Dating : Where Is Your Happy Place?

Do you have a place where you know, that no matter what, you’ll be happy when you go there? I do. & That place is nature!

I grew up right next door to Boston Massachusetts, only 10 minutes from Mass General Hospital, so I wasn’t used to seeing nature’s beauty regularly. I had visited the White Mountains, because once a year we would travel to a campground and spend a week with the family, camping in a cabin at the top of a mountain. These were fond memories, and I treasured the immense beauty of the view, which I would long to see again the following year.

After having children, and moving away from the city (which was a huge adjustment & we can talk about that another time!) I had little choice, but to begin embracing the outdoors. I hated bugs. I loved the breeze. I hated yard work. I loved being able to gaze in awe at the smallest gems of beauty in every droplet of dew, or ray of sun.

I have grown to love being in nature more and more. For me, even when I feel lazy, tired, cranky, or depressed, I have learned that getting up and going on a hike cures these, less than ideal feeling, inside of me. I can breath in deep, I can listen to the quiet music of the birds chirping and wind whistling. I can be present with my children without distractions from phones, and social media.

It is crucial that we all MAKE time to rejuvenate, and do things that bring us joy. I believe we can feel joy, even during our most difficult of times, ourselves… But that has taken me years to master, and I also believe it’s a great idea to use something like a hike, or a trip to the beach, or time reading a book, to heighten that feeling of joy until you have also learned to create it from within. See how I wrote “MAKE” time for yourself? You have to schedule the time to care for yourself, and do things that make you happy. Otherwise, you’ll find every excuse in the book, as to why you can’t possibly do anything for yourself.

As mothers, it is imperative to keep filling your cup (or soul) with love, and joy, and all of the good things that keep us going strong. If you don’t, I assure you, you will break down, burn out, become weak, and inevitably not be able to show up the way you really want for your children & family. We have special strength as mothers, and when we allow ourselves to fill our cup with love & joy (I will talk about other ways to do this in future posts), then we are able to accomplish our goals, and be the best version of ourselves while making a positive impact on the lives of those around us!

I encourage you to MAKE time to go to your happy place this week… And please feel free to share in the comments, where you went, and how it fills your cup!

Until next time…