Day and Night – Love the Light

Posted in Uncategorized by adrianahartley

I am stressed. This time of year stresses me out and gives me anxiety, every single time it comes around. I know it’s coming and I do my best to manage it but I find myself overwhelmed and loving it all at the same time. Yin and Yang.

I’m practicing slowing down in the busyness, at least to breathe and to pay attention to my family and my surroundings and to my body. That hopefully balances out the to do lists, chaos and disorder that surround and swirl around me daily. The key word is practicing. I’m still learning. *smile*

The light colored leaves captured my attention on my walk today with my friend. I love these colors and shapes and how they look both beautiful on the branches and fallen covering the ground.

The purple and pink sky took my breathe away and slowed me down before getting in the car to drive Charlie to his event. I loved driving around and watching the sky show. Juliana mentioned that it looked like we lived in Aruba or Hawaii with that kind of sunset. I’m glad she enjoyed it too.

After Charlie’s practice, he asked me to drive down the street with his friends still in the car so that we all could see the house that is fully decorated with lights and animated inflatables, including santa in a helicopter. There was also a figure with a lit up countdown to Christmas that displayed there are 15 days left until Santa arrives. YIKES!! Only 2 more weeks to enjoy the insanity and make memories.

Wishing you love and light and peace amongst the chaos, BeLoveRs. Remember to breathe in happiness and breathe out stress. Naaaaaahmaaaaste.

xo Adriana

15Jun2015

Helping Others

Posted in Uncategorized by adrianahartley

My day was filled with helping others and my heart is full. I think it’s true what they say about how when you help others you actually create happiness for yourself. It’s counterintuitive but it works and I’m hoping I can teach this life skill to my kids.

This week we are volunteering at our church’s Vacation Bible School. Charlie is working with me and Juliana is helping with our special needs ministry team. Christian was helping in the office, providing administrative help as needed. I loved seeing them in action and hearing their stories. I didn’t hear a single complaint, not even the one that required them to get up early. I think they enjoyed serving as much as I did and found a bit of happiness. Who knew? I think they are learning a life secret through practice.

Life is a practice. Today practice was good!

Do you find happiness by helping others? Do you encourage your kids to give of their time? Just curious.

17Feb2015

What is Your Love Story?

Posted in Uncategorized by adrianahartley

We all have a love story.

What does yours look like? What does it feel like? Is it happy or sad? Fulfilling or tragic? Somewhere in the middle? Simple or complex? Beginning or ending? In transition? Filled with drama or peaceful?

I (mostly) write about love and happiness and joy because these are the things I want to feel and experience, despite the pain and chaos and conflict that also exists. My love story has those elements too… I just don’t like to focus my thoughts there for very long. I prefer (when I’m strong enough and able) to acknowledge them and find a solution or recognize that which is yucky and then move on to spending more time living and loving and laughing and singing. I do that too and embarrass my kids, but that’s ok because it usually makes them laugh. And that makes me happy, which is the path I choose to follow every day. It’s my life practice. Is there a Degree in happiness? Or can you teach love and happiness like you teach yoga? Hmm… That’s an interesting thought.

Today my love story involved my family and my parents. My parents are my best teachers of unconditional love and I am so thankful for their priceless gift. I am happy just being in the same room as them, watching them interact with my family and listening to them talk and laugh, holding hands, leaning my head on their shoulders and rubbing my foot on theirs as we just sit and chat and hang out together.

My family shared a new experience together riding ATVs in the Pismo / Oceano Dunes. At first I was a bit fearful and excited and nervous. Once we started cruising along the beach, I was content and a wee bit excited. I loved that we were cruising on the beach! As we entered the dunes, two ATVs got stuck and we struggled to learn how to get up the hill in loose sand and how to restart the engine. We supported one another, stopping to help each other out and waiting for one another as we road through the open sand dunes. We were so lucky as we had the dunes all to ourselves, which made our first time out feel a little safer. We learned something new together and this shared connection made me very happy, especially knowing that everyone had a good time and didn’t get hurt.

Life is good, and I hope you’re living your happily ever after. xo

29May2014

Teens

Posted in Uncategorized by adrianahartley

What’s it like parenting teens?

I’ve got two of them right now, and so far, so good. I’m hoping we stay liking each other over the next 5-7 years, as I hear these years can be rough.

They say the golden years are from 4-12, when they are old enough to listen and understand consequences and still think you know it all and are the best.

At our house, we are practicing every day. That’s how I describe my parenting/ coaching and their learning/figuring-life-out-for-themselves processes. We are practicing. We are not perfect. We play and work hard and disagree and we make mistakes. And we start over again and again. And we forgive each other over and over and let go of anger as quickly as we can, never staying mad over night. We are learning. We are practicing. And so far, so good. I’ll check back in 5 years and see if we won!!

For now, I’ll keep practicing, learning, loving and enjoying these remarkable teens that live in my house.

Love this life. Love my teens. And the little one too. And the big one, of course!