I’ve been on vacation for the last week which is on the heels of 3 weeks of slowing down at work. My body and mind have finally relaxed. It takes time for this to happen. Life is full of deliverables, lists of to do’s, must get to’s, need to tend to’s and way too many should’s.

As we returned home from our cross country trip, I noticed several times that my mind was starting to create the many lists of the all things that need to happen, should happen, must happen, would be nice to happen and I could feel the tenseness and stress return to my body.

Not wanting to return to this place, I wondered what it would be like if I started to replace the word “should” and “need” with the word “love”.

I’d love to get this drawer organized. I would love to gather a list of the important projects to complete this week. I would love to prepare the paperwork for this client. I would love to get on my mat this morning for some yoga. I would love to reach out to my mom and sisters to catch up on life.

I noticed something – the should’s and need’s started to feel a whole lot different as well as my body’s reaction. Finding a new balance point between my creative life and work life is essential to reducing stress and tension in my body. Finding the quiet, a time to think and to just be is all part of this project that I’m currently working on. It’s a facet of creating the “Yes You Can” life practice.

You are reading it now in real time. Thank you for being on this journey too.

PS – Who would be interested in a picture of a delicious lunch sandwich I made while in Ennis, Montana? I started to think I “shouldn’t” share it. Then I smiled as I thought – what’s possible when we tweak the word “should” (in all its forms) from our lexicon and thinking? It seems, I’m open to the possibilities.