Genesis, as stupid as that sounds...

 Well, here I am. 

My children are on the verge of leaving the nest. My divorce is nearly final. My 2 part-time jobs are (hopefully) going by the wayside and the third will become my mainstay.  My mental outlook has improved. I am finally happy and I am ready to commit to improving that even more.

Thus far, I have planted tomatoes and herbs in pot, have been enjoying the 2 cats, loving walks along the river with the dog, cooking a lot from scratch, prepping veggies and fruit for winter, enjoying and supporting my teens that live with me...  I have been doing well on those things, but I have only been 'existing'.

I have forgotten my love of music.  I have lost focus on healthy food.  I have finally remembered that my body needs more love and attention from me. I have remembered that I need to focus on me or I will not be good for others.

So here I am, putting on my oxygen mask.  It has finally dropped from the overhead compartment in this airplane flight that is my life journey.  Time to breathe in and do better for me.

I am thinking my roadmap to this will be from my grade school writing parameters of the five W's and the one H.  Who? Me of course. What? Making the most out of my life and following my dreams. When? Now, though officially September 1. Where? Here, now, constantly and always. Why?  Because I darn well deserve it after all I have been through. How? Well now, isn't that the kicker?  Time to define it.

Before the How, I need to look at where I am, what I want to be and what I want to get from life.  THIS is the big challenge.  Goals that are attainable and the 'what' and 'how' of it all.

1. Owning a house.  Just a small cottage type with a couple of bedrooms. There needs to be a mudroom at the door for the garden outside and my dog.  I want a big porch and a bit of it screened in too.  I want a fireplace, and an ensuite with a bidet. I want a small den off the living room that is completely lined with bookcases or shelves.  A small property with trees and gardens around it, and enough space for my dog Beau to run around.

2. Working 3/4 time.  I have been a slave to housework, kids, partners and now I want to work and enjoy myself too.

3. A self-sufficientish life.  More canning, freezing, drying, cooking... Using real ingredients for a healthier life. 

4. Healthier body.  I discovered yesterday that I need to do better for my body.  I am top-heavy and overweight, which I have known for ages.  I hit the floor yesterday, when my foot fell asleep and my ankle locked up. It was kind of funny, but it was a rude awakening.  I don't want that to happen again. My overall health needs to be a top priority.  I eat well, but it's going to get even better.  I seriously had no clue.  A tad mortified, but going to use that as fuel for the journey.

5. To create more.  I want to hear more music, dance more, sew and quilt and knit and crochet more.  Cook more and do more needlework to have a beautiful life.  Handmade is heartfelt for me.

6. Find more moments to just 'be'.  I am rushing around too much.  I am doing too much.  I need to be more present in the moment and get out of my head so I can enjoy.

7. Money, but not the money.  I am really wanting to live an even smaller life.  Recycle more, reuse more, reduce more, refuse more, repurpose more... Even less food waste. Spending less.  Conserve more water and other resources.  Be even more fiscally conservative.  Grow my resources and reduce my consumption.

Obviously I need to nail each category down more so that I can have the specifics to reaching the points I want to get to. This is the genesis of me rediscovering myself and caring for me the best way I know how.  It is also the start of learning and doing more for me. <3