My Word For 2018

31 Sunday Dec 2017

Posted by dianasschwenk in In My Opinion, My Stories

Tags

believe, courage, encouragement, Fear, growing up, growth, Happy New Year, letting go, love, mindful, power, powerlessness, release, resiliency, surrender, trust, Truth

Have you ever noticed that the circumstances in life that you struggle with the most seem to repeat themselves over and over again, until you finally find a way to handle them differently?

In past years, I have chosen a word for the upcoming new year. Words like tenacity and service, or perhaps the words actually chose me as my friend Louise Gallagher, over at Dare Boldly has often suggested.

I am certain that my word for 2018 chose me.

Let It Go.

Yes, I know those are three words, but no single word I’ve found, such as release, or surrender, or acquiesce, have fully meant to me what those three little words have come to mean.

I realize, as well, that those three little words have not just made their debut in 2017. They have been waiting patiently at the sidelines for three years, maybe more.

You see, in my family, an issue arises and we scramble to “Fix It”. This works well when it’s a manageable situation like, my car won’t start – call AMA, or my computer is acting up – have you tried rebooting it.

Yet there are many situations in life where you can do all you know to do, and it doesn’t get fixed. There are variables that are simply out of your control, and those are the very things, in my case, that can roll around in my head like a PowerPoint presentation or video that has been set to ‘continuous loop.’

That loop can take over, and more often than not, it prevents me from taking action in other situations, over which I actually have some measure of power to make a difference.

And so, those three little words unassumingly step forward for the millionth time to gently nudge me, encourage me to recognize, to really see that it is time to let it go, to trust, and accept, and even embrace the natural unfolding of what is.

And yes, it really is as simple as that.

Wishing you all an amazing 2018 filled with courage, growth, resiliency and love,

Diana

Fall Out My Window

08 Wednesday Oct 2014

Posted by dianasschwenk in Hump Day Chronicles, My Stories, Out and About

≈ 38 Comments

Tags

changing seasons, Diana Schwenk, fall, going with the flow, happy, Hump Day Chronicles, joy, letting go, life, living in the moment, sad, summer

Not ‘fall‘ or ‘jump’ out of my window.

But fall, the season, as seen from my window.

I’ve read so many posts from a handful of you recently about letting go.

Letting go of the outcomes.

Letting go of the things I cannot control.

Going with the flow.

Riding the wave and enjoying the scenery.

So although the end of summer has caused me sadness in the past. Perhaps even had me momentarily thinking about jumping out of my window, I’m gracefully easing into fall this year.

Looking back, it was a great summer.

We had lots of good weather and I spent a great deal of time outside.

Looking forward, I anticipate a good fall.

Discovering ways to enjoy the outdoors, dressing as required to stay warm.

Living in the moment.

Below, some pictures I took on the first day of fall and a bonus end-of-summer creatively crazed selfie in poor light….