"Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are." ~Marianne Williamson

Today is the first day of spring, and I can't help but feel good things are coming.  It's refreshing because lately I've been in a funk.  I'm ready to enjoy warm weather and the activities that come with it. While going through my funk I realized how important it is for me to do things that bring me joy, and I thought of a list of these things, so here they are in no particular order:

1.) Coffee!  I love the way it smells and truly get excited to drink it in the morning and have my afternoon pick me up.  I've found a nice balance in the morning and reduce to a tall non fat latte in the afternoon.  It warms my heart.

2.) Wine, it also warms my heart for different reasons.  Wine is there to give me a pat on the back at the end of the day saying "good try, tomorrow is a new day" or it's there to help me celebrate. :)

3.) Fashion, I love high heels, dresses and handbags.  I love the way I feel in them; I feel tall, feminine and powerful.  My mother tells me when I was a young child I would dress up and change my outfit three to five times a day, so thanks ma for letting me explore my own style.

4.) My home, my home is my sanctuary.  As much as I love to socialize I equally love being home.  I feel safe and myself.  I particularly love my bed, after a stressful and tough day, there is nothing better than to crawl into my comfortable and warm bed.

5.) Shopping with my mom brings me joy.  She gets me and my style.  While in Chicago I bought a DVF wrap dress and my mom was with me in the dressing room and I know deep down she was just as excited as I was when I try it on.  I love her for being with me and playing along with my crazy excitement.

6.) My Eberjey Kimono robe.  I bought it for myself this Valentine's Day.  It reminds me to love myself.  It's soft and feminine which warms my heart.

7.) Laura Mercier souffle body creme, for years my all time love was Almond Coconut, but this past weekend I discovered Tarte au Citron.  It's a citrus smell that reminds me of spring and summer.

8.)  Girls night with my nieces.  A few years ago my brother called me and asked if I would spend time with my niece Cate, she was going through some things as most young tweens do and wanted me to be a mentor to her.  I was overwhelmed with this honor and it turned into me taking Cate & Megan for a girls night where we can spend one on one time.  These two amaze me and appreciate their unique talents they offer the world.

9.) My pups, they get excited every time I come home.  Some days after a long and tough day it's refreshing.  They have been with me through some pretty tough things and always loved me through it.

10.) My loved ones (family and friends), they mean the world to me all for different reasons.  I won't be where I am today without them, they have loved me through the highs and lows.

Finding joy helps make the funks and tough days more tolerable.  My hope is you will make a list and on the difficult days do the things that bring you joy!

My life for the past couple of months have been a constant on the go.  I've done a lot of exciting things but really have not had a day to relax and rejuvenate.  Tuesday I was grumpy, I felt myself losing my patience.  I didn't get into town late Monday evening, had no food and my pups were still at the kennel, I couldn't pick them up until Tuesday.  I miss them terribly and had guilt that they were stuck at the kennel for another night.  Work has been busy lately so I was anticipating a busy day on Tuesday.  As I worked through Tuesday I couldn't shake off my grumpiness, I told one of my coworkers I needed a time out.  There was another coworker who picked up extra, walked into PICU with doughnuts in hand with a smile on her face.  I asked her, you brought doughnuts and you are working extra?  She replied, "yes, it's been busy and we need doughnuts when it's busy."  I thought dang she's working extra and she's got a generous attitude, I admired her for it, and wished my grumpiness would go away.  I ate a doughnut hoping it would rid of my bad attitude, nope it didn't work.  I look around and have such admiration for my coworkers, they are hard working, team players and so eager to learn in the mist of stress and heavy loads.  

I had a conversation with a locum physician, who by the way reminds of Dr. Napa, he wanted to talk to me for a few minutes.  I thought oh crap what did I do??? It turns out he just wanted my opinion and thoughts on things.  This conversation turned a different direction and he reminded me of something very important, we need to have different outlets so we can enjoy our professional lives.  I realized I lost my focus, I was so worried that I was going to have to do it all, and a lot of times I put that pressure on myself and it makes me grumpy.  It's funny how things work out, and like I've said I love how God works. This physician was giving great wisdom like Napa would do. I told him I was going to call him Napa #2.  

I love my profession, but I need to remember that I need to take time to do the things I enjoy.  A wise women once told me, "Melissa we can do a lot but we can't do it all."  I might need to plaster that on my office wall.  I work with amazing people, I love watching the PICU nurses grow and become strong nurses, at times when I observe them interacting with staff, patients, and their families it makes my heart swell.  

I will also take time to do things I enjoy so I can "keep calm and carry on," and I hope you will do the same.

Photo credit: Sparrow & Bean Studios