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Breastfeeding and Dad
By: Clinica Villa Teresa Gynecology
Tags: Newborn, Fatherhood, Motherhood, Family, Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding and Dad

It is true that the role of the father has traditionally been aside of motherhood, and more specifically of breastfeeding. We all know that mommy is the only person who can breastfeed, but the role of the father in breastfeeding is vital for it to be successful. Clinica Villa Teresa gynecology and ultrasound 5D Aug 6, 2020·2 min read

Here are some tips for all those future dads and those who are already in this magical moment of breastfeeding!

Unconditional support and positive reinforcement

It is very common that the mom after childbirth and the following days, is more sensitive than normal due to the hormonal effects of the moment, so the dad must remind him that it is a passing stage and that everything he is doing for his little one is very good. This will increase confidence and self-esteem, essential in the first days.

Care during lactation

While the little one is suckling, the daddy will take care of the details so that the mother and the baby are as comfortable as possible: pleasant room temperature, he will bring a stool closer to the feet in case he is sitting, he will bring a glass of water because Moms get very thirsty and must stay well hydrated.

Help relief mom

If they have other children, it is normal that they will feel a little jealousy for the arrival of the new family member, you must explain the need for care and pampering to the child.

Take on household chores

The daddy will try to take charge, so the mother will have more time to rest (since breastfeeding generates a lot of physical and mental fatigue).

Control visits

It is super important that the couple mark the limits of the visits, during the first days it is recommended only to the closest family. Visits are usually a source of stress for mommy and baby at this stage. They both need to be relaxed and calm!

Daddies you will do very well, remember that you are a fundamental piece in this stage !! Mommy and the little one need you and your love!

For more information you can:

Call our Medical Center at + (34) 96 550 34 20

Book and appointment in our website

Visit our Facebook Page

Follow us on Instagram

Stop by our Clinic in Alicante
Lovevery Review
By: Approximating Humanity
Tags: Baby Toys, Reviews And Interviews, Newborn, Baby

I fell for the Lovevery subscription box, which promised age-appropriate toys every two months delivered to my home for $80 each + tax (came out to a little over $85).

I don’t know what I was thinking. Maybe I thought I would buy at least $40 worth of toys for her per month so it would replace toys I’d be buying her otherwise? Somehow I justified the expense because of how visually appealing the boxes are.

The first set, “The Looker” is designed for babies 0–12 weeks old, and it’s a real yawner. After all the fancy packaging and useless inserts of lullaby lyrics you can find on Google were thrown away, I was left with these toys:

7 items — two sets of flash cards in visually appealing holders; another set of flash cards, except on heavier wooden cards; a wooden mobile (not pictured); a soft ball that rattles; high-contrast mittens; a high-contrast set of rings…and a free mug for the presumably caffeinated parents, wahoo (not pictured).

This is what they advertise that the box contains:

With 7 actual toys, that’s over $12 each. A staggering expense when a baby is entertained by an empty water bottle just as well. I found all of the toys to be excessively bougie and not at all worth the money. This stuff my baby will yawn at is what I paid $85 for. Something I already have — I printed high-contrast flash cards for her for free from some website, and have been gifted rattles — plus some mittens. This is crap.

The expense of the box clearly went into the design and materials, which is disappointing since that’s something a baby can’t appreciate at all. There was actually an insert on what materials they made the toys out of. It’s like it came out of the book of “Who Cares?” I mean, don’t get me wrong — it’s good to know my baby’s toys are safe and were sustainably sourced, but I was fine with plastic and didn’t really find much value in the organic hemp or whatever it is they used.

For now I’ll stick with Fisher-Price’s inferior plastic toys to keep my very young baby entertained. Stay away from this bougie company if you at all value a good deal.
Newborn workshop Sydney
Tags: Newborn, Maternity Photographer, Newborn Workshop, Photographers, Photography

I’m so excited to announce my upcoming newborn photography workshops in Australia! With my Sydney workshop just about full for next month, I also will be travelling to Brisbane in December 2018 and then heading down to Melbourne in March 2019.

Using real newborn babies, I will be covering the following topics:

Workflow

Wrapping

Styling

Newborn posing

Parent posing

Camera settings

Angles & composition

Use of natural light

Each newborn photography workshop will be a full day (6 hour) of learning including lunch and snacks. Attendee’s will be required to bring their camera’s along so they can be involved in fun, hands on practical learning. (Although those who don’t yet have a camera are welcome to be involved as you will still learn so much!).

I will also have an open Q&A time at the end so my attendee’s can ask me anything they like! I am so excited to share my knowledge and experience with you all! My attendee’s will leave my newborn photography workshop with the confidence to be the very best newborn photographers they can be!

Next year, I am planning to do a few international newborn photography workshops and I am so excited to spread my knowledge around the world! If you or someone you know would be interested in attending one of my newborn photography workshops and have any questions, head over to (or send them this link) https://bumpstobabies.com.au/newborn-photography-education/ and complete the form and I’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible!
Meet Lyndsay Hannah
Tags: Family, Photography, Memories, Newborn

By Giannina Ong

Photo by Lyndsay Hannah

Ever since she was young, Lyndsay Hannah was fascinated by photography. As a high school graduation gift, she was given her very first DSLR camera. Lyndsay launched her career as a photographer after the birth of her son. She had every intention to go back to her role in hospitality sales, but found herself documenting every moment of her son’s first year through photographs. Around the one year mark, she realized that she wanted to share that with other expecting parents and pivoted her career. Lyndsay has now been working as a newborn and family photographer in the Boston area for over five years. She is also available for couples, small business, and maternity photography.

In the early stages of her business, Lyndsay felt that she had to conform to the expected styles of family photography which was very posed. Her style began to take shape as she noticed that she was drawn towards family emotions and interactions. She wants to accurately capture individual personalities and group dynamics. Lyndsay takes a relaxed approach that gives the family freedom to do what feels natural, but still gives appropriate directions to achieve the best photos possible. Working with her means zero stress throughout the entire process.

“I first met this family the second day that they welcomed their second child. I remember that their 1 year old daughter was curiously apprehensive of him in the hospital room. During their in-home newborn session, she was already becoming his best bud and wanting to lay inside his crib with him.

Last week, I got to see them again. He’s now one and the two are best friends. People often talk about how it’s nice to stick with the same photographer so that kids aren’t as shy but I honestly think it’s more beneficial for the adults! Kids are easy to warm up, especially when you have a playful and relaxed session. Adults can be self-conscious in front of the camera (who isn’t?!) and having a comfort level with a photographer is sooo helpful! Not to mention, feeling reassured in the investment you’ve made versus like you’re taking a chance!”

As a mom of three, Lyndsay knows what it’s like to start a family. Her advice for first-time parents is to keep in mind that bad phases will pass. She recalls moments with her first son where she was stressed or consumed by life, and thinking that this would last forever. However, when looking back she notes that those parts were fleeting and time truly goes by so quickly. Lyndsay suggests that when this happens, it’s good to take a deep breath and allocate some time for yourself. Take a walk outside to clear your mind or do some simple yoga poses to stretch your body!

The core of Lyndsay Hannah Photography is supporting families on their journey as they grow and adapt. Lyndsay wants to form strong relationships with her clients and make sure these precious moments can be preserved forever. By getting to know who she’s photographing, Lyndsay is able to deliver the images that matter the most.

Interested? Check out her website here.
The Pros of hiring a Virtual Doula
By: Stefanie Gutierrez
Tags: Doula, Childbirth, Newborn, Postpartum, Pregnancy

Let me beginning by saying, there is a great benefit of any doula support. Doula support should always be customized and non-biased, available and given to your specific needs. Because of these reasons, it is only natural for doulas to become part of the virtual world and offer all different levels of support.

The best aspect about Virtual Doula Support is that it takes on the shape you need it to be. Maybe you simply want an hour consult about your choosing your care provider or planned cesarean surgery, or you need some help with forming a birth plan or you would love a monthly check in with your doula to talk about any joys and anxieties. Most importantly, your partner can have “call a friend” moments during labor and birth, to help support you best. Virtual Doulas are an amazing support system and worth getting. Just like calling your friend in another state or country for support, a virtual doula will do the same.

Virtual Doulas are also a money saver. Many doulas offer hands-on as well as virtual services and they have a significant price difference. This is not because its a less of a service and less support but simply because the doula’s physical work is less.

Mama Bird Center’s Virtual Doula Support

Mama Bird Center offers two types of virtual services. The first type is an hour consult. During this hour you can ask your doula any questions. It can be a simple phone call or a video call. Clients have asked us questions ranging from understanding our own pregnant bodies, babies movement, dealing with anxieties, choosing birth places and care providers, comfort measures fro labor and birth- the possibilities are endless. All clients receive an email summarizing our conversation and some resources as well. The second type of virtual services, is buying a virtual doula package. This gives you virtual support throughout your pregnancy, including 4 x 90 min prenatal consultations, unlimited text support, unlimited virtual support through labor and birth and 2 x 90 min postpartum consultations.

We hope this is a help on your search for a doula and you can utilize one of the virtual options to guide you on your journey of pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

Reach out to Mama Bird Center for more information.
Self-Care for New Parents — GROW Counseling
By: Grow Counseling
Tags: Self Care, Newborn, Parents, Atlanta Counseling, Parenting

Becoming a parent is a significant life transition. Along with the joy of being a new parent also comes lack of sleep, role changes, an altered routine, and the responsibility of nurturing and providing for a new life. Whether it be your first child or your fifth, welcoming a little one into the family can result in a lack of self-care as you put your baby’s needs above your own.

Though it is important to tend to your baby’s needs and serve as a consistent caregiver for them, self-care is essential for new parents.

When I work with parents, I often ask what they are doing for self-care. The typical response I receive is either a blank stare or a laugh followed by, “who has time for that!” It is normal for us, especially parents, to forgo self-care in order to ensure our kids are bathed, dressed, fed, and on time for school, practice, and tutoring. However, self-care can actually help us be a better parent.

When we take time to tend to our own needs, we can then better serve our children and their needs.

Think about the safety instructions we receive when traveling on an airplane. We are told to put on our own oxygen mask before helping others. The same applies to self-care. If we deprive ourselves of care, we will not be able to continue providing quality care for others.

Below are a few practical ways new parents can engage in self-care:

Let your partner, friend, or family member care for your baby while you take a moment to get out of the house

Take a shower or a bath

Go on a walk and listen to your favorite song, podcast, or the sounds of nature

Allow friends to bring meals to your home

Diffuse calming essential oils such as lavender

Join new parent support groups

Allow yourself space to talk about not only the joys of parenthood but also the difficulties of caring for a newborn

Grant yourself permission to take time to adjust to your new normal

Call your close friend or mentor and share your honest thoughts and feelings with them

Treat yourself to your favorite food, television show, or movie

Findings ways to integrate self-care into your week can help your mental, physical, and spiritual health as you navigate your new role as a parent.

Interested in making space to process this life transition and continue learning about self-care? One of our therapists here at GROW Counseling will happily meet with you and partner alongside you as you enter this new phase of life.

Written By: Mary Anne Sylvester
Braving it through (Day 37)
By: Sara Tomsic
Tags: Relationships, Newborn, Baby, Motherhood, Parenting

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

What I was reminded of today is that babies also can have bad days. Even though they would want to tell us what is the reason behind a bad mood but can’t, sometimes, like with adults, there is just no apparent reason.

They’re just all fussy, weepy and annoyed. All they want to do is cry, feed and sleep. Oh, and be in someone’s arms the whole time. Today was one of those days for our little boy.

Even before I gave birth to Otto I kinda mentally prepared for these times. I concluded that in these kinds of moments, all I can do is tell myself that this is not how it will always be. Babies are sensitive to pretty much everything because it is all just plain new to them. So best what you can do is always try to find the reason and tend to whatever needs they have.

With my husband away for work most of the day I now see what a benefit it is to have someone who shares these moments with you. And to have a partner so invested into being a father as I do is a blessing.

We give strength to one another I think. It is so easy to be snappy when it becomes challenging (and I often do). But today, all I feel is gratitude that I don’t have to do this alone.

Motherhood in numbers:
Goodness, Neeka
By: Shadi Bozorg
Tags: Newborn, Baby, New Life, Family, Love And Family

On the day you were born, the birds were singing louder.

Goodness, Neeka.

The meaning of your name.

Your mother, your angel,

Your father, your protector.

Your life is adored, already, by so many around you.

Neeka, my goodness. You will shine, and feel, and see. You will explore this weird planet we exist on, and live out your own adventures. You will discover love and dreams, and everything in between. You will learn and learn, and every single day will be yours to find. And while you do, we will always be here for you. While you become the person you are destined to be, we will love and cherish you, and you will never have to wonder if your life is beautiful.

On the day you were born, you made the world a better place.

I sat outside, across the country with tears streaming down my face. And the birds were singing for you. And the sun was shining for you, as your parents embraced you. Tears of joy, knowing you got here safely, knowing your life was starting. You’ve started now, and I couldn’t be more honoured to be your aunt. Behind you are the most loving parents anyone could ask for, family that will support you endlessly. You are so wanted, so loved.

This world isn’t perfect, but it’s home. It’s your home now.

On the day you were born, and the days leading up to it, I daydreamed of what your life may look like, of who you’ll become. I meditated on the strength of the family you’ve come into, and all the steps that led to you being here. Your grandparents on both sides, sacrificing everything to bring their children to a land of more opportunity and less oppression. I pondered the history behind the culture in your veins, and the history of the land you will reside on. Neeka, this place isn’t perfect, but it’s yours to understand. It’s full of injustice and brutal reality, but also glory and beauty in places you’ll never expect. You’ll see it all, and I hope what you carry with you is that you’ve made it more beautiful. Your tiny little presence is bigger than you can imagine.

Neeka, the birds will continue to sing for you. And as your life gets bigger and bigger, just know that you are the greatest blessing.

Welcome to the world, baby girl. Thank you for gracing us with your being.
Real Alternatives Helps Even after the Baby Is Born
By: Real Alternatives
Tags: New Born, Post Partum Depression, Parenting

New Born Baby Support

Since the 1990s, Real Alternatives has run crisis pregnancy centers offering free counseling, food, shelter, and clothing. Beyond these services, the nonprofit provides ongoing support that extends well beyond a woman’s decision to have her baby.

For the first 12 months of a baby’s life, Real Alternatives provides mother and child with access to a wide range of educational opportunities, counseling, and more. Parenting classes and mentoring services educate clients on topics such as lactation, health and nutrition, personal finance, positive relationships, and the management of anger and conflict.

In addition, the organization partners with providers who work on behalf of clients to arrange social service appointments and employment interviews. Meanwhile, the group’s Pregnancy and Parenting Support Services Program works to provide cribs, baby food, and other items vital to creating a safe, healthy, and stable environment for both mother and child. Real Alternatives is also the sole statewide group that offers free maternity clothing.
Best Baby Swimming Classes
By: Aquababies Global
Tags: Swimming Lessons Surrey, Mom And Baby Fitness, Newborn, Swimming

Learning swimming skills is a crucial survival skill and not only it is a form of fun and exercise but also a self-confidence booster in your child. The best baby swimming classes teaches much more than how to remain safe in and around water, no matter it is a pool, lake or water park. Therefore it becomes very important to go through a little research before enrolling them in swimming classes. It is also necessary to understand that children do not learn swimming in just a few lessons, it takes a lot of practice and time. It will be a good idea to sign up as a parent-child swim class if your child hasn’t been around water much or is extremely fearful of water.

What can be the best baby swimming classes

1.Children younger than 5 years are too young to learn how to swim by themselves. Find classes that concentrate on getting comfortable and doing fun in the water together. Rather than finding the best baby swimming classes, these classes are about having fun and learning to be comfortable and safe in the water.

2.Take care of the instructions that aim mainly on the babies. The tutor will teach how to handle your baby in the water and get in and out of the water safely. You will also be taught the games you can play in the pool with your child.

3.The best baby swimming classes consists of a well-organized class with a steady schedule that includes information skill time and play time. Demonstrations are given to explain what they’re asking parents to do and explain why they’re doing it that way. A lifeguard on duty at all times is very much necessary.

4.Other things that you may look for include the temperature of the water that should not be too warm to make your child uncomfortable. Check for the class size, for example, no more than ten parent and child pairs, so that you can hear the teacher and the instructions and have enough space in the pool.

5.Making sure that the swim trainer is well-trained and experienced. This means that he or she is certified in both CPR and first aid.

When you take proper precautions and know what to look for in a swim class and going for a dive with your little one can be a rewarding and even relaxing experience. Visit AquaBabies Global now and get ready for it and have fun!
Baby Bjorn: The Gateway Drug to Modern Parenting
By: Brendan Reese
Tags: Newborn, Baby, Parenting

The Baby Bjorn looms large in modern parenthood. Going into the final months of pregnancy, I’d imagine most expectant parents would rank it a smidge lower than a roof over your head in terms of must haves. And who could blame them. The thing looks like a harness you’d be asked to put on before getting on a zip line from the Empire State building into the East River. Any sane person would want to be armed with that thing on the precipice of their own leap of faith in the form of taking responsibility for another human being.

At first blush it’s hard to argue with the utility of a baby carrying device. Those iconic National Geographic pictures of radiant mothers that live far away from a place Amazon delivers wearing homemade baby backpacks attest to the necessity of something that allows us to go back to the business of being human with a small child in tow. But if you’re reading this article chances are the business you’ll be freed to attend to is evening emails and being on the periphery of conference calls, not walking a mile to the nearest well to get uncontaminated drinking water.

The Baby Bjorn is the perfect gateway drug to modern parenting as action sport. Curled up in the corner of an apartment, always offering up multitasking as an alternative to killing an afternoon on a blanket in the backyard, the Baby Bjorn takes away space to consider parenting as something other than a tornado of activity. Its messaging to a vulnerable population seeking answers is that having a kid is closer to a pause-the-treadmill affair rather than a pull the plug on the treadmill and douse it in kerosene inflection point, which might be a healthier perspective for all going into it.

I’m writing this as someone that was absolutely leveled by having a kid. I wasn’t at all prepared and tried to jump back into a ‘new normal’ utterly oblivious that I had instead launched a ‘new life.’ Maybe if parent culture and props like the Baby Bjorn surrounding it would have promised less continuity and multitasking, I would have settled in better. Allowing new realities to be explored with a healthy dose of laziness might be better for everyone.
Born Without a Trace: Senfuka Samuel
Tags: Human Rights, Newborn, Birth Certificate, Uganda, Family

As told to Marissa Ware, as part of the Brave Voices, Bold Actions podcast

What role does a birth certificate play in your life? It might not be something you think about often, but that little piece of paper plays a critical role from childhood throughout the rest of your life. In Uganda, universal birth registration is a big challenge.

My name is Senfuka Samuel and I’m from Uganda, East Africa. When I was applying for my master’s degree program, they asked me to share my birth certificate alongside my undergraduate school records. I’d never seen my birth certificate before, though I knew I’d been lucky enough to be born in a hospital. I asked my mom, “Did you get a birth certificate when I was born?” She told me, “They used to give us some pieces of paper. Because it is now many years back, those papers were lost. You can go back to the hospital, because at least I know the date, year, day and time you were born.”

Senfuka Samuel

I went to the hospital where I was born and wrote a formal letter requesting for a birth notification, providing details of when I was born. In Uganda, you can’t get a birth certificate without first having a “birth notification.” A midwife has to write the birth notification by hand to note the time of birth, the weight, the parents and the name of the health facility where the baby was born. It is then the parent’s job to take this little slip of paper to the Office of the National Identification and Registration Authority, which is in charge of issuing a certificate, to notify them a baby has been born.

Unfortunately, the hospital records before 2000 were lost during the civil war. The hospital director advised me to go to the subcounty and get a birth notification from the subcounty chief.

So, that’s what I did, I traveled back to the village. I went to the chief in the village and got the notification. I traveled back to the capital city, Kampala, went to the national office and filled out the forms. From start to finish, it took me about 14 days and hundreds of miles to get a birth certificate. I had to sacrifice my time and money for travel to get it. I do not know what someone without my ability to travel easily would have done. I’m very lucky, but I can’t help thinking it could have been easier.

There needs to be a robust communication strategy for birth registration. How many parents are not aware that the birth notification isn’t a birth certificate? They go to the hospital to have a healthy, safe birth, and they leave for home with a healthy, happy baby. They don’t realize they are leaving behind the paperwork that will make their baby’s dreams possible. They just go home, and, if they are like me, nobody knows for over 20 years that the baby does not have a birth certificate, they don’t have the paperwork to make their desires for higher education possible, and so many other dreams possible. They don’t know even that it’s their right to be registered at birth. People won’t demand things they don’t know.
3 Foundational Practices That Shaped Me as a Writer
By: Mag Dimond
Tags: Journaling, Reading, Writing, Authenticity, Memoir

Photo by David Iskander on Unsplash

Writers are not born. They’re made with time and practice. Writers hone their skills through repeated bravery. They evolve by using both their painful and wonderful experiences to shape their unique voice. On the road to finding my own voice, I practiced three things which kept me true to my craft.

Always keep a journal.

From a very young age, I kept a journal. My first journal was a gift. I filled that one, and then went on to my next. Throughout my life, my journal has been my safe place where I can share anything without judgement. My journals were the starting point for my book. My memoir was patched together from the numerous journals I kept throughout my life and my travels.

2. Read, read, and read some more.

Growing up, I was surrounded by books. There were literary discussions at the dinner table. I read way more than I was ever asked to in school. Reading developed my vocabulary and helped me find my voice. It laid the foundation for my becoming a writer. As an adult, I continue to read. Reading is still a huge part of my life. It keeps me tuned into the written word with all its vibrant imagery and turns of phrase. Without my love of reading, I wouldn’t be the writer I am today.

3. Don’t shy away from the hard stuff.

Include it all, even the nitty gritty and not so pretty. When writing my book, there were things I wanted to write about but had to ultimately let go of to follow my narrative. One of my writing coaches told me to “stick to the nitty gritty of your narrative.” For me, the core of my story is about surviving a neglected childhood and learning to love myself. For readers to truly invest in your story, you have to tell all of it, not just the pretty side. The best kind of story is when the writer is blatantly giving it their all. If you can share your truth, warts and all, then you’re going to reach your readers in a visceral way. Along our way, we all have bumps in the road. Showing your struggles in your narrative lets your readers see you as a complex human being, someone like them.

What are some practices that you use that have shaped you as a writer? Leave me your comments. I’d love to hear from you!
5 Ways Writing Can Improve Your Mental Health
By: Oluwatobi Adesanya
Tags: Journaling, Writing, Mental Health, Wellness, Mental Health Crisis

In the past week, several stories filled the airwaves of people embracing the cold hands of death. Not by accident, but by suicide. The stories were heart-rending and stirred up all kinds of conversations. While some threw blames, others advised, some others simply stayed aloof and questioned themselves.

We have to recognize that we have Mental Health Crisis on our hands.

Mental Health Crisis is real. It is not a cliche, a facade, or something a number of people are saying or writing about to feel relevant.

I even think it’s another Pandemic that we need to urgently deal with today. Like, right now.

With research showing that one in four people suffer from one mental illness or the other, urgent action needs to be taken.

Are you battling depression, stress, anxiety, or even suicidal thoughts?

Here’s how writing can improve your mental health

When I speak of writing, I speak of therapeutic writing or journaling for the self. I have also included prompts to help you in this regard.
When’s a good time?
Tags: Diary, Journaling, Work, Journal, Working Life

So they say that time flies. And indeed time flies after you turn 25. They also said that when you turn 25, your brain stops its cognitive growth (or something like that). And what happens is: you begin to work. And you really work.

The kind of work where there is no end, such as a Send button, a tick off on the checklist, or a Submit button. It used to be that work means finishing off an assignment. There's a beginning and there's a deadend. There's a literal deadline, an objective, and a goal. And then we move on. Similar to college or high school, when you're on a constant restart every year.

I remember planning my life yearly -- because that's what it was. There's achievable growth and measurable accomplishments set every year.

But there comes a tipping point in your work life where there’s no longer a deadline and a yearly cut off. No one ever give gave a deadline, and it felt like my work life is running on its own, as it pleases, snowballing into incomprehensible tasks.

My tasks feel enormous. Not because there are plenty of checklists but because things are so connected to another, yet none of them exist in real life yet. Every day is making a prediction, a projection, a plan. Every day is a small step forward, three steps backward. Every day is a tweak. And all of the little tensions accummulate in my increasingly aching days.

It's all fun, but during these moments I realize that my good era for blissful ignorance has gone. Even in my most private space, I feel work thoughts puncturing itself unto my supposedly private bubbles. Even five seconds before I open my eyes in the morning.

Gone are the days when time has depth, and the depth belongs all to me. Now, it's so shallow I can't even be bothered to write daily things to do, and my mind is still too occuppied to '"instinctively" remember things I'm supposed to do.

My mind has stopped its joyous wander around and has settled. Time no longer belongs to me; it is only to be shared.

16 march 2021
[July 9th, 2020]
Tags: Poetry, Journaling, Writing, Venting, Personal

[July 9th, 2020]

Time scares the fucking shit out of me, genuinely. Both an interesting topic and a substantial panic attack. I visited some of my family on a whim this week, there was so much love… there always is. When I saw my grandma, she handed me an early birthday card- I was so unprepared to acknowledge my birthday creeping up that I was honestly blindsided. By a pink envelope with my name on it in perfect cursive. I tried to open it then, but I was interrupted by so ridiculously many tears before I could even turn it around to undo the seal. I put it in my bag and left with it and just opened it a bit ago and yes, I’m crying again.

Things like this- events where someone is markedly aging, where their family just wants to make sure they feel loved- are unshakable tethers to reality. Not only to the present, but to all the things I’ve willingly turned away from, happy or sad, with some wretched hope that if I ignore it, it’ll go away.

It’s these things, every now and then, that pry my eyelids too far open to try and contrive that I’ve just been sleepy-

That force my gaze to finally settle outside of myself, saying “Look what’s happened. Look how much has changed. Look how much you missed while you hid in the darkness of your bedroom. Look at everything that’s gone.”

And fuck,

If I could blind myself some painless way right then and there, I might’ve.

I don’t recognize myself. I don’t know my brothers. My mom would always tell me that the family,

my uncle, my father, my cousins, my grandmother,

they’re worried about me. But I never realized how much their expressions were reading into mine when we visited. I never realized how lightly they tread, avoiding my self fulfilling threat of emotional distress, still picking glass from the soles of their feet. And my poor mother. I look at her photos and she’s lost her radiance, and I know very well that her slew of chronic, auto-immune and mental illness has taken a lot from her, but I look at her in the fraction of the brilliance that she once was, and I think,

god,

what have I done?

And of course

all I can do cry. I couldn’t fix it if I knew how. There’s no such thing as time travel, and even if there was, I’m sure I’d have my eyes shut.
How to Use Journaling as a Form of Meditation
Tags: Meditation, Writing Tips, Journaling, Writing, Bulletjournal

When we hear “meditation,” we think mindfulness, self-care, reflection, personal growth and more. Journaling can be a powerful tool to aid in your meditation routine. Read on to discover our top tips to do so.

1. Do breathing exercises before you write.

Make it a habit to do breathing exercises for 5–10 minutes prior to journaling. You’ll be more relaxed, present, connected and it’ll fuel inspiration.

2. Bring your journal with you in your meditation space.

Your meditation space is a space reserved for your deepest connection with your mind, it’s where you let go of daily stresses, where you get inspired and where you feel your best. Bring your journal with you in your meditation space so that once you are done your session, you can take some time to write your journal entry.

3. Use your thoughts that come up during your meditation session to inspire your next journaling topics.

When we meditate, a lot can come to the surface and this is a great time to both investigate our thoughts further but also write them down so that we can remain conscious of our deepest feelings.

4. Set an intention for your journal entry.

Just like we sometimes set an intention for a meeting with a life coach or with a friend, set one for your journal entry. You can set your intention in your mind or write it down. This can be something as simple as “writing down 5 business goals,” to something more complex like “gaining clarity on where I want to take my business in the next year.” Writing down your journaling intention will allow you to focus on what you want to achieve during your journaling session.

5. Always focus on the positive.

This may seem like a no-brainer but for some, it can be easier said than done. Always focus on the positive when you begin journaling and if you are having difficulty in certain areas, try to look at them as a positive learning opportunity. A positive angle on everything.

Looking for a new journal to get started? Look at our beautiful Zodiac journals here: https://soothi.com/collections/zodiac-journals

Happy Journaling!
How To Get Started With Your Daily Gratitude Journal
Tags: Self Care, Journaling, Gratitude, Wellness, Mindset

Photo: Annie Spratt

Whether you’ve been journaling in various ways for years or you’re just getting started, I’ve created a simple guide to writing a daily gratitude list. Using the power of three, this list is split up in an easy, habit-forming way that you’ll enjoy and want to do every single day.

Getting Started

Each morning take a few minutes to think of what you are grateful for. Put on inspiring or happy music to increase your good feelings and positive emotions and then begin to write your lists.

I suggest splitting your gratitude list into three sets of three. You’ll do two sets in the morning and one at night.

Morning — Past/Present

The first set of three focuses on both the past and present. It gives you an opportunity to not only be grateful for what you have currently, but to also reflect on what you are grateful for from the past.

You can choose to simply write a word, person, or an event. Or you can choose to go into detail about why you are grateful for that specific thing you wrote down. We recommend at least having one from both categories — past & present — giving you the option to choose the third.

Examples:

Music Coffee — It helped wake me up this morning and get me going. Teal & Matt for creating this journal ☺

The important part here is to feel the gratitude. Write down whichever words will evoke the most feeling for you.

Morning — Future

The second set of three focuses on the future. More specifically, your future. Use this space to write down three things you want to happen or have as if they have already happened or you already have them. Again, the feeling part here is the key.

Examples:

I finally started my new business and it’s an instant success. Bali — I traveled to Bali and had the best trip ever. I have the most loving and caring relationship with the person I love.

Feel grateful now for what you want to happen in the future, as if it’s currently happening and you’re feeling incredibly happy and grateful about it.

Remember these 3 things have not happened just yet. However, you are writing them as though they have.

Night — Three Things That Went Well

Before you go to sleep, reflect on your day and write out this list, thinking of three things, no matter how big or small, that went well or made you feel good. This should be an enjoyable activity and help you remember that no matter how exhausting your day has been, you can think of at least three things that made it enjoyable in some way.

Examples:

The sun was shining today and that makes me happy. I had pizza for lunch. I love pizza. My friend called just to say hi and check in.

Overall, starting and ending your day with gratitude is proven to have positive life-changing effects and we couldn’t be happier that you’ve chosen to continue your journey with this new daily practice. To show my appreciation I’ve created a free 7 day downloadable journal with an added bonus — daily quotes and affirmations.

Stay tuned for the full 16-week journal coming soon!
1 7 20
By: Jesudiyimi Aare
Tags: Free Verse, Free Verse Poetry, Diary Writing, Journaling

i broke face with mistakes that I don’t regret

i wasn’t ready for the ocean i was pushed around

you were needed to help me see my purpose

i got what i needed but not what I wanted

to gain some direction, some inspiration

we didn’t waste the connection

I’m better for it

i hope you’re better for it too

my biggest weakness is that i go invisible

I’m used to not being seen or heard

I’m used to shrinking into myself

so i don’t fuck up externally

I’m used to trying to be certain

so i don’t have to deal with the shame of failure

I’m used to giving up when things get too chaotic

all these are things put into me by my upbringing

these have never been me

always so disconnected from myself

all i had was a little taste and now i can’t deny myself

it’s sad most will never get to meet themselves

I’m used to assuming I’m the only one in the dark

I’m the only one left out

I’m the only one not worthy of acceptance

that’s the problem

acceptance was only given to me by Mama sometimes

i had to be someone else to gain other people’s

that’s why I’m timid at my worst

and rebellious at my best

i don’t trust authority or anything which assumes power over me

at the end of the day the only thing i fully trust is my deepest truth in the present moment

and I’m lost without it

find me on my website, unitedmasters.com/jesudiyimi and @jesudiyimi on all socials

Like, Share, Subscribe. I am also looking forward to your feedback 😁
A Note-Taking System To Increase Self-Awareness and Learn More From Life, With Sílvia Bastos 🎧
By: Meredith Rodriguez
Tags: Notes, Productivity, Journaling, Learning, Better Humans Podcast

A Note-Taking System To Increase Self-Awareness and Learn More From Life, With Sílvia Bastos 🎧

Log your ideas, insights, and lessons today, and improve the quality of your future decisions Meredith Rodriguez Apr 9·3 min read

Photo by Jan Kahánek on Unsplash

“It’s not like I’m always ready with my notebook at hand when I’m talking to someone and obsessively taking notes. So I like to come to the end of the day and have a good structure that allows me to reflect and come up with the very best ideas that I had throughout the day.”

Sílvia Bastos seeks a certain richness from life. A relentless self-experimenter, she has immersed herself in nomadic living, lucid dreaming, minimalism, and near-obsessive daily routines, among other pursuits.

With all of this intense living, Sílvia found herself doing a lot of learning. But those insights seemed to disappear into thin air — or into the crowded pages of her old journals. So, she developed the 5-Bullet Log to effectively, and efficiently, keep track of her rich experiences.

Listen in while host Matt East and Sílvia break down her article, “The 5-Bullet-Log: A Note-Taking System to Increase Self-Awareness and Learn More From Life”.

Selected Highlights

Matt: Where all have you lived in the past couple of years? Can you give us some highlights?

Sílvia: I started by traveling to Thailand. That’s when I started my more nomadic lifestyle. I loved it. Then I came back to Europe. I spent some time in Portugal, which is my home country, then I came back to the UK where I had been living for a few years before that.

And then I was just a bit all over the world. I came back to Thailand because I had loved it so much. Then after that, I lived in Japan. Then I was in Edinburgh. After that, I also lived in the French Alps. Then I lived in Poland, then back to Portugal. And now I’m in the UK again, this time in London.
I’ve left Brauer.
By: Michael D. Burr
Tags: Journaling, Hope, Jobs, Life, Careers

There isn’t too much else to say.

In brief, the story goes as follows:

My time with Brauer was a great year and two month experiment which came to an end last Wednesday, 4/7/2021. I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to find a job so quickly after leaving Philips at the end of 2019 and during the onset of Covid no-less. Further, it was an opportunity that I’ll remain highly appreciative of because I was allowed to focus 100% on something I take pride in saying “I’m good at” and the role wasn’t marred by needless unrelated tasks.

The “Continuous Improvement” journey can be a difficult one for some to accept, undertake and particularly to follow-through on. When I was hired at Brauer as their Continuous Improvement Specialist/Manager I believed they had every intention of actively participating in and pacing the journey. However, between the aforementioned pandemic and the challenges posed for some at the onset of any change, things did not move as swiftly as I would have hoped for while I was there.

When I found out that my employment had reached it’s conclusion last week, I was initially quite shocked. I had voiced various concerns for months leading up to this moment, but had never heard an inkling in return that suggested I had anything to worry about. The shock has since largely dissipated and has been replaced with familiar feelings of anxiety and concern. Yet, I’d be lying if I said I felt as anxious as I have in the past with this sort of thing. To the contrary, I feel almost confident? Albeit guiltily so — which is also very strange. Guiltily confident? I’ve become so accustomed to the fact that moments like these should NOT feel good and consequently my internal dialog is one of disgust toward my seemingly “flippant” acceptance of the situation. “dude, really? you think this is fine? you think everything is going to be okay? are you some kind of monster?!”

Admittedly, I don’t know what’s next. Kelly and I are discussing directions, choices, challenges, and opportunities. Heck, today I even helped as an apprentice electrician install some wiring under a house. Why? Well, not because I “needed to” — but because, why not? It was something different. I felt that it might give me some pause and some perspective, and I was right — it did.

I promise I’ll let those close to us know if I (or we) need assistance, but for now, I’m patiently taking things one moment at a time.

If you’re reading this, thanks. It means a lot knowing that there are people out there that care about the wellbeing of my family and I. Also, if you’re reading this, I want you to know that I sincerely care about you and hope that you’re doing well. It doesn’t matter if I don’t know you personally, when I say that I care — I really do. I care, because we’re all human and so I want ALL of us to do well. The world needs humans to care more about one another without pretense.

-Michael
How do you projecting your adult life?
Tags: Journaling, Adult, Books, Haruki Murakami, Adulting

A few days ago, I did late-night talking with an old friend. As we have spent back and forth talking through the most popular messaging application, Whatsapp which has been used by almost two billion active users in the world.

For some reason, why do I write a sort of non-sense and incoherent statement in brief?

Adulting is hard, isn’t it? I asked suddenly.

Sure, it’s a natural process that we must go through to some extent.

any particular reason which made you think that way?

I replied,”what it seems easy actually much harder than expected!”

I’m talking physically & mentally or is it because I am older now?

I got sentimental feeling without any particular reason.

That’s the irony of growning up. Instead focusing on weakness or negative nuance surrounding around it.

I think you should light up a little bit, every cloud has a silver lining.

I candidly replied,” Murakami wrote sensible beautiful sentence on his popular novel Kafka on the shore which also happen those line is my favorite!”.