[:en]We’re saying “yes” all the time, but are we saying intentional “yes”? The power of the right “yes” can open up to a whole new world of laughter, experience, adventure and happiness. A detour from our set schedule may seem disturbing at first but can bring the moment we’ll remember for a lifetime.
During the summer holidays is the perfect time to say “yes” to ourselves and our families. Creating memories that will get us through the winter and maybe picking up a habit to continue afterwards.
Many mothers I talk to wish to spend more time with their children, more time on personal pursuits and more time for themselves.
This journey starts right here and right now by starting to say intentional YES!
If we wish to find the space in our life and the flexibility necessary to say “yes”, we have to slow down and be present. Funny enough, that is also the major component to living a happy life. Often the life we created four us and our families is rigid and stuffed full with obligations and there is no room for a “yes” to our families and ourselves. It may seem impossible to change the schedule and be more flexible but it IS. Your life is yours to design so do so with the greatest of intention. You don’t need to fill the space. It’s in that space self-awareness, creativity, learning and opportunity happens. It’s in the simple things.
Learning for our children happens in the YES.
Whenever we say “yes” to one thing, we say “no” to something else. So saying “yes” isn’t always quite so simple. If you say “yes” to walk of the track on your hike and explore untouched nature, you might be saying “no” to reach the top of the mountain. If you say “yes” to stay longer on a play date, you might be saying “no” to grocery shopping which means leftover or bread for dinner. If you say “yes” to an extra story at night, you might be saying “no” to the few minutes of quiet relaxation you longed for. Going down one path means you are not going down the million other paths available. This is where the intentional yes comes in. An outright yes isn’t always what’s best for the family. Sometimes we have to collaborate and find a better yes than the one that first presented itself. Is this always easy – hell no- it’s a constant try and error and it’s getting easier with practice.
30 minutes vacuum on the spot
The time we have with our kids is short. Therefore I like to say yes to most opportunities to spend time together. However that doesn’t mean it’s all about him all the time. Saying yes to spend time together can look multiple ways. It may mean cleaning the house together, cooking together or spending time in the garden or yoga mat together.
For him it’s learn and play, for me it’s a “yes” to time together and a definite “no” to get things done fast. My son vacuums, cooks, gardens, dusts and has his own little yoga mat to jump on. It may take 30 min for him to vacuum one single spot before I’m allowed to take over, letting him dress himself for 20 minutes instead of me putting his cloths on in 2 minutes or finding ways involving him in the kitchen and having to clean up some mess afterwards – so be it.
He is proud of helping and I enjoy my time with him.
That may sound tedious. Nevertheless following his flow, he learns and I see the world through his eyes, where everything is wonder. It forces me to be present and makes necessary tasks more enjoyable if I give it the chance (have you ever chased dust bunnies with a vacuum cleaner). This is an intentional yes.
Knowing when to take the break
But here is the deal, providing the opportunity to our family to say yes, we need to make sure that our energy tank is full. When we feel energized it’s easier to be in the moment, enjoying the small things with our kids. Knowing when to take a break, rest, a walk, talk with a friend, read or do something that helps us to be grounded and reenergizes us is necessary.
Only then can we be the best for our families and say yes to arising opportunities.
When did you take a detour from your schedule last time and had a light shining in your eyes afterwards? And tell me is it easy for you to say intentional yes?
Looking for more family time during dinner? Check out my meal plan and this post on meal planning.
Talk to you soon,
Cathleen
[:de]We’re saying “yes” all the time, but are we saying intentional “yes”? The power of the right “yes” can open up to a whole new world of laughter, experience, adventure and happiness. A detour from our set schedule may seem disturbing at first but can bring the moment we’ll remember for a lifetime.
During the summer holidays is the perfect time to say “yes” to ourselves and our families. Creating memories that will get us through the winter and maybe picking up a habit to continue afterwards.
Many mothers I talk to wish to spend more time with their children, more time on personal pursuits and more time for themselves.
This journey starts right here and right now by starting to say intentional YES!
If we wish to find the space in our life and the flexibility necessary to say “yes”, we have to slow down and be present. Funny enough, that is also the major component to living a happy life. Often the life we created four us and our families is rigid and stuffed full with obligations and there is no room for a “yes” to our families and ourselves. It may seem impossible to change the schedule and be more flexible but it IS. Your life is yours to design so do so with the greatest of intention. You don’t need to fill the space. It’s in that space self-awareness, creativity, learning and opportunity happens. It’s in the simple things.
Learning for our children happens in the YES.
Whenever we say “yes” to one thing, we say “no” to something else. So saying “yes” isn’t always quite so simple. If you say “yes” to walk of the track on your hike and explore untouched nature, you might be saying “no” to reach the top of the mountain. If you say “yes” to stay longer on a play date, you might be saying “no” to grocery shopping which means leftover or bread for dinner. If you say “yes” to an extra story at night, you might be saying “no” to the few minutes of quiet relaxation you longed for. Going down one path means you are not going down the million other paths available. This is where the intentional yes comes in. An outright yes isn’t always what’s best for the family. Sometimes we have to collaborate and find a better yes than the one that first presented itself. Is this always easy – hell no- it’s a constant try and error and it’s getting easier with practice.
30 minutes vacuum on the spot
The time we have with our kids is short. Therefore I like to say yes to most opportunities to spend time together. However that doesn’t mean it’s all about him all the time. Saying yes to spend time together can look multiple ways. It may mean cleaning the house together, cooking together or spending time in the garden or yoga mat together.
For him it’s learn and play, for me it’s a “yes” to time together and a definite “no” to get things done fast. My son vacuums, cooks, gardens, dusts and has his own little yoga mat to jump on. It may take 30 min for him to vacuum one single spot before I’m allowed to take over, letting him dress himself for 20 minutes instead of me putting his cloths on in 2 minutes or finding ways involving him in the kitchen and having to clean up some mess afterwards – so be it.
He is proud of helping and I enjoy my time with him.
That may sound tedious. Nevertheless following his flow, he learns and I see the world through his eyes, where everything is wonder. It forces me to be present and makes necessary tasks more enjoyable if I give it the chance (have you ever chased dust bunnies with a vacuum cleaner). This is an intentional yes.
Knowing when to take the break
But here is the deal, providing the opportunity to our family to say yes, we need to make sure that our energy tank is full. When we feel energized it’s easier to be in the moment, enjoying the small things with our kids. Knowing when to take a break, rest, a walk, talk with a friend, read or do something that helps us to be grounded and reenergizes us is necessary.
Only then can we be the best for our families and say yes to arising opportunities.
When did you take a detour from your schedule last time and had a light shining in your eyes afterwards? And tell me is it easy for you to say intentional yes?
Looking for more family time during dinner? Check out my meal plan and this post on meal planning.
Talk to you soon,
Cathleen
[:no]We’re saying “yes” all the time, but are we saying intentional “yes”? The power of the right “yes” can open up to a whole new world of laughter, experience, adventure and happiness. A detour from our set schedule may seem disturbing at first but can bring the moment we’ll remember for a lifetime.
During the summer holidays is the perfect time to say “yes” to ourselves and our families. Creating memories that will get us through the winter and maybe picking up a habit to continue afterwards.
Many mothers I talk to wish to spend more time with their children, more time on personal pursuits and more time for themselves.
This journey starts right here and right now by starting to say intentional YES!
If we wish to find the space in our life and the flexibility necessary to say “yes”, we have to slow down and be present. Funny enough, that is also the major component to living a happy life. Often the life we created four us and our families is rigid and stuffed full with obligations and there is no room for a “yes” to our families and ourselves. It may seem impossible to change the schedule and be more flexible but it IS. Your life is yours to design so do so with the greatest of intention. You don’t need to fill the space. It’s in that space self-awareness, creativity, learning and opportunity happens. It’s in the simple things.
Learning for our children happens in the YES.
Whenever we say “yes” to one thing, we say “no” to something else. So saying “yes” isn’t always quite so simple. If you say “yes” to walk of the track on your hike and explore untouched nature, you might be saying “no” to reach the top of the mountain. If you say “yes” to stay longer on a play date, you might be saying “no” to grocery shopping which means leftover or bread for dinner. If you say “yes” to an extra story at night, you might be saying “no” to the few minutes of quiet relaxation you longed for. Going down one path means you are not going down the million other paths available. This is where the intentional yes comes in. An outright yes isn’t always what’s best for the family. Sometimes we have to collaborate and find a better yes than the one that first presented itself. Is this always easy – hell no- it’s a constant try and error and it’s getting easier with practice.
30 minutes vacuum on the spot
The time we have with our kids is short. Therefore I like to say yes to most opportunities to spend time together. However that doesn’t mean it’s all about him all the time. Saying yes to spend time together can look multiple ways. It may mean cleaning the house together, cooking together or spending time in the garden or yoga mat together.
For him it’s learn and play, for me it’s a “yes” to time together and a definite “no” to get things done fast. My son vacuums, cooks, gardens, dusts and has his own little yoga mat to jump on. It may take 30 min for him to vacuum one single spot before I’m allowed to take over, letting him dress himself for 20 minutes instead of me putting his cloths on in 2 minutes or finding ways involving him in the kitchen and having to clean up some mess afterwards – so be it.
He is proud of helping and I enjoy my time with him.
That may sound tedious. Nevertheless following his flow, he learns and I see the world through his eyes, where everything is wonder. It forces me to be present and makes necessary tasks more enjoyable if I give it the chance (have you ever chased dust bunnies with a vacuum cleaner). This is an intentional yes.
Knowing when to take the break
But here is the deal, providing the opportunity to our family to say yes, we need to make sure that our energy tank is full. When we feel energized it’s easier to be in the moment, enjoying the small things with our kids. Knowing when to take a break, rest, a walk, talk with a friend, read or do something that helps us to be grounded and reenergizes us is necessary.
Only then can we be the best for our families and say yes to arising opportunities.
When did you take a detour from your schedule last time and had a light shining in your eyes afterwards? And tell me is it easy for you to say intentional yes?
Looking for more family time during dinner? Check out my meal plan and this post on meal planning.
Talk to you soon,
Cathleen
[:]
