Live your best life - The Inspired Room

All the green in this room makes me happy — HGTV 2008 Green Home.

I‘m big on taking baby steps. I am not so good at huge long range plans and goals or charts to motivate me. Clearly I am easily overwhelmed by too many expectations. Eh hem. When I want to change my attitude or get myself motivated for something, I concentrate on little things I can do today to make a change. I have to focus on the little things.

Fall Nesting parties make me happy. 2009 The Inspired Room.

I am going to confess something. Lean in a little closer…(shhhh) gearing up for fall nesting is really hard for me this year. Seems strange for me to say it is difficult as I ADORE fall. I look forward to it every summer. Here is why this year is tough — I am beyond busy with the church that we are starting in two weeks (but of course, very excited about it too!).

My house is filled with musical instruments, kids toys and equipment and church coffee pots. It is hard to find a chair to sit on, let alone make a room pretty for fall. I’m so busy with all the church preparation that housekeeping and decorating has fallen by the wayside. I just shuffle boxes from room to room.

The reality of my life.

In addition to a busy life, this fall is also difficult because I am not sure where we will be living after this month. It is a long story if you haven’t heard it (I’ll be sharing the whole story over at (in)courage later in September for anyone who wants to read it). Basically my home situation in limbo and we need to be prepared to possibly move in thirty days. Even if I end up staying here, it may still only be for a few more months.

What fun is decorating when you aren’t sure you are in your permanent home?
What fun is nesting when you are broke?
What fun is fall nesting when you are tired and your life is focused on other things more weighty than nesting?

Blah blah blah. Meh.

Whiner.

Well, I don’t want to be a whiner. I can’t let all those things discourage me from things I love about my life. I need to enjoy my fall nesting rituals in spite of the circumstances that threaten to derail my happiness. ENJOYING fall is part of who I am and I am determined to embrace it!

I need to make whatever adjustments I need to, get creative within the limitations of finances, and push past the uncertainty and unknown. I need to make time for the things in life that make TODAY better.

So in the spirit of finding things I could do TODAY to lift my spirits, I decided to take some time out for a creative project. Creativity makes me happy. No, I had no time to do this but it was important to my well-being. It was a little thing I could change TODAY.

A sad, pathetic down-in-the-dumps bird cage.

It took me awhile to come up with something non-permanent to work on around the house (in case we have to move), but as I walked out onto my porch I saw my pathetic looking birdcage. It has been crying out for a coat of paint for five years. I’ve hated it ever since I found it. Now it was finally time to make it the happy little bird cage it deserved to be. And it made ME happy to see it all bright and pretty instead of scary old and pathetic. Hmmm….I think there is a parallel here somewhere.

A brighter, more happy bird cage.

While I am on the topic of positive attitudes, I was recently introduced to a new community starting up over at Divine Caroline called You.Propelled. Propel’s mission is to enhance your life, give you the ability to move through obstacles and live a more streamlined, energetic life. Yep, I need that.

I get asked to be a part of many different communities and I am always very selective about what I will be involved in. I knew You.Propelled was something I could share with you because I too am a big believer in not letting life’s difficulties or circumstances get you down. We all have choices for what attitude we want to have in life and the power to make changes TODAY.

I encourage you all to check out all the inspiration at You.Propelled, whether you are wanting to turn over a new leaf this fall (no fall leaf pun intended, ha!), exercise, lose weight, eat better, get organized or do something in life you’ve never done before, I know you’ll find a lot of resources there to help motivate you INCLUDING chances to WIN $5,000!!! That motivates me, I don’t know about you.