Autism

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  • .⠀ ‘IN THE DARKEST DAYS, WHEN I FEEL INADEQUATE, UNLOVED, AND UNWORTHY, I REMEMBER WHOSE DAUGHTER I AM AND I STRAIGHTEN MY CROWN.’ —Unknown⠀ .⠀ Today would have been my dad’s 74th birthday, and while I’m not having a dark day - and I certainly don’t feel unloved or unworthy - this quote really touched me because it helped explain how much my dad shaped the person I’ve turned into, and how he continues to influence me as a parent and when I’m struggling.⠀ .⠀ I wasn’t particularly close to him when I was growing up, which was mostly due to the fact that he traveled a lot and I was focused on my friends, but our relationship really changed as I got older. He was the first person I wanted to call with good news, and he always had the best advice when I was going through something difficult. He cared for my sister and me so deeply, and I think I speak for both of us when I say that he never let a day go by without ensuring we felt loved and supported. Being a dad was the most important job he ever had, and he was so proud of us. I genuinely loved spending time with him, and have felt the loss of him deeply over the last 5 years.⠀ .⠀ One of my biggest regrets is that my daughter will never get a chance to really know him. She remembers who he is and thinks he watches over her from her bedroom ceiling (bless), and there are so many times when I’m chatting with her that I feel a stab of pain in my heart that he never got to witness what a beautiful soul she is turning into. He would’ve found such delight in all of her quirks and the funny things she says, and I wish I had the opportunity to share that with him. ⠀ .⠀ But I refuse to spend today feeling sad. My dad was so full of life and laughter, and I feel like I owe it to him to spend today doing things that bring me joy. He would’ve hated the idea of my sister and me sitting around crying, and while we’ve done plenty of that since he died, I’m honouring his memory by taking a day just for ME today.⠀ .⠀ Happy birthday dad! I’m so lucky I got to have you as a parent. You were, quite simply, the best. 💙
  • .⠀ 'COFFEE, CONTOUR, AND CONFIDENCE.' --Unknown⠀ .⠀ Happy Tuesday my beautiful friends! Here’s hoping your ☕️ is strong and your contour is 💣
  • .⠀ 'THE SECRET TO HAVING IT ALL IS KNOWING YOU ALREADY DO.' --Unknown⠀ .⠀ It’s been a BUSY summer over here, and I’ve been cutting corners wherever I can so I can accomplish all the things before we leave for our annual end-of-summer family vacay later this week. I’ve only been focusing on the essentials for weeks on end, and while I’ve kind of enjoyed pushing things off until September, there’s one thing I’ve been neglecting that I know I really shouldn’t.⠀ .⠀ I got into the habit of writing in my @starttodayjournal each morning a few months ago and while it certainly helped start my day off on the right foot, I hadn’t realized just how powerful a tool it has been for me until I got lazy and stopped. Taking the time to write down 5 things I’m grateful for each morning really helps offset my anxiety, and reminding myself of my big, fat, hairy, audacious goals keeps me focused on the things that matter.⠀ .⠀ I woke up PUMPED to add this back into my morning routine, and wanted to share 5 things I’m grateful for right now to help motivate YOU to start your week with feelings of gratitude and positivity. [emoji]⠀ .⠀ ✨ My daughter and her endless enthusiasm and love for life. ⠀ .⠀ ⭐️ My husband and I are celebrating TWELVE years of marriage next week!⠀ .⠀ ✨ @katebialowas and @runtoradiance for working their tails off this summer so I could take 10 days off to spend with my favorite humans.⠀ .⠀ ⭐️ My physiotherapist.⠀ .⠀ ✨ Coffee. And wine, obviously.⠀ .⠀ What are YOU grateful for today?
  • .⠀ ‘SURROUND YOURSELF WITH MAKEUP, NOT NEGATIVITY.’ —Unknown⠀ .⠀ 👆🤣💃⠀ .⠀ Happy Sunday my beautiful friends!
  • .⠀ ‘SELF-CARE ISN’T SELFISH. ‘ —Unknown⠀ .⠀ As a busy mom and entrepreneur, I know how difficult it can be to find the time for regular self-care, but I’ve learned the importance of listening to my body and recognizing when I need to prioritize my physical and emotional well-being. There is only so long we can live in a constant state of overwhelm before our bodies start to break down, and we forget that an imbalance in our physical and emotional health not only impacts how we feel about ourselves, but effects the quality of our relationships with our family and friends as well.⠀ .⠀ For a long time, I used to think engaging in regular self-care would require me to take up yoga, keep a daily journal, and make weekly appointments to get my nails done, and while I encourage you to try all of these things, the reality is that there will be seasons where self-care is more about tending to our physical versus our emotional needs.⠀ .⠀ And that’s 100% okay.⠀ .⠀ Any kind of self-care is beneficial because it reminds us that we are still important outside of our roles as caregivers, friends, and business powerhouses.⠀ .⠀ If you’re looking for tips to help you find the time for regular self-care, here are some ideas to help:⠀ .⠀ ✔️Start small. The more realistic and manageable you keep things, the more likely you will be to maintain them.⠀ .⠀ ✔️Schedule it. Planning ahead and scheduling self-care into your calendar is a great way to keep yourself accountable!⠀ .⠀ ✔️Manage your energy effectively. Figure out when you are at your most productive and use that time to power through your most important tasks so you have more downtime at the end of the day for the things that bring you balance.⠀ .⠀ ✔️Learn to say ‘no’. Only commit to the things that contribute to your goals, and don’t spend an ounce of time feeling guilty for prioritizing the things that are important to you – including your physical and emotional well-being!⠀ .⠀ What are your secrets for prioritizing self-care?
  • .⠀ ‘HAPPINESS IS A BOWL OF CARBS.’ —Unknown⠀ .⠀ Do you eat breakfast?⠀ .⠀ I do. I can’t function without it!⠀ .⠀ Most days I have a green smoothie with a piece of fruit and nut butter, but on weeks I know I am going to be pressed for time and need a filling grab-and-go option, overnight oats are my go-to meal. I love how easy they are to prepare, and that you can mix them up with whatever ingredients you have on hand. I workout first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, and since I find oatmeal to be nice and filling, I think it’s the perfect post-workout meal.⠀ .⠀ Click the link in my bio for 11 of my favorite overnight oat recipes to save you time and kickstart your mornings!
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