Day 20: Rub-A-Dub-Dub

With our hectic lives and mobile technology it can be really hard to be in the moment. I strive to find time to unplug and if you read the blog often, you know I'm trying to be in the moment. Becoming a mom has made this more apparent to me. While I have many things I want to accomplish, I need to be present for my daughter.

I have come to love her bath time. She didn't love the bath at first, then started to splash, and is now extremely active in the tub. I enjoy seeing her excitement, watching her crawl into the bathroom when she hears the water running, and playing with her bath toys.

It's the simple moment in our day, when my husband, my daughter, and I are all together, with no distractions. We (Kevin and I) try to be home for bath time so we don't miss our routine together. I just really love that we're together, content, happy, and not thinking about anything else. I hope this transfers to other parts of our life too!

I am grateful for: bath time!

I do enjoy the tub to myself, but it's my daughter's time that makes me grateful every day.

Stop to smell the roses,
Steph Langdon, RD
www.nutrishus.com

Day 10: See The World

We went on a lot of road trips and camping trips when I was young. We often went north or west. I went on my first plane ride in grade 10, to Yakima, Washington for a club volleyball tournament. My daughter flew with me to Edmonton when she was 4 months old, she also came to Quebec City at 7 months old (times have changed!).

Sport opened the world up for me. Most of the places I have been to were with volleyball, and more recently with my husband. I traveled with my club team, provincial team, university team, junior national team, FISU team, senior national team, and professional team. I feel very fortunate for the experiences and the fact that my coaches often let us do a teeny bit of site seeing to get out of the gym.

I love to travel and we  always said we would continue to travel with our family. Obviously destinations and activities may change, but we're still trying to make it a priority. Travel costs money and takes time. Since I'm my own boss, I have a flexible schedule. We also have a dog, so we have to consider him when we make travel plans and determine if he's coming or staying with family (we're lucky that's an option for us). 

I have been all over Saskatchewan, Canada, North & Central America, parts of Europe and Southeast Asia. I hope to see as much of the world as I can. It's a great way for me to relax, forget my to-do lists (because I can't do them), try new food, experience different cultures, and spend quality time with loved ones. We even made the decision to have a destination wedding in Jamaica because we wanted travel to be part of how we started our married life.

I am grateful for: all the places I have been

I look forward to all the places I have yet to see (I have a list started of course!).

What are your favourite destinations?

Steph Langdon, RD

www.nutrishus.com

Day 3: Being Grateful

I decided to mention something I am grateful for with each of my personal posts this month, which I figured was also timely since Canadian Thanksgiving occurs this month. I would consider myself a realist (or definitely not an optimist). I can be very hard on myself, get stressed out or overwhelmed, or worry too much. I am also curious and analytical, as I seek to understand my own personality and love personal development tools/books, etc.

My perfectionist traits have allowed for a lot of success academically and through sports, but they can be tricky day-to-day and now in my role as self-employed mom. I always want to ‘be the best’ and even struggle to ask for help, because I want to be able to do things on my own. I think it may be one of those situations where my strengths can also be my weaknesses. I’m stubborn and determined, which may or may not work well together.

I am grateful for: my husband, as he helps bring out the best in me.

The things I learn from books, blogs, or webinars seem to be the way he already sees and approaches the world. This also may be the version of me that sees everyone else’s life through rose coloured glasses. Too often I compare my assessment of my situation with assumptions I make based on things I see on-line or people say. He reminds me to 'not care' what others are doing (or more often, what I think they're doing) and to be curious rather than judgemental. We also have great conversations on enjoying life, how to raise our daughter, and just being us. Sometimes it comes down to perspective and so, as I work on being the best version of myself, I am constantly reminded to enjoy the little things and be grateful. I have a pretty amazing life!


Stay grateful my friends,
Steph Langdon, RD
www.nutrishus.com