VernetteOutLoud

The ONE Where Normal Routine Resumes

Photo by Cristian Escobar on Unsplash

Hey you guuuys! Welcome to the first full working week (!) of 2018. Normal routine resumes here in Trinidad, as schools reopen today to start the second term of the school year.

And my love hate relationship with Monday continues.

But first, a note about 2017 – it was a year of struggle, change, plenty growth and so much more. I am grateful to still be here. I am over the moon to still be writing in this space.

And now a wish for 2018 – I hope (for you) this year is filled with plenty love, worthwhile friendships, great health and abundance.

I am excited to kick-off the first working Monday of 2018 with renewed focus, dedication and positive energy towards cultivating a space so that it is beneficial to both you and me.

And so today I’m sharing seven things I’m grateful for:

Normal Routines

Because what we do every day, the little things…actually make up our lives. Here’s to creating a life that is awesome every.single.day.

My job

Here is to making a life and not just a living. I’m grateful that my job affords me the opportunity to do more than just pay bills. Anyone else, planning a cool project/travel somewhere awesome for 2018? Feel free to share below.

Powerful reminders

“This is the real secret of life — to be completely engaged with what you
are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work,
realize it is play.” — Alan Watts

Baby S

Is no longer a baby. In fact, he learned the word for baby and identifies them. So he is now officially a toddler. I’m so excited for this phase in his life. He is learning words so rapidly now. Oh and ‘cookie’ is one of his favourites!

My people

I closed 2017 spending time with family and friends who are family. The absolute best way to usher in a new year.

The Time I’m Living In

I always say that God chose this time in history to bless the world with your presence. Your being here is a present to the present. And how cool is it that we’re living in a time where the most influential women in the world are creatives, doing what they want and living how they want!

and finally…

You can fall in love anytime you want

That’s the beauty of being alive…isn’t it!

So that’s my seven for this week. On Mondays, “we post seven positives from the previous seven days of the week as a reminder of what we have so that the week starts out on an upswing. There is much truth in the belief that happy people attract good things, so it is important to start the week out right. Sometimes it’s the more grand, but other times, it’s the simple things.” 7 for Seven originated at Key + Arrow.

I hope that by continuing to pay attention to the little things, the mundane details that make up all the blessings in my life and by sowing the seeds of faith and gratitude, I can truly carry with me and reap the rewards of “positivity + balance + bliss” throughout the days ahead.

Thank you for reading, I appreciate you! This is me blowing some glitter and confetti on you because you’re super blessed to have received the gift of another 86,400 seconds today, to spend any way you desire.

Make those seconds count!

I love hearing from you…have you ever felt like quitting blogging? What did you do or stopped doing to turn things around? Feel free to share below!

The One Where I Almost Quit This Blog

dominik-scythe-goodbye-unsplash

Dominik Scythe

I almost quit this blog! My last post in this space was back in early August. I was overwhelmed and I reached my lowest point with blogging. When the time came for hosting renewal, I let it lapse. Today, is actually the day my blog was supposed to be deleted from their server. But here I am. My love of writing and connecting and sharing won out in the end.

So, here I go, moving through this season of my life, hopefully, with bigger and better things in store. I’ve said it before, no one is above life’s twists and turns of fate. And it is the fact that we are all vulnerable to life’s ebbs and flows, that we are all connected.

Today I’m sharing seven little things I’m grateful for:

December Reflections

I’m doing Susannah Conway’s annual photo challenge on Instagram. You can follow along here. I am grateful most especially for yesterday’s prompt: Best Day of 2017. As I clicked through the hashtag, what stood out to me was that most people found it hard to choose just one day as their best day. That spoke volumes. Especially when, I myself was in a similar situation. Because even though not all of the 338 days so far for 2017 were the ‘best day ever’; they were all great days because I was alive to experience them, and in relatively good health too.

This was a sound reminder that while I struggled (still struggling) for most of the year, there was some good in each day. And ultimately, I want my legacy to be that I made the most of my time here. And that every day I wake up in the land of the living, I am reminded that today is a gift and that I am truly lucky to be alive. Do you have a best day of 2017?

Thankful For My Nephew

He is the light of my life. I don’t post photos of him on social media, so you have to take my word that this little man is the cutest thing. He has widened his vocabulary now to almost 10 words. He wants to talk so badly and have a conversation. I am waiting with joyful hope for when he can string a sentence together and ask questions so I can see how he interprets the world around him.

Exam season

Today, I’m sitting one of two final exams. I am nervous and I feel unprepared. But I’m going in anyway. This is the end of a years-long journey and the heralding of a new phase in my life. I’m savouring all parts of this journey, as it was not an easy road to get to this point. Nothing worth having ever is…is it?

2017

I plan to write more on what this year has meant to me. But for now, all I will say it that it’s been a year of change. Change almost always means growth, which translate into being uncomfortable. There have been many important moments in 2017. One of the hardest, was walking away from the person I thought I was. Owning my mistakes, being honest with myself and getting comfortable starting at the bottom. Getting comfortable making mistakes. Getting comfortable not knowing everything. I am thankful for the change and all the changes to come. Here’s to leveling up.

Powerful Reminders of Who Has My Back

I was reminded of this scripture this week: Jeremiah 29:11 ~ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Growing My Faith

I thank God for my mother every day, for it was her faith that engendered my own. We are two days into Advent season and this year, I’m taking this time seriously. Do you set spiritual goals for yourself? I do, not always successfully but I do. This year, I made a DIY Advent wreath, I’ve committed to fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays and generally preparing my heart for the reason for the season. Christ my saviour.

and finally…

This Blog and You Dear Reader

This space, this community and the time you spend here – keeps me going. You keep me accountable. I am truly humbled and grateful.

So that’s my seven for this week. On Mondays, “we post seven positives from the previous seven days of the week as a reminder of what we have so that the week starts out on an upswing. There is much truth in the belief that happy people attract good things, so it is important to start the week out right. Sometimes it’s the more grand, but other times, it’s the simple things.” 7 for Seven originated at Key + Arrow.

I hope that by continuing to pay attention to the little things, the mundane details that make up all the blessings in my life and by sowing the seeds of faith and gratitude, I can truly carry with me and reap the rewards of “positivity + balance + bliss” throughout the days ahead.

Thank you for reading, I appreciate you! This is me blowing some glitter and confetti on you because you’re super blessed to have received the gift of another 86,400 seconds today, to spend any way you desire.

Make those seconds count!

I love hearing from you…have you ever felt like quitting blogging? What did you do or stopped doing to turn things around? Feel free to share below!

 

Sending Love to the Day Ahead

love-new-day-ahead

Hello loves, can you believe that it’s August already? I swear, June and July lasted like 10 seconds each!

No but, seriously though, why is 2017 flying? I hope that you are on track for your goals this year and if not…it’s never too late to start.

Love To The Day Ahead

This morning, I got up very early, because of the significance of the day.

Seven years ago today, I said goodbye to my mother. I have written about it here, here, and here . And for the last seven years, I have always approached today heavy with sadness. And while, there is sadness associated with the day, I honestly have gotten to the point where I don’t want that sadness to impact the quality of my whole day.

I miss my mother every.single.day. that passes without her. That has not changed and I doubt it ever will. I read somewhere that worst part about grief, is not the loss of the person who means so much to you, the worst part is missing them every day for the rest of your life. And this, I have come to realize is true.

The truth is, I miss her every day, but I am not sad every day. I know in my heart that she could not have gone on being sick and living in pain. And I have made peace with that. So today, despite the sadness I feel, I also want to celebrate the time I did have with her. The time that was filled with joy and belly-laughs and experiences worth savouring and reminiscing about.

A Message Of Love

Today I am sending a message of love – in fact, all the love I feel for my mother – ahead to the day. I am sending a message of love to my brother and  my sister and to the rest of my family, who all miss the light that my mother was. I hope that this message of love is received and that our day is transformed by it.

This morning, as I listen to the world waking up around me, I reaffirm the love I feel and cherish for my mother and for all the persons touched by her light. May blessings be poured out upon all of you, and I pray that we all greet the day eager and ready to receive all the blessings and good things that have been set aside just for us.

Today I pray that you all (including you dear reader) are surrounded and saturated by warm and loving light. I send love to the roads that you will travel on today. To all the persons you will encounter today, I pray that they too, will be enveloped by love and radiate that love back to you. My hope and prayer is that that our entire day today, is infused by love and thus, suffused with grace.

I also send love to the people and situations that may frustrate you today. May they be covered them in warmth and tenderness, so that when they come up, they are just a little softer, so their impact is not as harsh. My hope is that today only brings you posivibes. I also pray that you all have a soft place to land at the end of day.

7 for SEVEN

So my dear friends, when I started writing this, it was supposed to be my official welcome to August and my 7 for Seven this week. However, it took on a life of it’s own and I’m going to let it be. And just do a short version of my gratitude list, because today is also a Monday…as and you know…

…every Monday, we post seven positives from the previous seven days of the week as a reminder of what we have so that the week starts out on an upswing. There is much truth in the belief that happy people attract good things, so it is important to start the week out right. Sometimes it’s the more grand, but other times, it’s the simple things.~Key + Arrow

7 for Seven originated at Key + Arrow and now let’s get into my 7 for this week:

I am grateful for the time spent with my mother.  I hope to always make her proud!

Another year of life. I celebrated another year around the sun on July 30th. This year for the first time in seven years, I felt like celebrating and I did to the fullest. My birthday was made all the more special by family and friends. And these are really the family we choose. I am truly grateful and blessed to have so much love in my life.

Connections – I am learning that stepping into my power and being seen is the only way I can move forward. Making connections are far more powerful than anything I will every try to achieve on my own. I am grateful for the courage this week to speak up and be seen.

Gratitude For The Simple Things

My job…because life as I know it, would not be possible without it. Amen for the love of good food, great coffee and fantastic vacations shared with the people I love.

God Always Sends Someone.  I was reminded that God always sends someone, when an 86-year-old driver crashed into my neighbour’s wall last week. I was home to help and I am so happy I did. She kept asking me, why I was helping her and I said to her, I’m only doing what I hope someone would have done for my mother.

Baby jeans with pockets. To the designers of baby clothes…you keep making pants with pockets for baby boys…why? They are the cutest but it always makes me wonder, what are they going to put in them. My nephew is wearing jeans ya’ll, with as you probably guessed…pockets. And now that I know that baby jeans exists…he will have a few.

The power of prayer. For I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me.

Posivibes Only

And now my hope is that by continuing to pay attention to the little things, the mundane details that make up all the blessings in my life and by sowing the seeds of faith and gratitude, I can truly carry with me and reap the rewards of “positivity + balance + bliss” throughout the days ahead.

Thank you for reading, I appreciate you! This is me blowing some glitter and confetti on you because you’re super blessed to have received the gift of another 86,400 seconds today, to spend any way you desire. Make those seconds count!

I love hearing from you…what are you grateful today? Feel free to share below!

The One Where I’m Thankful For The Little Things

thankful-for-little-things-anthony-delanoix

Photo By: Anthony Delanoix, Unsplash

Things have been crazy hectic this past week. I have been struggling to keep all the balls in the air…and to continue the with the juggling euphemism – it has been a series of ups and downs. I know that no one is above these twists and turns of fate. And it is the fact that we are all vulnerable to life’s ebbs and flows, that we are all connected.

Today I’m sharing seven little things I’m grateful for:

Lucky To Be Alive

I’m still here. This is my birthday month. On July 30th I will celebrate another trip around the sun. And I so thankful for this life. I want my legacy to be that I made the most of my time here. And that every day I wake up in the land of the living, I am reminded that today is a gift and that I am truly lucky to be alive.

Thankful For Little Things

My nephew understands that when you leave a room, that it means bye-bye. He waves goodbye with his chubby little hand whenever you leave. It is the cutest thing. Until he does the next cutest little thing.

Replacement Phones

I say it all the time, I have the best friends. My phone fell and the screen shattered last week. That left me without a phone and the whole thing was the subject of last week’s SEVEN. My sweet friends, brought be a loaner phone until I can sort out my issues. So, so grateful.

New Things

I am on a new desk, in a new department, in a new position. This means getting comfortable starting at the bottom. Getting comfortable making mistakes. Getting comfortable not knowing everything. I am thankful for the change and all the changes to come. Here’s to leveling up.

Powerful Reminders of Who Has My Back

I was reminded of this scripture this week: Jeremiah 29:11 ~ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

My Faith

I thank God for my mother every day, for it was her faith that engendered my own.

You Dear Reader

This space, this community and the time you spend here – I am truly humbled and grateful.

So that’s my seven for this week. On Mondays, “we post seven positives from the previous seven days of the week as a reminder of what we have so that the week starts out on an upswing. There is much truth in the belief that happy people attract good things, so it is important to start the week out right. Sometimes it’s the more grand, but other times, it’s the simple things.” 7 for Seven originated at Key + Arrow.

I hope that by continuing to pay attention to the little things, the mundane details that make up all the blessings in my life and by sowing the seeds of faith and gratitude, I can truly carry with me and reap the rewards of “positivity + balance + bliss” throughout the days ahead.

Thank you for reading, I appreciate you! This is me blowing some glitter and confetti on you because you’re super blessed to have received the gift of another 86,400 seconds today, to spend any way you desire.

Make those seconds count!

I love hearing from you…have you ever gone a few days without a phone? How was that experience for you? Feel free to share below!

 

The One Where I Had No Phone For A Few Days But I’m Still Grateful

no-phone-bart-anestin

Photo By: Bart Anestin, Unsplash

To some people this may not sound like a good thing, but my phone fell last week and the screen completely shattered. Like splinters in my finger, when I attempted to ‘swipe to unlock’ kinda shattered. I ended up spending a few days not having a working phone. And somehow I was okay.

Today I’m sharing seven things I discovered I’m grateful for, because I had no phone for a few days:

Silence

My number one favourite thing about not having a phone was the blessed silence of no notifications. No pings, dings or chimes  alerting to this message or that email. It was eerily silent the first day, but then it got better and I remembered how much I actually like silence.

Games Night With The Fam

My brother and his wife has their house-warming this past week. Because they just moved in and there are still some things to be done, we ended up playing the game Taboo and our local version Doh Say Dat. It was so refreshing to have family time and I wasn’t looking at my phone every chance I got.

My phone Is No Longer An Extension Of My Hand

I used to say, very seriously too, that if my phone was ever lost, I would also be missing a hand. Because the two are never parted. When your phone is useless, trust me, you find other uses for your hand. Like preparing a nutritious meal and holding a newly minted toddler’s hand.

Being Present To The Present

Youuu guuuuysss…I left my phone home pretty much the entire time and I didn’t feel like a fish outta water. I knew that even if it rang or a message came through I had no way of responding. And I was okay. I wasn’t wondering who was messaging or calling or posting. Nope! The only thing that interested me was what was happening right in front of me.

I Could Manage To Have A Meal Without Snapping a Photo Of It First

Who knew this was even possible right?

No FOMO

This one truly surprised me. I really thought I would miss Instagram, I did not.

I Did Not Die

Yup! I survived.

So that’s my seven for this week. On Mondays, “we post seven positives from the previous seven days of the week as a reminder of what we have so that the week starts out on an upswing. There is much truth in the belief that happy people attract good things, so it is important to start the week out right. Sometimes it’s the more grand, but other times, it’s the simple things.” 7 for Seven originated at Key + Arrow.

I hope that by continuing to pay attention to the little things, the mundane details that make up all the blessings in my life and by sowing the seeds of faith and gratitude, I can truly carry with me and reap the rewards of “positivity + balance + bliss” throughout the days ahead.

Thank you for reading, I appreciate you! This is me blowing some glitter and confetti on you because you’re super blessed to have received the gift of another 86,400 seconds today, to spend any way you desire.

Make those seconds count!

I love hearing from you…have you ever gone a few days without a phone? How was that experience for you? Feel free to share below!