And so the journey begins!

I'm trying to motivate myself, to break old habits. I am starting a self-care personal healing Journey.

As I go through this journey, I will send one positive thought post every morning. I will also post on Instagram what my day is like. I have tried a number of times to try something new and have had difficulties sticking to them. Now I need to do this for myself.

The positive posts that I will be posting daily are from the app "Calm". I will be using this app daily for the next 30 days to create a new and healthier lifestyle.

I will journal this journey I'm on for the next 30 days. I am starting a blog today. This is to track my journey and to affirm myself and my successes, to help myself see where I have started from and how far I can go to learn what does and does not work for me, and to assist myself in moving forward.

I also want to entirely immerse myself and completely experience this journey so that I not only "teach" self-care and meditation, but that I am walking the walk not just talking the talk.

I want to be able to acknowledge that I've taken myself through a very intense 30-day, self-care process, a journey that I will know well and can say that I've done it, and I get it.

I challenge you!

Join me on this journey and start today.

Don't just set your intentions, actually do it and start today.

Intentions alone do not do, actions are what create the results.

Today was a good day. 

It was about learning more about myself and who I truly am. I learned to be more compassionate and patient with myself.

Today is day 3. Yesterday and today have been days of honest reflection. I have spent this time honestly taking the constructive feedback from others and honestly accepting and processing what was said.

With this review, I have been making a list of what has been on my plate. It is difficult to begin deciding what is truly important in my life. It is a review of making time, to decide what to hold on to, and what to let go of with a realistic review. It is a time of prioritizing self-care, making time for those who are important in my life, honestly measuring the realistic size of my plate and truthfully seeing what I have piled onto it.

I am in the process of removing the would be nice to do items and keeping what is doable and for the overall highest and best results.

Today is day 4 of my new sleep routine. It is a tough thing to change but each day is a little easier. The past few days have been very tiring, trying to be awake when I used to be asleep, and trying to sleep when I have usually been awake. Tonight I am looking forward to going to bed. I have functioned today better than yesterday, I was less tired.

When I got up this morning I took care of myself, I did my hair, put on make-up, changed my earrings, put on a summer dress, and work shoes and went out for coffee. I treated myself.

It is also a time for simplifying tasks and jobs. I am becoming more comfortable with saying no and not feeling guilty.

Being alone within the silence is becoming more and more comfortable.

This is and will be for some time a process of self-discovery and self-honesty to live authentically and in my truth.

Little bits at a time, baby steps are always a good way to start.

Day 4

The day is well on its positive way!

So I think today is day 4....anyhow it has been a good day. 

Did some meditation and breathing exercises this morning.

I tried to teach my grandson a Qi Gong move, that was interesting. Then I listened to some inspirational/motivational audio.

While I was cooking I listened to an audiobook. I cooked a couple of dinners but doubled the batch so I have some pre-made homemade meals for those no-cook days. They save time on busy days (great for some time management help). This afternoon I did not make it without a nap. It was a rough night last night because Oscar was not feeling well so I got up with him for a bit.

This afternoon I set up my office outside on the back deck and got some needed computer work and business planning done. I made sure I was outside and as soon as my computer battery said it was low, I turned off the computer and put it away for the day.

That was a tough one!

When working on some additional work I used my Remarkable to avoid the computer screen.

I really geared my day today around controlling what sounds and noises I was exposed to as well as how much time I was in front of the computer screen.

I also avoided my phone, Facebook, YouTube, and Messenger, for the day. My phone ringer was almost silent and did not keep it beside me all the time. If someone called I could call them back.

Gratitude, I am grateful for:

1. Good people in my community

2. Living in a peaceful blessed country

3. Silence, true silence

I hope before the end of your day, you each take a moment no matter how difficult your day was and find three things to be grateful for.

Read them over to yourself three times and really concentrate on them when doing so. Embrace the moment of being in your moment of gratitude.

Sending you many blessings my friends. 🌻🦋🇨🇦

Day 5 (Yesterday)

I now see that after 5 days the new sleep routine, and self-care journey has started to take effect.

Last night was Friday I thought; it was the end of the week, movie night, chips, dip, and so the movie binge with phone video games and junk food began!

To be honest?

A BIG, big mistake!

I stayed up late way past when I have been going to bed --I couldn't get to sleep! I was very tired but could not for the life of me get to sleep! My head kept going and going.

I had been playing some games on my phone all evening and quite honestly could not stop. At the midpoint of every game I said "this is the last one" and I was already started into the next new play.

When I went to bed and couldn't sleep I made another BIG mistake --I went onto my phone and played what I thought were mind easing games, nope....no sleep, head still going.

2:00 am comes around quickly!

I decided to turn it all off and do what I have been doing lately with some mindfulness in my sleeping "sweet spot" and some breathing exercises, I eventually did get to sleep.

Well, morning is here and it came quickly!

I woke up automatically at approximately the same time I have been lately without an alarm, great, okay!

BOOM!

I felt like a wall hit me ASAP!

I hurt, I have a headache, I feel like doo-doo, it almost feels like being hungover!

Hmmmm,,,,seems like in just 5 days my entire mind, body and soul have started to embrace the "new normal", amazing!

That is so quick!

I did not do any of the things I have been doing, no meditation (missed it), no deep breathing exercises (missed physically, mentally and spiritually), did not adhere to my reasonably healthy eating (feel it), and no schedule (FEEL IT!), No mental break (mentally tired), no computer screen time regulating (headache, regret it).

So today?

Today is a definite self-care readjustment day and back to my new normal!

I will update you all tonight.

Have a blessed day, get outside, enjoy the sunshine, take a few deep, cleansing, releasing breaths, try some exercises in the fresh air Qi Gong, yoga or simply some stretches.

Be mindful of yourself today, give yourself this gift.

You deserve it so much more than you realize.

Love yourself, gently, patiently and kindly. 💖🌻

Hey everyone, today is day 8.

I haven't posted for a few days because I was under the weather.

On Friday I was dealing with a painful migraine and the usual way I handle them was not totally working. So, I thought of a new journey of self-care and self-healing I will try something new.

I got my selenite crystal, an ice pack on my neck and a face ice pack, put on some healing vibration meditation music and ended up in a one and a half-hour meditation.

It made an improvement. It wasn't 100% but it was better.

It's still acting up but certainly not as painful as it was.

I am setting up a blog on my website tammarishka.com to track this journey.

It will be ready in a couple of days. Tomorrow is website work.

I will let you all know when it's ready.

Gratitude:

1. Healing

2. The learning experiences on my journey

3. Science and its discoveries

I wish you all a wonderful, beautiful day tomorrow.

Make the very most of the very best of it and do something great! 🌻🦋

Today is days 9 & 10.

It was a good day, a really good day. 😊 A lot has come to a realization about myself, my entire life to this point and now there are the decisions as to how I am going to move forward and heal even deeper and further.

Before we go any further in this post I have to come clean and tell you that I live with a TBI (traumatic brain injury) so I get a lot of bad headaches, and migraines, I'm forgetful (not just old) and experience vertigo difficulties.

I have a service dog "Sir Oscar" and often I am questioned as to why someone like myself who has nothing wrong with me has a service dog. I have often had to defend myself as to why I "need a dog". It's very humiliating especially when questioned publically in front of other people.

Some have said, "I think I should train Foo-foo because I would love to be able to take her everywhere with me too". Me...no comment and keeping my mouth shut or I will say something I will regret.

With all this being said, it is not an excuse for not posting every day but it is my reason why it has to be one day at a time and sometimes a post is not made every day.

Today I started making greeting cards as a fundraiser for the brain injury association. It is a great fundraiser. I can do it while I'm watching a movie or YouTube. It's quite enjoyable to do something that is productive but not mentally challenging.

I love doodling, sketching and colouring, it's my zen. I also am a crafter and artist in my own right as a hobby.

This weekend I will be in Lily Dale. When there I will be taking some photos of nature for the affirmation card deck I am currently working on. The deck is based on a nature theme. I love taking pictures!

I have meditated the past few days, took time for myself, unplugged every day for at least half a day at a time and tried to complete each day with success even if it was simply making my bed, meditation and very important self-care.

Something that learned recently; Self-care is not a luxury, it is a necessity.

I now believe and live by this.

All is good. It was a day that I actually stopped and said to Oscar "It's a great day, it's a really great day!"

I am grateful for:

1. My service dog Sir Oscar

2. My lap dog Miss Jazzi

3. My hubby Randy

(Not all necessarily in that order)

One more special one;

4. My granny who I believe was an earth Angel sent to protect me. 

 She took care of me since conception making sure I came to be.  Then she took care of me like an "allowed step-in mother" from my birth to when she passed when I was 13. She knew then she could go when she was sure I was then able to make it on my own. 

Sei Gezund Granny. Ich Liebe Dich.🦋🌻❤️

(Translation from Yiddish/German: Be well Granny. I love you)

Days 11-14 Self-care Healing Journey

The past few days have been spent in deep reflection with respect to hurtful experiences.

I have always been someone who when hurt the experience tends to stick with me and continues to affect me for long periods of time. Sometimes the hurt goes deep enough that it seems almost impossible for me to ever completely let it go.

These past few days,

I spent time honestly standing in the other person's shoes.

I spent time from the outside looking in without taking sides.

I also went deep within to find out how I can handle and let go of these experiences to move forward in healing.

The old expression "Forgive and forget" is nonproductive. It truly is not healing and there is no progress moving forward.

These past few days I have

realized I truly do have the right to own my own feelings.

Everyone has a right to own their own feelings, it is a part of their own journey.

With that being said, over time we have to realize that the other person has probably moved on. They have most likely moved on and have never given the situation another thought.

Part of the healing I have to do is deal with feelings I have that continued to hurt over time.

So I need to practice forgiveness not only of the other person but also for myself for continuing the hurt on towards myself. I have also learned that the negative must be turned positive so forgetting accomplishes nothing.

Everything is a lesson learned.

I believe in "Forgive, learn and move on". Every experience is an opportunity.

It's an opportunity to reflect, be self-honest, admit personal accountability, to accept the lesson learned. Bless the person who was involved (intentionally or not) in the situation with which you experienced hurt and release them from being a part of your journey.

Bless them with their own journey; their own journey of healing, self-realization and personal improvement.

My gratitude:

1. The ability to forgive myself and others.

2. The ability to heal from the hurt.

3. The ability to let go and find

peace.

I wish you all a blessed evening, morning or day.

Be kind to yourself.

Be patient with yourself.

You deserve it.🌼

Day 15 Self-care Healing Journey

Morning Reflection

The professional training I have gone through and continue to experience and apply it to my own personal journey it has brought so much to light.

Criticism, conversations ending in negativity, and unintentionally leaving people in a puddle on the floor are not constructive feedback.

It is unkind simple and straightforward.

Unkindness is negative, unproductive and can spread like a virus from one person to the next whether it be by the person spreading the negativity or by the results of the person who received the negativity unknowingly affecting others by their hurt.

Hurt, and negativity both cause the ripple effect and this particular ripple effect can be very damaging.

Not everyone can review the situation and find forgiveness, lesson learned and allow the release.

When anyone gives their opinion, grading a student or someone taking a test/evaluation, no matter how critical it may be we need to keep in mind three very important things;

1. The recipient and how the words are actually being received.

2. The words we use are constructive so improvement can be had from your FEEDBACK, not your opinion.

3. End with something positive and uplifting to raise them up to avoid the hurtful effect that may have been caused whether intentional or not, and to avoid leaving a puddle of emotions on the floor behind you.

It is simple kindness, simple human kindness.

There is also the opportunity for the deliverers to also add some empathy and compassion to their delivery.

They may be doing an injustice by not saying anything but it does not provide a license to cause possible irreparable damage.

In Spiritualism we believe:

We are the creator of our own reality through thought, word and deed.

And

Actions create results according to Natural Law.

And

Eternal progress is open to every soul

(I personally believe this is available in the "here" and the "hereafter")

Be compassionate, be forgiving, be kind, simple kindness and make sure that damage control is not a requirement.

Morning Gratitude:

1. Freedom

2. Ability to have and own our own opinions based on the foundation of being wisdom, to accomplish knowledgeable reflection.

3. The ability to have the freedom to decide what is for our own Highest and Best in the intention of personal self-care.

Have a wonderful day and make it a good day.🦋🇨🇦🌻

Day 23 of the Self-care Healing Journey

Hello, my friends 😊

This is day 23 of my journey and this past week has been an enlightenment.

The last eight days were spent at my cottage. It was a well-needed week.

I have now begun the personal/life decluttering. While away I sat back and reviewed all that I have experienced over the first 22 days of this journey. With the input of those who are close to me, I have finally decided on what needs to go, what needs to stay and how I am moving forward to maintain these realizations for growth and wellbeing.

This is what I have realized:

**Don't worry about what people think as long as you are true to yourself and living what you believe

**Realistically and honestly look at your plate and determine what has to go. There must be time for self wellness. There must be time to simply breathe, to take a walk, sit outside with your dogs and listen to the birds. If this is not happening, things have to go. It's time to clear your plate.

**Don't be afraid to say "I have my boundaries and limits", crossing them is unacceptable and I stand firm.

**I have no control over the reactions of others. When I know I have done my best with my best intentions I will stand my ground. I will always learn from positive constructive feedback that is delivered with love. Anything nasty, negative or not constructive is not welcome and has no place in my life from now on.

**I, my wellbeing comes first. I have learned I have to save myself first to be able to help others who welcome the assistance. I cannot force anyone to accept my input or accept help. That is their journey.

**No matter my age, no matter where I may be on my journey I will never stop learning and improving.

**Set my daily reasonable intentions but don't guilt myself because I did not manage to do everything or do them perfectly. Things end up the way they are supposed to.

**Disappointment, embrace it, it leads to gifts and dreams that are able to come true.

**Embrace the silence. Accept its warmth, comfort and stillness to bring the same within. It is a gift to give to yourself.

**No matter how hard it is, when someone loves you and they are giving me loving advice I will actively listen. I will listen to what they have to say and will do my best to bring my higher self forward to listen, process and absorb what has been said. This will help me to constructively process without taking things personally. There is an old saying

"Take what you need and leave the rest".

**Set realistic goals for me to set myself up for success. Success then sets me up for more happily achieved goals. This brings forward self-affirmation and encouragement. It brings forward more positivity.

It needs to come from me for me. I should not look to others for praise and acknowledgement but to myself first. I am the one who has to be able to put my head down at night and rest well. I am the one who has to look into the mirror every day with a conscience and know I did the best I can with the tools I have available to me.

**Follow my heart, it's okay to dream, it is good to dream

**Embrace and love and forgive my inner child

**Put my well-being mind, body and soul first and foremost to be the best I can be for myself and then I can be the same for others for who it does matter.

**Always work my boundaries physically and spiritually

** Never feel guilty or put myself down for saying 'no' or 'enough is enough, I come first '.

**Know when to step back for my own well-being and for what the situation is, and then let it go.

Set a reasonable, doable morning, evening, and bed routine. No matter how non-spiritual it is or no matter how spiritual it is; it brings calming, prepares the mind for the day and it's just helpful in getting the day on track

**Don't be afraid to explore personal expression. No one has to be an amazing artist, crafter, singer, or musician. Just find something that brings you peace; peace and stillness of the mind, and inner happiness.

Make it a point to take the time regularly to do this. It's what brings you your happiness that matters not what others think. It's for you privately and personally. It's yours and only yours to release, express, embrace and enjoy.

My Gratitude through this past week:

1. For others ahead of me with the experience and wisdom of life

2. Time

3. Honesty with love

Have a wonderful day my friends. 

Make it a great one. 

Embrace who you are and accept the beauty you have inside, validate it, and bring it forward even more than let yourself shine!

Do something great today! 🏵️☀️🍁

It's been eight days since I returned home from the cottage.  I have to be honest I have been playing catch up from my days off and for my upcoming summer vacation. 

I have also been taking time to be in the silence and do the things I enjoy.  Because I have been trying to pace myself I have not been journaling.

I have learned no matter how spiritual any one person may be there is always room for improvement.  It is a lifetime of work and that is why we as Spirit beings are here having our physical experiences.  We all chose to do it the hard way; in the physical.

I guess that is part of our journey, our goal is to simply learn and grow.  To evolve so when we are once again in spirit we are more able to guide those who need us that are here.  When we help them from the other side, we are more understanding and empathetic as guides.  I think it's the only way when we are on the other side we are able to be of the most service.

  🏵️☀️🍁

Well, tonight I had put together a detailed post of my final self-care and healing journey. I don't think it was meant to be sent tonight. I was at the end of it and was proofreading when the entire post disappeared and could not be found. This is when I have to listen to Spirit and reflect even more on what I need to say. So for tonight, I am going to say "Good night" and "Sleep with Angels on your pillow". I will post in a couple of days. Please stay well and give yourself some loving self-care.

  🏵️☀️🍁