Keri On...Giving Yourself Some Grace

I don't know what it is about the springtime; we're supposed to be psyched that the days are longer, the birds are chirping, and the sun is shining, but to me, it feels like the same holiday rush you get before Thanksgiving hits. You cross one thing off your "To-Do" list, only to add two more. Not to mention the laundry anxiety mounting as high as the pile of clothes in the corner of your bathroom, which isn't even mostly yours. We try so hard to keep it all together; get them to practice on time, try not to forget the end-of-season gift for their coaches, and of course, we need to get right on those spring parent-teacher conferences. When things become particularly overwhelming during these times of seasonal transitions, I have worked at becoming more intentional about giving myself some grace. Forgiving myself for actually not holding it all together even on the days it all falls apart. But this is okay, life goes on, how we respond and what we tell ourselves is what matters. Here are a few thoughts on how you can give yourself some grace.....

• Keep the big picture in mind...there is no real perfection, only progress towards our goals and what we are trying to accomplish. Enjoy the journey, don't beat yourself up over the little things.

• Say no to things...saying no is the best gift you can give yourself, especially during a more hectic time. Allow yourself to just breathe.

• Say yes to your self-care...self-care means different things to different people. It can be physical, emotional, spiritual, social...find what is important to you and say yes to yourself.

• Don't forget to laugh...there is no better way to give yourself some grace when everything is moving in a million directions than to add some levity to your life. Go ahead and laugh it off. If you're having trouble laughing at yourself, listen to a funny podcast or watch a good stand-up act and get your laugh on!

Why do they call it rush hour when nothing moves?

Robin Williams