Build A Life You Don't Want to Escape From

Take Stock.

Last year, Justin and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary. As we were thinking about what we wanted to do to commemorate the occasion, we started to consider a trip. We’d always wanted to visit Oregon, for some reason in our minds, if we ever moved from NY we would move to Oregon. The trip would be expensive, we wanted to see as much of the state as possible and we really wanted to ‘live it up’ while we were there. As I started to research our travel plans, I found myself questioning the validity of the money we were going to spend on the trip. I kept thinking about all of the other things I’d rather do in our home with the money… we want to renovate the kitchen, put in a pool, side the house, upgrade the exterior illumination (ha).

This may come as a surprise to you, but I’ve been accused of being a work-a-holic (the nerve 🙄)… and, because we live so close to the winery, about twice a year Justin will declare that we need to physically get away. The trip to Oregon was no different, Justin was feeling stir crazy and we were both a little burnt. So, the decision was made- we were going to Oregon for 10 days. I hadn’t been away from the winery for 10 days since 2009- so this was a big deal for us. The trip was everything we had hoped for… we’re a special kind of traveling couple because we need to keep busy while we’re relaxing. A beach moment is nice, but won’t keep us entertained. We spent the trip hiking, exploring, and, of course wine tasting.

Around day 5, we were ready to come home. Not because Oregon wasn’t beautiful (although we both decided the only part that we’d ever consider living in was Bend), but because we’ve made our home our sanctuary and we missed it. I’ve had a lot of time during this social/physical distancing to take stock of what the things are in my life that I want to lean into, create more of, be more of… and those things that I can move on from, or be less of. Below are a few of these revelations and I hope they inspire you to do a little inventory for yourself.

• Books, Audiobooks, and Podcasts: a few years ago I started buying books and reading again. I had stopped for some reason, I didn’t think I had the time or something. I love reading and I like a good old fashioned paper book. I started a library at work for our managers to borrow some of my favorite empowering, leadership or business books. For me, I need to read at least 20 minutes a day. Podcasts! Do a roundup of what you’re listening to and reading… what you put into your mind every day is who you are and who you will become. Believe that.

• Sauna: I’ve always wanted a sauna, I believe in the benefits of regular sauna therapy. This year, I bought a sauna for our home and I honestly wish that I had done it sooner. During a 40 minute sauna sesh, I can read, or listen to a podcast or I can just sit there with myself in silence and think. Our sauna has been healing for me and it’s part of my daily routine.

• Food: I’ll probably say this 1,200,308,048,409,098 times, but FOOD IS MEDICINE. Take stock of what you’re putting into your body. Create a eating lifestyle that nourishes your body. Have that food on hand and make it easy to prepare. A few years ago, I decided to cut sugar and flour from my diet… we can talk about why in a different post. I went through my pantry and eliminated all items that I didn’t want to eat anymore- end of story. This is why upgrading my kitchen is a goal for 2020, this gal lives in her kitchen… let’s make it dope.

• Movement: Movement is also medicine, it literally boosts your immune system. Damn it, if you’re reading this blog and haven’t been convinced to move yo’ body, call me.

• Mind: Take stock in how you speak to yourself. I ask myself, would I put my internal dialog on a loudspeaker for the world to hear, and would that make me proud? We can be our own worst critic or we can choose to be our best advocate.

• Relationships: this is a good time to take stock in who you’re letting into your life and how they make you feel. It’s social distancing now, but maybe you decide that you’re better off with some of your relationships staying distant… that’s okay. They say that you are a reflection of your 5-10 closest relationships… does that make you proud?

• Gratitude: take stock in what you’re grateful for. This practice is life changing. Having gratitude and being intentional every day by listing things that you’re grateful for will change your perspective.

• Work: I think that there’s going to be a number of people who decide that they aren’t going back to their old job. We live a massive amount of our lives at work, if your work doesn’t align with you values, there will be a HUGE opportunity to change that when this quarantine is over with. Prepare now for what that could look like for you.

• Space: It’s become more evident than ever before that the investment I’ve made in my home gym, Peloton, Sleep Number, furniture, and sauna are important. I recognize what a privilege it is to be able to be so comfortable in my space. I’m taking stock of what else I can do to make my home my haven. This could mean moving furniture around, making space to do certain tasks interruption free, and as I mentioned above, renovating the kitchen. Dream big with this one, make your list!

• Experiences: What memories do you want to make and with who? We’re all collectively facing our immortality, and for me, I’ve been thinking more about what I want to experience in this life.

Look, this blog was birthed from a moment of me taking stock. I’m passionate about building a life that I don’t want to escape from and sharing it with other people to inspire them to level up. Exploring the rest of the world can be life-changing, but home is where you’re spending a majority of this one life, so make it great.