Tag Archives: growth

Embrace the Midyear Reset: 14 Key Reflections

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Turn the clock back 6 months. 

I made a new year action plan, things I wanted to work on and goals I set for myself. It’s midyear, and reflecting, I think I’m going to shift from those “goals” and resolutions to instead focus on what I’ve been finding more helpful to keep in mind. 

Less concrete perhaps, but as a “recovering perfectionist” I’m going to experiment with leaning on these themes to live by. Not a specific goal, per se, more a way of being.

Taking a moment with my dog on my lap and a fresh cup of tasty coffee by my side, here’s how my reflections landed: 

  1. Find Peace in the process (not the end game – enjoy the journey, the destination may always be shifting)..
  2. Opportunity for progress is what creates a full and meaningful life.
  3. Gratitude and mindset are the biggest game changers 
  4. Sleep too. Stop and sleep when it’s time, pushing through tired is counterproductive in the long run.
  5. Words matter. “I get to” vs “I have to.” “Inconvenience” vs. “tragedy.”
  6. Do the hard tasks first.
  7. When you’re not motivated, take the smallest first step- motivation is built by action, not always the other way around. 
  8. Hydrate, eat nourishing foods- esp if you’re feeling grumpy. 
  9. Do what your future self would be proud of. 
  10. PLAY. Be silly, have fun, enjoy moments of levity. 
  11. Love hard, let that include yourself. Especially yourself. 
  12. It’s amazing what fresh air can do. Get outside. Often.
  13. Stow the screens when possible. Disconnect to connect to what’s real. 
  14. Stay curious. There’s always something to learn. 
Open journal with handwritten notes and pen next to a steaming ceramic cup of tea on a wooden table
A cozy morning scene with an open journal and steaming cup of tea on a wooden table

I’ve learned from others daily. Let’s keep that going. Please feel open to sharing any of your own thoughts in the comments, you never know who you might inspire or impact by just taking a moment. Connection is key. What would be on your list?

I’m Back!

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It’s been a LONG time since I’ve added a new post in this space, so I wanted to share some updates about what I’ve been up to. I think the blog post from my artist website sums it up nicely, so if you’d like, please read on. The post below was originally published on http://www.monicasafin.com on July 28th, 2024…

Everyone likes a good story and people are starting to know me from my books. They are the culmination of my passion for creating, my love for nature, my experiences of raising children, and my knowledge of holistic health and wellness.  Stories have always been an important part of my life, as they are to many of you reading this. So, I’d love to share more of my story with you. 

Raising tiny humans forced me to slow down and during that time my mind kept churning. Trained and licensed as an Occupational Therapist, I wanted to keep sharing tidbits of knowledge that I learned from research, from practice, and from personal experience; both the triumphs and the failures. So I started to blog for a bit- sharing the knowledge from my profession that I could apply to my personal life and raising my children. 

My mind continued to swim in the nuances and the beauty of day to day life, and the first few lines in what would eventually be a whole picture book, emerged in my mind while finishing up a  jog one afternoon. The actual completion of the project was a different story… it ended up taking the better part of the summer to get it just the way I wanted it. Writing can be like that- a few thoughts at first, then they compound and in what seems like both eternity and magic, it comes to fruition. So the writing of The Whispering Tree came first, then I had a decision to make. Upon the story being rejected by traditional publishers, I could either throw it in the trash, or complete the work myself. 

I’ve never excelled at  drawing nor stood out as an art student, and I have terrible penmanship. Yet, I had sculpted numerous wedding cakes from fondant and chocolate clay for close friends and family. So I grabbed the cake tools and some polymer clay and went to town. The first character was supposed to resemble a sweet kid, but turned out to look more like an ogre, yet I kept going. What was born from my endless hours making cakes and shifting those motor memories into working with clay was my first completed picture book. 

Fast forward two books, one pandemic, one divorce, two house moves later and  I’m creating a new identity for myself as an artist. One art fair at a time at a time, that is. The thing about creatives is that what people see in the moment isn’t nearly the whole story. 

The present moment fails to capture the decades of experiences, progress, practice, trials and failures that led us here. And we’re not done yet. At least I’m sure not. 

Thank you for diving into the cliff notes of my art journey, it’s surely still a work in progress. Stay tuned for the next chapter. 

For more information about my artwork, please visit: www.monicasafin.com

For more information about my three picture books, please visit: www.placidrapids.com