hmmmm...to delete and start fresh or pick up where I left off.
that's been the question.

oh candida....

Last Monday I saw my local Holistic Chiropractor and discovered I'd been walking around with several internal "situations"...one of them being Candida. The joy of candida = a complete dietary change. While eliminating things like sweeteners and wheat hasn't been a huge deal...I am missing my coffee on the hour.

What keeps me going is how obviously I needed this. I experienced immediate changes:
days 1 & 2 were pretty much hell- I was exhausted & cranky no matter how much rest I got (naps plus asleep for the night at 9:30)
days 3 & 4 were easier- I had more energy and did a bit of yard and house work but was still kind of foggy
and today, day 5- I weighed myself and already I've lost 5 lbs and am more alert than I've been in quite some time

Still... I have coffee on the brain. At this point I'd gladly settle for decaf...except that isn't allowed either. Anyone have any experience with Chicory Root "coffee"?

sleepy girl speaks of workshops and self care

I'm tired.
But I've been neglecting this space for too long.
So a short list:

1. Last Saturday I attended a Women's retreat hosted by the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding. Very powerful stuff.
Follow and support them. They are doing great things for our community.

a group shot at the end of our day

2. Tonight I went to a workshop called 'Curse of the Nurturer' given by Brandi Adair of The Vibrant Alternative. Lot's of great information plus new and helpful ways of simplifying life so that I can actually get down to the business of self care. Something really helpful for me to know about myself that I realized tonight- if I don't schedule it (it being exercise, meditation, making art etc.), it's just not going to happen. Brandi's next workshop, Discovering Abundance will be Tuesday, June 19 at 6 pm so there's still time to sign up.


I've dropped the ball on the whole self-care challenge, I'm well aware. I've been wondering if any of you have gone on without it anyway and made changes. If any Gainesville locals are interested in forming a small in person discussion group on how to best support each other in this either comment below or message me on facebook. I look forward to hearing from you!

Sabrina Ward Harrison

Shine

excerpt from Shine by Andrea Gibson 

"...Gandhi said
You must be the change
That you wish to see in the world
So you’ve been curled up and sad?
Good
Depression is the first blessing
It means you’ve been in tune
But now the moon is waiting
For you to burn bright
And there has never
Been a time
When your light
Was needed more
Never a time like this before

Yes you are small
We are all as small
As a single breath
But tied to the rest
We are all the life of the world
The pulse that turns rocks to pearls
Inside the darkness
Of their shells
So become the well
Where wishes are born
Become the bell
That rings when even
The birds refuse to sing
Become the wings that fly
And every time you’re full of sorrow
Every time you wake up crying
Know that that day
Is a perfect day
To shine"

**Gainesville folks...this life changing poet/spoken work artist is going to be performing at the Reitz Union Amphitheater on April 13 at 7:30 pm. This event is free and open to the public....so be there, or be.....well, just go- your heart and soul will thank you.

"You are worth your joy"

So, the DAY AFTER I wrote about self care my Dad found his way to a hospital bed with 2 pretty serious infections. The past 10 days have been spent happily doing everything BUT self care for myself. Still, in the back of my mind...in the fleeting quiet moments...I keep returning to my last blog post. And I'm STILL pretty unclear on how our support challenge will go...but I'll get there.

For now...here is a piece written by my friend Jill Malone called Moral. For those of you who have never read any of Jill's stuff, you are in for it...in such a good way.

Excerpt:

Your life is worth more than having to talk yourself into work every day. And you may say that’s a privileged attitude. But joy is something you work at. Joy is something you prioritize. What is your joy worth to you? Is it worth making less? Is it worth having to work your way up all over again? Is it worth trying something entirely new? What is your joy worth, sister, ’cause I can’t imagine you sat in a classroom when you were 12 and announced, “When I grow up, I’ll put up with anything in exchange for three weeks of paid vacation.”

Jill Malone, Moral

Self-Care

 50 Ways to Practice Great Self-Care Without Spending a Dime

 This list is full of great reminders. Here are a few that stood out to me:

- Get complete about one thing you have left undone and that is tugging at your attention.
- Make a Self-Care Calendar and mark out times just for you.
- Write a “Let it go” letter about something it is time to let go of.

Recently I got to a point where I realized I was taking care of everyone and everything- -except myself. It's a challenge to change such strong habits so Im starting with 1 or 2 things that are MOST important to me. It's so easy to stop taking care of ourselves. How do you practice self care? What is one thing you'd be willing to do differently?

I'm considering doing a self care challenge on this blog- would you be interested in participating? My thoughts are that if we support each other in making healthy changes we'll be more likely to stick with it. Suggestions? What kind of challenge would most support you?

 

 

 

Gainesville, Satchel's Pizza employees need your help!

friends who sew

This past Saturday, what was supposed to be a celebration of my Dad's birthday, ended up being (for us 3 girls anyway) an afternoon of wine, chatting about our lives and brainstorming about our three very different sewing businesses.

You already know me...so meet Jacquelyn and Carrie:

Jacquelyn is one of my oldest and dearest friends- we've known each other since the summer before 6th grade. She is the extraordinarily talented owner and designer of Jacquelyn Brooks Designs. One of Jacquelyn's major focuses is community and she donates a good portion of her time (as well as her designs) to benefits such as the annual Runways and Rescues fashion show.

Carrie married one of my cousins so I am lucky enough to call her family! She is owner and designer of both  Happy Little Monkey AND Monkey See Monkey Do. Carrie is one of the most forward thinking people I know and always has a few projects up her sleeve.

At some point, Carrie was able to snap a few photos of our gorgeous daughters enjoying some cousin time down on the the dock:

Every crafter/sewist/artist should have people like these in their life that GET what they are trying to accomplish and can help brainstorm ideas over an afternoon glass of wine.