Gratitude and the TN

I have firmly believed for many years that gratitude is the pathway to happiness, joy and living life to its fullest.  I practice gratitude multiple times a day....not just in the evening when my day is ending.  

I have a 25 year old BMW and every time I get in it, I thank it for every mile it takes me.  I thank my feet as I walk anywhere.  I appreciate my eyes, as bad as they are getting, that I have sight.  I appreciate the view of the mountains from my office window.  I really appreciate when I can go through three green lights in heavy traffic.  I appreciate my children when any of them take time from their busy schedules to call me, text me, email me or come see me...because they are thinking of me.  

I could go on and on and on about how much I have in life to be thankful for...none of it having to do with monetary riches or amassing possessions but of the simple stuff that our lives are built on. Life moves pretty fast these days. Everyone is in a huge hurry to get somewhere, get something done, eat fast, talk fast, communicate faster...5G phones anyone?  

In the race to amass things and succeed, slow down...slow down and think about the stuff that your life is made of.  Start trying to make mental notes throughout your day of things, moments, people that you are grateful for and say a silent thank you.  At the end of your day, pick up your Traveler's Notebook and write down in it, three things you are grateful for that happened during your day. They do not need to be spectacular at all.  

Yesterday my three things were a space heater, water, and that first cup of coffee in the morning.  I can promise you, the more you find to be grateful for in your life, the more joyful, amazing and richer your life will become.

Musings on My TN Accessories

I find I need lots of extras for my TN to be workable and aesthetically pleasing. I need color in my world every where i look.  I don't like black and white pages.  Wandering around Michaels the other day I found a handy little plastic box to put stickers in. 

When I was at Target I found a tiny set of Yoobi gel pens (stocking stuffer) that are very portable and write well.  

I love washi...a lot. I put my little supply of washi on a ring so I can corral them easily and they are easy to use this way.  

Pens, pens, pens.  Who doesn't love pens who loves paper? Just got two Jinhao pens from Jet Pens and I love them.  I have a Lamy Sport that I bought ten years ago that still writes like a dream and I have a feeling these will perform the same way for a tenth the price! The barrels come in a rainbow array of colors and have a very nice weight and feel to them as well. 

I love page flags and seem to collect a lot of them.  I keep this little dish on my desk at work with all of them in there.  Most of them are either from Girl of All Works or Post It.  By the way, the trick with GOAW page flags is to peel them off from the side NOT the top.  You will get better stick and no sticky residue on the next flag.

I have so many other accessories that I'll show you in the coming weeks that make my TN so much more fun to use.  

My box of stickers nicely protected with a $1.99 box from Michaels. 

My ring of washi

My ring of washi

Yoobi stocking stuffer gel pens

Yoobi stocking stuffer gel pens

My Lamy and Jinhaos

My Lamy and Jinhaos

Page flags waiting to flag

Page flags waiting to flag

What is Your Morning Routine with Your TN?

Every morning I sit down with my coffee and plan my day as much as I can.  I've done this for years,  it's a good way for me to focus as I start my day.  I'm one of those people that dislikes being rushed so i get up earlier than I need to in order to have the relaxing time to do this. What it boils down to is priorities. A friend told me the other day that he wished he had more time with his family.  I told him that no one has the time to do anything they want to,  they make the time.  We have the time we give ourselves.  

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What time do you give yourself to plan your day, to love your family and friends, to bring joy to the mundane? Even simple, boring tasks seem more fun when you write them in your TN them cross them off as you accomplish them. ​

Try waking up a little earlier tomorrow,  spread out your creative supplies and put some love, time, and passion in to that TN and see how that simple morning practice adds ​to your day. 

10 Things You can do different for a Happier Life

1.  Create a nurturing morning and evening routine

2.  Put yourself first instead of last

3.  Let go of past hurts

4.  Drink water every day

5.  At the end of every day write down three things you are grateful for in your scheduler/planner

6.  Eat a piece of fruit and a vegetable every day

7.  Genuinely compliment someone every day

8.  Center yourself in the midst of turmoil, feeling your legs, arms, breathing, your senses and bring calm to yourself

9.   Pause in the midst of your day and remember what a miracle you are.

10.  Let thank you be your prayer every night.

 

A Reminder Every Day...

Being happy is always a conscious, deliberate choice. Just as finding time to do the things that feed your soul, being happy only happens when you choose gratitude and joy. We will not be happy all the time however. Life is not made up of constant joy. Everyone has highs and lows...an understanding that you will have ups and downs will help you more easily come back to that place of joy. 

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A New Site is Coming!

I have a passion.  I've had a passion, a burning passion for many, many years...that passion is life coaching, guiding woman in the direction they want their dreams to go.  Because I need to follow this passion, this blog isn't going to take me to the place that will feed that passion.  I am busily working on my new site, which will give women all over the world the opportunity to connect with me for coaching sessions online.  I am also working on a one-of-a-kind coaching insert that will fit in Traveler Notebooks - filled with my exercises you can do to help guide you in fulfilling your own dreams and goals.  Keep your eyes open for the announcement on here that the new site - Organize Your Soul - is live.

Quit Loving Your Fears

Make a list of the fears that have followed you your whole life, that you have fed, justified, nurtured, even honored-all for the sake of staying safe, protecting yourself from hurt and loneliness. Now, challenge the reality of those fears every single day. Do it dispassionately as if you are doing it for a dear friend-not yourself. Do it until you kill those fears and leave them behind in the dust and you burst forth in a blaze of glory and light. J Thomas

Your Sacred Garment.....

On our bodies is written the story of our lives and our survival. Whether you are skinny or thick, scars, stretch marks, parts missing, surgeries had, diseases fought and conquered, your body has carried you through it all majestically and without complaint. We all look at our bodies and find something wrong with them - cellulite, thin arms or legs, chubby legs, saggy breasts - so what. Where is the standard of beauty written in the universe? It has been superficially created in the media to make money.

Your body is a glorious testament to your survival and victory in life, to the gift of life the universe has granted you. To hate and vilify the sacred garment you wear each day is to do a fundamental disservice to who you are as a human. Love yourself, treasure each and every beautiful inch you are. Don't listen to those who say you aren't good enough...because you are.

Giveaway Winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations ConfidentlyLiving.  You have won the giveaway on my blog!  I will be posting a picture of your giveaway goods including goodies from JetPens.  Please let me know the best way to contact you!  To everyone else, thank you for being a part of my blog community and keep your eyes open for other upcoming giveaways.

Protect Yourself when Shopping for a Traveler's Notebook Cover

I belong to twelve different Traveler Notebook related Facebook groups and run an additional one.  Recently there has been a rash of consumers of fauxdori covers being scammed and taken advantage of.  Many of these victims were new users of the traveler notebook. There are probably hundreds of fauxdori vendors on Etsy, and the internet in general, selling20150226_115218 their wares.  There is a much smaller number of craftsmen and craftswomen who create 'artisanal' covers - reputable dealers who provide prompt communication, clear ordering instructions, and have a proven track record of sales and satisfied customers. So what do you do if you are new to the world of TN's and are overwhelmed by the choices of vendors?  There are a few things you can do ahead of time to lessen the chance that you will be disappointed in the end.

1.  Join Facebook groups related to the TN world.  Often consumers first become aware of an active scam on there when someone posts their negative experience...and others then validate they had the same experience.  The largest groups are: Traveler's Notebook Forum, Lady Falcon's Traveler's Notebooks, Midori Traveler's Notebook Resources, and the newest addition - Planner Swap Feedback - specifically created to provide a space for buyers to provide feedback on various vendors.   My group is Inserts, Inserts, Inserts - however it doesn't specifically provide scam info regarding vendors of covers.  Note that all these groups are closed groups so you must join in order to see posts and information.

2.  If you are going to buy a cover off Etsy check these things:  How new is the shop?  Is there information about the shop owner?  How many buyer reviews are there and are they positive?  How new are the buyer reviews?  Have you asked on the various Facebook groups if anyone has dealt with the vendor you are interested in?  When planning your cover, is the shop owner responsive and communicative?  What is the refund policy?  (Custom covers are not normally refunded if you are dissatisfied - especially if you pre-approved the design).

3.  Always pay through PayPal or a credit card as there are dispute processes if you feel something shady is going on or you are being scammed.  Your purchase is protected with these payment methods.

Covers cost anywhere between $20 and up....the upper end being well over $100.  Covers are an investment that those of us in the TN world hope will be well made and stand up to years of service.  TN fans become emotionally attached to their covers.  It pays to take the time to do your research, study and understand what you want, what you are going to use it for, what kind of wear and tear it will get, what material you want it made of, and what size it will be.  The more front end research you do before investing, the happier you will be when that new cover is finally in your hands.