My Rocky Mountain Heart

It is 10:13pm on October 2nd but I feel like I need to write before I go to bed tonight to wrap up an amazing weekend spent in Dallas with my family. I feel like I have so much to process and writing seems to help me organize it all.  And since I have this neat little monthly review template, I thought tonight would be the perfect time to reflect and set intentions for this new month of October – the month of our anniversary and one of my favorite months of the year!

The two things I am celebrating the most from September are:

1. Learning how to go with the flow… in states of uncertainty, I can and tend to become a bit of a control freak.  Monica Gellar, anyone? Yeah hi, I am Sondra…aka Monica.  However, with the impending layoff for Ryan ahead of us (his company is closing down at the end of 2016), I am really trying to live by the motto “One day at a time.”  Sometimes it’s more like one hour at a time, one task at a time, or even one minute at a time… but it seems to be helping me keep my head where my feet are – as I once heard from a very wise and dear friend of mine.

2. Giving myself grace.  I averaged 3-4 workouts a week in September and the perfectionist in me looks at that information and wants to say negative and scolding things to me like: “Why didn’t you do more?” “You could’ve done better…” “Those are just excuses…”  But the truth is, if I could have done more then I would have done.  But I didn’t and so I am learning to accept that sometimes my best is less than ideal but THAT’S OKAY. For the month of September, that was indeed my very best and that’s good enough for me.

The two things I am most grateful for from September are:

1. Girl time with my awesome friend, Laura!  Oh sweet Laura came to visit right when I needed her friendship the most…we got to spend a morning in Boulder visiting with another sweet friend and Kappa sister of ours.  We met up with another friend in Golden for drinks and dinner.  We drove out to Vail for Oktoberfest and spent the day walking around Vail in the most gorgeous Fall weather you could ever imagine.  We went to brunch at Root Down with another girlfriend…it was just simply fabulous. The whole weekend was an important reminder of the need to unwind and PLAY! Cheers to that!

2. Spending time with my nephew Nolan in Dallas…man a lot can change in 6 months, especially when you are talking about child development.  It was amazing to see his personality already coming to life – he has a pretty rad sense of humor and a very playful nature. And considering that Nolan is a rainbow baby for my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, it was pretty emotional for me to see this awesome little human laughing, connecting, and growing.  The miracle of life…sometimes it just rocks your world – in the most amazing way!

Anything to release, or let go of, from September speak now: I need to let go of putting my values on my friends and recognizing that just because I would do something for them doesn’t mean that they would do the same for me.  That’s okay.  I am me. And they are their own people.  I need to continue to let go of my expectations of others. After all, expectations are pre-meditated resentments…just let that one marinade for a few minutes.

The lesson I learned and am carrying forward with me from September is: Just breathe.  It’s amazing what a few deep breaths can do to reset and revitalize you.

My intention word(s) for October is/are: Unplug. Opt Outside.

One thing I aim to do every day in October is: Listen to my book club book on Audible while I drive to work and drink my coffee.  I love morning time and all the possibility is brings…I think this would be the perfect time to channel my energy into something just for me.

Because I am brave, here are two new/scary things I will do in September:

1. I will have a new friend over to my house…a friend I met in a Facebook Colorado Adventurists group…she and I have connected on how strange and difficult it is to make new friends in your 30s and I think it’s time we finally hang out and get over the fear! Don’t you think? 😉

2. I will finally take a course on Kinesio-taping to improve my skills for my OT hospital job that I just got out in Frisco, CO.  I will be picking up Friday and weekend shifts to help out during ski season and it’s been far too long since I did any professional development in the medical world. I have wanted to take a KT course for years now and I LOVE taping, but I have a lot to learn so I signed up for course and I will be going on Friday, October 14th!

{Me before my job interview out at St. Anthony’s Summit Medical Center.}

The one book I definitely want to read/FINISH in September is: “Love Warrior” by Glennon Doyle Melton.

Just for fun, I will: Run a FREE push-up challenge group to work on my core and upper body strength, which is my ‘problem area.’  I will do this with no expectations of anything in return and I will even give away prizes.  Because I know that when you freely give, you often receive far more in return.

As an act of intentional kindness, I will…be more patient with my husband as we navigate through the waters of uncertainty and fear together.  I have to remember to check in with him more often to see how he is doing and also to remember that it is not my job to fix his anxious feelings – however, I can listen, be supportive and show him that I care.