share four somethings, February edition

 

Happy Tuesday, friends! I'm linking up with Heather today for her monthly blog post, where I share things I've loved, gleaned, braved and achieved throughout each month. I'll jump right in!

Something Loved

I was surprised at how much I loved decorating our home for February. I'm not a Valentine's day type person, but apparently this year I was. I had more than I remembered too and I kind of added touches throughout the downstairs, adding to our "winter" décor. I shared a post about it earlier in the month, but here are a few pictures.

See what I mean?! I had several things sitting out that I loved. I'll take it all down and start fresh when March comes next week. I have plans for my mantle involving a gift card I was given for Christmas, so I'm excited! I want to do something new there that will last through fall of this year. 

Something Gleaned

This isn't anything new, but in a book I read last week, the author gave several pieces of advice that are brilliantly simple. I gleaned a lot from the book, even if some was what I already knew, but I love books that inspire and motivate, don't you? I'll share some pictures from my phone with a quote or two.

"If we believe in magic, we'll live a magical life." -Anthony Robbins

I applied this philosophy to our sons as we raised them. Their childhood was nothing extravagant with vacations to fancy places, I assure you, but everyday was an adventure. We went on picnics all the time, we had friends over all the time and not just for special occasions, I made them their favorite meals, we had fun times amidst the ordinarily mundane. 

"You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine." - John Maxwell

Is that true or what? I believe this can be applied to changes we need or want to make in our lives and also in our attitudes, which is what the book was about. (I'll share about the book next week, so come back on Monday when I post about the books I read this month!)

"The key is not to look at the obstacles ahead, but instead to the route ahead. The human brain is hard-wired to look at the problem, but we must look away from the problem." - unknown

This one is also true both literally and figuratively. Do you remember learning how to drive and being taught not to just look at the road right in front of you, that if you did, your steering wheel would be unsteady? When you looked ahead at the road in front of you, the steering wheel became steady again. That is exactly what this reminds me of. I am a positive, upbeat, glass-is-half-full type person, so this is easier for me than for some. I used to be the complete opposite, but thankfully that is no longer the case.

Like I said, come back next week when I post about all the books I read this month.

Something Braved

I can't say too much about this, because it's not mine to share, but someone I knew and dearly loved throughout my entire childhood died at the end of January, someone I was very close to. When I found out that he had died and a memorial service had taken place with only three people in attendance, I braved sharing my feelings about that and my childhood with him on his online obituary. It was a small thing, but I sincerely wish his loved one had let other people know about his passing. He was very significant in my life and I am still processing the emotion of knowing he died.

That was such a small thing to brave, but it's very uncharacteristic of me to share anything that could be considered confrontational. I wasn't unkind, but I expressed my true feelings as I wrote about who he was and what he meant to me. 

Something Achieved

Unfortunately, I haven't achieved as much as I'd hoped. I have been struggling with motivation lately and have no idea why. I have been keeping up with the minimal of things to get by, but everything else I have let slide. I was somewhat productive yesterday, which was good. I took down the last of the wintry décor I mentioned at the beginning of this post and I straightened up some of kitchen cabinets that had gotten messy again. Anyone else have to do that on a regular basis? I'm certainly not complaining, I promise. I'll miss the phase of life we're in right now someday. 

What about you? Anything you'd love to share about that you loved, gleaned, braved and achieved this month? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog, friends. Love to all!