What's Going On? (March Edition)
Sometimes all you need is a good recommendation to try something new!
Listen below, or skip down to read today’s post! Thanks for being here!
In this month’s edition of What’s Going On, I share a recipe for a protein coffee drink, my new morning ritual, thoughts about choosing happiness, and reveal what two decisions I’ve made about my career.
Protein Coffee Recipe
In my opinion, coffee is always better with a friend, but there were none in sight when I scored a BOGO coupon at Starbucks. If you know me, I am not one to let a *FREE* coffee go to waste.
I marched right into the store and ordered an Iced Gingerbread Chai Latte with Oatmilk and Sweet Cold Foam - for now - and a Grande Cold Brew for later. I got that happy coffee feeling walking out of the store, double-fisting my drinks while scheming what to do with the extra coffee.
The next morning, I got inventive. I’ve always admired the Instagram Account Macro Barista, so I decided to try using my leftover coffee in a protein drink. First, I blended the Cold Brew, two Tablespoons of Peanut Butter Protein powder, and a big splash of Almond Milk in a mixer. Then, I prepared my own foam with my handheld frother by mixing half and half with a pinch of cinnamon. I poured it all over ice and went outside for my new morning ritual. Delicious!
My Morning Ritual
Long before Spring actually sprung, those of us in the Midwest enjoyed a sneak peek of warmer weather when we were given a few days with unseasonably high temperatures. Say no more! I began moving my patio furniture out and dusting off my golf clubs. I love being outside. If I could, I would read, cook, eat, play, and work outside every day. So, I wondered - why wasn’t I?
Inspired by a video I saw online, I have adopted a Sun-Before-Screens habit. Essentially, Stanford neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman argues that getting outside and exposing yourself to natural sunlight shortly after waking up is one of the best things you can do to improve your sleep quality and overall well-being. You can read more about it here, but here’s the takeaway and my new motto: Sunlight before screen light. Essentially, the goal is to trigger your body's natural response to sunlight, causing it to release cortisol (the "wake-up" hormone) into your system. Apparently the health benefits are massive!
So every morning, no matter the weather, before I pick up any device, I go outside.
I listen.
I turn my face to the sun.
I sit in a chair or go for a walk.
I watch the birds.
I drink coffee. I breathe.
I haven’t put my finger on it yet, but somehow, something about this small morning act sets my day in the right direction. Try it. Tell me if you love it like I do!
How Do You Know If You’ve Made The Right Decision?
I enjoy podcasts, but I've gone back to this particular episode on the Mel Robbins Podcast over and over. Why? Steven Bartlett, the guest, talks about how we often accept common beliefs for ourselves (despite how we are feeling) and that we prioritize what other people think over our own happiness. And both of those things just happened to me.
Recently, I had a choice to make regarding my career. Reeling from the unexpectedness of the timing of my decision, as well as weighing what other people might think about my next move
- if I am being completely honest -
rendered me nearly immobile.
It’s true, and I didn’t really like it, so I determined to get to the bottom of all the emotions I was having. In my digging, I discovered 2 things:
I was not thinking about what I should do; I was thinking about what people would think if I did A or B or C. That’s insane to me. It’s my life, my decision, my future. Shouldn’t I base it on what I think is best for me?
After processing (and a lot of grace), I was able to burrow down to unearth my desire, my idea, my gut instinct, and my hopes. Okay! I found what I was looking for, but oops! Guess what? Circle back to point 1. I went from imagining all the different scenarios and all the invented perceptions of said decision to deciding. And then, I imagined everyone’s decision about my decision …. again.
You can imagine - I was mentally exhausting myself.
Ultimately, and thanks to some encouragement from the podcast, I realized it is okay to prioritize my happiness. As women or mothers, this is a rare opportunity. Cultural norms train us to sacrifice for family - and don’t get me wrong - we should. But I’m not convinced that when given an opportunity to evaluate our own needs and happiness, there is a way to grasp it. I am thankful I have a supportive family who really encouraged me on my journey.
I knew it was time to act according to how I felt about the next move. So, I decided on two things:
I am shifting my side hustle business to my full attention and
I am dedicating the year to writing.
Writer’s Retreat
Recently, I snuggled up one warm weekend in a cabin on the banks of the Mississippi and allowed my brain to dump whatever story it wanted to tell. I was scared to try (really, really scared), but I am thankful I did. Hopefully, by this time next year, I will have a book to share.
As I continue to walk out my mantra for What’s In Store For 2024, I am finding that what I once felt so big and scary isn’t. It’s normal and common to have big feelings of doubt and struggle with shame. It’s part of the human experience. It is something we all struggle with, and no one is immune. However, I’ve learned that overcoming those ugly feelings of unworthiness is possible when you apply
grace
and space,
patience
and the decision to worry less about what others think and more about our own instincts so we/I can be happy.