of them)

5. Dances with the Wolves with Kevin Costner

 My Top 5 choices in TV Shows today are: 

1. 9 1 1 (both series)

2. New Amsterdam

3. FBI (both series)

4. This Is Us

5. Cutthroat Kitchen/Chopped/Guy's Grocery Games (all rank in my TOP 5 list)

My Top 5 choices for Bands today are: (this is a bit harder because I have single artists that rank higher than a Band or Group). 

1. Mercy Me

2. Third Day

3. Little Big Town

4. Fleetwood Mac

5. Bread (still my all-time favorite) 

and there you have it...my TOP 5 lists for each of the three categories. Did I choose any that you chose? Reading back through my list, I can honestly say - there are a few titles that my family would absolutely know without a doubt that they were my favorites. Then, on the other hand, they would not have a clue about some of them. Again, it is all about choices. I have reasons for choosing some of the names I have mentioned. Whether it is life experiences I have lived through or just being able to relate to the topic or lyric at hand. These are all my choices. 

How is your TOP 5 list coming along in each category? Did you have to break them down like I did, or did you know right off the bat what they were? Let me hear from you...

Until tomorrow...

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January 4 - 365photochallenge

It is a new year and a new day for creativity in my craft room. After taking off the last couple of months from blogging so I could focus on Christmas crafting projects I had on my plate, I have decided to do a 365-day photography challenge after reading about it from my FB friend Martha DeMeo and Glenda Cates. 

The challenge is to post at least one photograph per day for the year. Well, I am a little late to the party - but I have taken photos each day since January 1, 2021. Maybe I can play catch up! {laughing out loud}

Today's photo consists of a photo of my 'new' desk mat that I received for Christmas. Look at that...my desk is even cleaned off! That is a feat within itself. ONLY because when I am crafting, I am oblivious to the mess I create around me... (I am doing the happy dance since I am all caught up with crafting projects for the time being).

I was so excited to have received this Zerro Self Healing Cutting Mat. Although the old one was only 8 years old, it still has life in it and I will continue to use it on the desk behind me. Thank you, family, for my new self-healing cutting mat!!!

I am off to write a review on my new, clean Zerro Self Health Cutting Mat!

Who would like to join me in taking a picture a day (or more, if you choose) in 2021?

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Hello 2021 - - Glad YOU have arrived!

Hello, 2021!!!! Another year has started...can you believe it? Seems like yesterday I was looking at the year 2000. Where have 20 years gone?

Anyway, it's a new year and I am anticipating great things to take place this year from A - Z.

For starters, my Blog, Heart to Heart Soul Creations (H2hsc2020) will continue to grow with my Crafty Creations, In the Kitchen with Recipes, Life Experiences, Hope and Inspiration, Thinking Out Loud moments, Walking with My Ancestors (Genealogy), Weekend Adventures, Reviews, GiveAways, Gift Guides, and many more wonderful things that might interest you.

I also am going to be doing a personal Junk Journal Giveaway sometime in the near future. Be sure to like and follow my Heart to Heart Soul Creations page on Facebook if you would like an opportunity to get in on this giveaway and any other giveaways I might post.

You can also find me on Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram, too @H2hsc2020 or Heart to Heart Soul Creations.

It's time to get back to finishing up the current Junk Journal I've been working on for about 3 weeks or so now...it's almost ready to head out the door to its new home. Here is a glimpse of this creation...it is massive! 200 pages plus...

Until next time...have a wonderful and creative day!

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FOCUS 2020 versus 2021

Every time the mail gets brought into the house, I look through it to see what needs to hit 'file 13' and what needs to be filed away. You know, bills, statements, cards, etc. As a crafter, I find it hard to throw anything away because I always think in the back of my mind, oooooo - -"I CAN use that on a project" or "THAT" would be awesome with this project. How many of you can relate? 

2020 has been an unusual year for everyone in general due to the COVID Pandemic. With all this time on my hands since we could not get out and about, on many occasions, I found myself going through things in my craft room to 'purge' instead of oohing and awwing over. In fact, I threw so much 'stuff' away that should have hit file 13 upon its arrival than I care to blurt out loud. I am sure one day in my future, I will kick myself for doing so. But not today...

Here is an example of what I am talking about. Periodicals in every form. Words I have cut out and placed in bags to use in collages. I have about 25 assorted magazines that I still have not gone through tearing and cutting pictures and/or words out of to use in my crafting projects. With that stack of magazines, I probably have 5 - 9 large freezer bags full of torn out words, neatly cut words, and assorted images. Yes, too many!!! I never thought there would be a day that I said "I have too many"...I always want more, more, MORE! (chuckling out loud)

                                                                                                                                                

On Monday, I managed to finish up several projects that I started a few months back. I can see the top of my desk and the floor for that fact! In fact, my room is all organized once again, and everything is in its place. When I am in the 'zone'...it looks like the Tasmanian Devil has come through my crafting room. But who has time to clean it as I go, I do not! Especially when I am crafting. If I am cooking, that is a totally different story...I wash dishes as I go. LOL

I feel accomplished that I finally finished all the albums I have been working on since the end of September. This is one of the reasons I have been away from blogging for the last few months. They took most of my time and focus as I had to be precise in measurements, cutting, and placing things for them to be a success.   Not to mention the constant health issues that continue to plague my body. I had to shift a few days, make other arrangements and in fact, cancel days that I had planned for crafting or genealogy just to become a couch potato due to health issues. Today, I feel okay...and I will leave it right there. Do not want to jinx it...not that I am superstitious or anything like that! LOL

My focus in 2020 started out with a plan at the end of 2019...I was on a smooth ride until the early part of February when I got extremely sick. Then my mom died and shortly after that, I ended up in the hospital for almost three weeks because I was 'that' sick.  I have not been at 100 % since. But I manage. Each day, I make a constant effort to get out of bed, clean myself up, put on clothes, and begin my day. Whatever it looks like. 

Some days I make plans to craft or work on my Genealogy (which is another one of my most favorite past times in the world).  Pertaining to crafting - I have so much stuff that I could craft for days on end and never even make a dent in my things.  I have donated things, I have sold things, and yet...at the end of the day, I still have STUFF! Plenty of stuff...

Genealogy and research stuff are in my room too. Drawers and drawers and drawers of it. There are tubs of photos that I am in the process of scanning into the computer. Remember those binders I blogged about earlier in the year? Yes, I am still working on the binders I started earlier in the year that was on my 'to do' list for 2020. When will I ever get to a stopping point there? Probably never...as research always uncovers a new branch on my Family Tree. But I am not complaining...love the history of my ancestors! 

In between all the projects I have on my plate, I try to always find time to do a page or two in one of my many Glue Books using those cut-out words and images I mentioned above. This morning as I wrapped up a few things I had left undone from last night, I glanced over at my bookcase and saw a bag of torn/cut out words and images. I grabbed it and quickly picked up one of my Glue Books. I do not ever have a focus or theme in mind when I am working on these books...I just go with the flow and today was no different. One thing I will say though I do is stay within the bag I chose, or the box of things cut out. I do not look for other things to use instead of what is in front of me. FOCUS...stay focused! 

I pulled out a photo of a car that I had fussy cut. I placed it on the page. Not in any order or thought process. I just glued it on. Then I added a few more images. I had pulled out a handful of torn, cut out words from the bag like I showed above. I looked at the words in my hand. CELEBRATE was the first word I touched.  I placed it on the page. 

Continuing to build the page out, another set of words I had in my hand was, COME TO LIFE - so I placed it on the page...

The page was beginning to bring on life. "COME TO LIFE, CELEBRATE". What a concept...especially in 2020! This year has brought so many heartaches, uncertainties, loss of income, loss of life, and yet on the opposite side of that statement, 2020 has brought people closer together because of 'stay at home' orders, brought life, brought new revelations, and has given purpose to many in some way or another. Looking at the page and the words in my hand, a world of wonderful and the TODAY fell onto my desk. Okay, I will use both on the page was my thought. 

Piddling around trying to figure out where I wanted to place them, I ended up putting 'world of wonderful' next to the word, celebrate and the word, TODAY just underneath. 

So now I have with my images this...COME TO LIFE, CELEBRATE A WORLD OF WONDERFUL TODAY. That began to resonate with me. Thinking about 2020, the world has not been wonderful at all this year. It has taken and taken and taken and what have we been given back? I pondered this for a little bit while staring at the page before me. I pushed my chair back and would not you know it, I knocked off the bag of torn out cut-out words to the floor. Oh my...so much for my cleaned-up floor! LOL

As I picked up the words and images (there must be about 150 or so in this bag), I saw the words, FINDING FOCUS...that is it! That is what I want to use next. I placed it on the page. FOCUS...we all need to find focus whatever it is. I am sure it is different for many of us and the same for some. Have you ever just let that word resonate with you for a moment?

F * O * C * U * S - what does it mean? I am glad you asked. Let me tell you the definition of the word. 

FOCUS: 

*the center of interest or activity

*the state or quality of having or producing a clear visual definition

Well, what my focus was at the end of 2019 is not how 2020 ended up. I had a clear vision and plan of what I wanted to accomplish this year. This is what it looked like: 

January: Start my BLOG, do more crafting projects (Junk Journals, Portfolios, meet new cousins by way of DNA matches) just to name a few

February: Build my followers, order themed papers and ephemera for crafting projects, make plans for trips to different parts of the USA

March: Continue to build my brand, begin working on Junk Journals and other crafting projects, make travel plans, etc. 

April: Continue building followers, continue working on the brand, get a website up and running, work on crafting projects (for sale and for fun), get ready to meet new family

May: 

June: 

July: 

August: 

September:

October: 

November:

December: 

I will not bore you with all the details of my vision I put in place in the latter part of 2019, but you get the picture. I was FOCUSED on 2020 and wanted to put things in motion and I did. Like many of you, I have had to reprioritize my 2020 plans and make changes. Nothing was ever concrete so adjusting was somewhat easy. 

Here we are, two and half weeks before we hit 2021, and looking back on the accomplishments I had for myself in 2020, have been nothing but unsuccessful - -but that is OKAY!!! There is always tomorrow...after all, sometimes - we just need to be still and wait. Sit quietly and listen...

2020 has given me reassurances that tomorrow is not always promised. Love your loved ones today. Make amends and learn to ask for forgiveness (whether it be for self or for another person). Have a sense of self-worth because YOU matter. Learn what you are made of - OWN it. 

Finishing up the page in my Glue Book, I ended up with this...

The page says it all...how did your 2020 focus end? Did you get wrapped up in all the muck of what this year brought forth? Or did you stay in your vision and take this time to grow and find strength?

Thinking about "FOCUS", what was yours this year? The virus, family, loss of life, finances, or survival? Whatever it was...did it ever shift for you? How is your focus in 2021 going to be different than this year, 2020?

What are some of the changes you are going to put in place to ensure that your focus shifts?

Here is to a new tomorrow, a new outlook, change, and new beginnings...

I look forward to hearing from you... 

Heart to Heart Soul Creations
H2hsc2020

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