Your Best self First

Look at those kids, that's what we were back then, just a couple of kids.

I love those kids. 

Looking at them gives me all the warm feels.  Takes me back to when we were sweet all the time, romantic, and wistful and couldn't keep our hands off of each other between traffic lights.  I remember them clearly.

I love Danny.  Its safe to say that I love this man more today than back then.  I am so very proud of the relationship that we have cultivated between the two of us and the family we have built, the little humans that we're bringing up and that they seem to be well-adjusted, warm-hearted, and filled with personality.

Our short 6 years married and 9 years together have proven to me that all the roadblocks and bumps we've encountered and weathered together make the sweet times so much more meaningful. 

It has to be said though that getting through the rougher moments requires a bit of elbow grease. Resolving an issue takes time and a whole LOT of communication.  Sometimes, my personality type just takes to shutting down when I'm not operating as by best possible self. 

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I can blame it on our actual kids now, on lack of sleep, on doing too much, on not getting enough done, on.. on... on.....  But the reality is that I've allowed our relationship to take a backseat to all the goings on in our life and sometimes my peace-seeking self looks for ways to numb my way out of dealing with the hard bits that come up. And its about time that we take our relationship back, prioritize it, and give it the TLC that it deserves.  After all, when the kids have grown and all the to do lists are done, when we look up at each other it's my desire that we still look as sickeningly in love as that couple of kids up there. 

So here's the deal. In realtime, we're going to share with you some tips that help us grow stronger as a couple and help us when we don't particularly like one another at a given moment. 

I'm not saying we're experts on relationships, but I've noticed that the people I learn from the most are those who have walked through fire and water together and come out stronger, better, and actually have grown in their own personal development. 

First Step: Work on Ourselves

Seems a little counter-intuitive, but if there's one thing I have learned from all the amazing podcasts I listen to daily, and from some pretty amazing relationships we admire within our family & friends, its that you can't give from a cup that's half full, however you can give from one that runneth over.

So in order to get things flowing, we're starting our exercise routines and eating right right now.  We're not waiting a moment more, it's happening today. 

There was a time when I woke up every day at 5:00am, worked out, journaled, listened to my podcasts, ran, got the kids lunches together and was ready to start my day way before anyone was up.  I need to get back on that train - stat. It's hard, so hard to wake up, especially if you're a nursing mama who is waking up in the middle of the night, but it's gonna get done because my youngest milk monster is 5 months now and its high time we start kicking that 2am &/or 4am feeding out! I'll let you know how that goes. 

How are you going to show up for yourself and therefore for your loved ones this year? In an ideal world, where do you see yourself by the end of this year? Let's set the intention, let's bring the joy and let's get to work together.
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The intention is there, the spirit is willing, the mind is set... GO! 

(Stay tuned for the next part of our Best Selves Series!)

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