Looking for the Sunny Side of 2016

So, if you have been on social media at all in the last few weeks you can see that there is a common theme: 2016 was the worst (apparently).

I will fully acknowledge that 2016 had some weird things happen.  I'm sure there has to be at least some good that came out of this year, right?

One of the recent trends I've seen in the last couple weeks are people sharing their positive experiences from 2016.  Even if 2016 was the worst year ever for you, this is a good exercise - think back, and was there a time this year that you had fun?  Laughed so hard it hurt?  Smiled?  Or even just had a really good hug?

In an effort to start 2017 on a good note, I challenge everyone to think of something, even if it is just one moment, but think of something that was positive for you in 2016.   You can either keep that to yourself, or share in the comment section (or on our Facebook Page ).

I will start - I put my feet in the Pacific Ocean for the first time in September.  I had never been to the West Coast before, so this was exciting for me!  And I was there to celebrate my 10th wedding anniversary to my husband.

I have other amazing memories, and I won't go in to all of them, but here are some photos to represent those moments:

Cuba in April

My "Happy Place"

Universal Studios!

Let me say that doing this exercise does not diminuish any negative things that happened this year.  I just think that if we focus on the positive as we finish this year, that it starts us off on the right foot for 2017!   What are your favourite moments from 2016?  Share in the comments below, or join me on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/overtiredmama/

We Can't Do It All

I learned an important lesson over the last month.  As many of you know, I work full time, I have a busy little girl involved in a lot of activities, we've been renovating our home, and I'm a part-time MBA student.

I had been managing all of my commitments until I got closer to Christmas.  My workload suddenly exploded and I was in a course that was extremely time consuming.  I convinced myself I was fine and that this was temporary and this would pass.  But then I wound up in the Emergency room.  Completely run down.

I think many of us can struggle with trying to be "all things to all people".  And I have even found myself preaching to others that you need to learn to say "no", and that you can't please everyone.  And yet, here I was, at the hospital, having been my own worst enemy.

Upon my return to work a co-worker said to me "You need to start taking care of yourself.  Your daughter needs her mom.".  Of course, I thought, that's common sense!   And yet, I wasn't following that idea.

So I made a decision for myself, I was going to make more of an effort to take care of me.  More "me time".  I took a semester off from school, and I'm learning to say "no" to things that I can't manage.

Do you make time for yourself?  What do you do to help yourself relax?  Feel free to share in the comment section, or come over to our Facebook page and tell us: https://www.facebook.com/overtiredmama/