Make it sacred.
Life is rarely perfect. Rarely as beautiful, put together, or timely as we hope it would be. But we always have the option to choose to see things in a different way. And for me, this new season of life has been all about that choice; making the smallest of moments beautiful - and sacred - starting as early as 5am. The time that had been previously been reserved for early morning flights, first feeds of the day with a newborn, or continuous hits to the snooze button is now filled with some of my favorite moments of the day.
Why? Because I’ve literally cancelled the story that “I’m not a morning person”, and have taken back ownership of how I want to live my life. I no longer let the negative energy surrounding how I used to feel about mornings own my days. Because now, 5am is all about me; my needs, and my self-care. And that is so damn sacred. There is so much freedom within those few quiet hours (or minutes, depending on the day) before the rest of my home wakes up. This sweet season is one I prayed for, cried over, and believe I flat out manifested into existence. And I know it will go by in a flash; I’ll reflect back on my days spent buried in snuggles, dirty diapers, bike rides, and building legos, and wonder where the time went, so I plan to soak in every ounce. And being fully present for my boys means being fully committed to honoring myself first and foremost. Because a mother who prioritizes herself (in any way she can) is happier, healthier, and just more vibrant.
So I make my mornings mine. They’re no longer something to dread, but a welcome invitation to a new day full of beautiful moments focused on taking care of myself, and then my boys. My mornings are for me, my days are for them. Before they wake up I write. I read. I go for a run or simply take a long, hot shower. This time is not about productivity, but about clearing headspace in order to better tackle whatever God brings to me. A time to honor my needs. And despite getting a little less sleep, I actually feel more rested. I start my days with much needed quietness, prayer, and meditation. I am so much more at peace.
This morning, this day, this life; it’s not perfect, but I choose to make it all sacred: my mug selection, my hot cup of Kakao or tea, my journal, the quiet in the AM, and all the loud that follows (and I’m talking LOUD). The fighting between brothers? Sacred; an opportunity to learn and grow within their relationship and define boundaries. A disappointing outcome within my business? Sacred; an opportunity to review, revamp and let new ideas flow. The level of exhaustion that sets in as I’m about to close my eyes at night, only to hear a kid out of bed or the baby cry? Frustrating, sure, but oh so sacred.
I choose to live my life knowing that each moment I have, each breath I breathe, is a gift. Life blooms into a whole new realm of beautiful when we water even the tiniest flowers with positivity and light. This isn’t just “another day”, it is your life. One step at a time. Make it sacred.
Some basics that have helped me own my mornings and prioritize self-care:
Ditching caffeine: sounds counterintuitive, I know, but coffee was drastically impacting my quality of sleep. I didn’t realize how much this little morning ritual was affecting me at 10pm until I cut it out. I’ve slowly introduced some caffeine back into my day, mostly decaf, but definitely not the 2-4 cups I was averaging, and most mornings I drink cacao.
Silk sleep mask: this little gem has been a game changer in enhancing my quality of sleep. I never would have believed how much I’d love it, so I’m incredibly glad it was gifted to me. Highly recommend in the name of self-care and better sleep.
Sunrise alarm clock: using light and soft sound to slowly raise the vibration of my bedroom each morning has completed altered how I wake up, especially my mood. There’s a bunch on the market, but I was able to find one that fit my budget and let’s me wake up to the sound of the ocean.
Weighted blanket: I finally bought one and can’t believe I waited so long to do so. Reducing anxiety in the evenings, when my mind continuously races, was one of the fastest ways for me to become more well-rested.
Dinner with my boys: I started to observe how often I was flying around “doing” (laundry, dishes, etc) while the boys were eating. So I shifted their dinner time a little later and mine a little earlier, so we can eat together. This way, I’m not finally sitting down to eat at 8pm (or later) once they are asleep, and they get a fully present and engaged mama. This simple shift fills all of our cups.
Morning Prayer: whether you talk to God or to Gaia, I recommend whispering a little ‘thank you’, instead of words of annoyance, when the alarm goes off. And even when I do feel annoyed and tired, I still send thoughts of thanks for being alive and well enough to be annoyed by a silly alarm clock.
Guided meditation: I use and love Insight Timer (it’s free). My girlfriends and I have a group within the app where we share our favorites, and that has been such a fun way to remain connected in these crazy virtual times. I’m relatively new to meditation, but the benefits speak for themselves and I can attest to how it has helped change my mindset, and my days.
