Things you need to know about me #7

April 28, 2016April 26, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ 4 Comments

I love holding hands.

When my kids were little I used to love, I mean really love holding their hands.

I still remember the day when my son said he didn’t want to hold my hand anymore. It was a Monday morning and we were on our way to school. I remember quietly walking alongside him, a giant void between us.

He was six and I was heartbroken.

Luckily I’m married to a man who likes to hold my hand. Connection is really important to me and two occasions specifically stand out where hand holding placed a bookmark in my memories.

The first was our wedding day.

We held hands from the minute I joined him at the front of the church. I remember afterwards people saying how cute it was that we held hands throughout the service and what a great idea it was. It wasn’t planned – it just felt natural.

The second was the night my brother died.

I came home in the early hours of the morning after the longest day of my life and fell into bed. We held hands as we slept. No words necessary.

Holding hands for me induces a feeling of safety and comfort but not everyone feels the same. As a therapeutic play worker I see many children with sensory issues, so I understand the power of touch. Some need their space and cannot bear to be touched. Some however need sensory stimulation: to stroke things, twist things, shake things and pop things. To some, nothing is more soothing than silky sand pouring through their fingers.

Whether you seek sensory stimulation or avoid it – the most sensitive parts of your body are literally at your fingertips.

I have such gratitude for my hands – as well as holding hands, I can paint, blow kisses at loved ones, give hugs, wave, clap in celebration, eat, write and type, lift weights, do yoga, hold handbags (and cocktail glasses!), paint my nails and stroke my little dog.

Hands are pretty fabulous really. My life wouldn’t be the same without them.

Tell me, how amazing are your hands?

PS. It’s been a while since I’ve written one of these posts – if you’d like to find out more fun facts about me; check out my series Things you need to know about me.

It’s the little things 24/04/16

April 24, 2016May 11, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ 2 Comments

It’s the little things that put a smile on my face, a song in my heart and make me wanna party like it’s 1999.

Here’s a round up of all the little things from my week.

This message with my toast and marmalade

I hope you found some magic too this week – it’s there if you look hard enough.

Let me know in the comments below.

Keep shimmering,

Nicky xoxo

The busyness barometer

April 21, 2016July 2, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ 3 Comments

How are you?

Ask anyone how they are these days and “Busy!” is likely to be the standard answer.

Expectations from work, home and ourselves are increasing along with our stress levels. It’s almost like a badge of honour – if you’re not busy there’s something wrong. Multi tasking – the skill of doing more than one thing at the same time has almost become a national sport. But is it a skill, is it helpful or productive?

Yes sometimes – I like to to fold the washing whilst watching tv or wash up whilst cooking tea. The quicker I do the boring chores the better!

But other times not so much.

How often have you made telephone calls whilst eating lunch or updated your Facebook page whilst talking to your kids? Is this because we are genuinely busy or more because we feel the pressure of always needing to be seen to be busy?

I’m beginning to think it’s ‘de valuing‘ what we spend time doing. I wonder how valued your kids felt when they realised they didn’t have your undivided attention? How valuable did you see time spent eating your lunch when you realised you’d eaten it but not actually tasted any of it because you were so distracted?

Have you ever tidied up and then can’t remember where you have placed things? Lately this has happened to me a lot! I have misplaced things, forgotten where I’ve put stuff and generally felt I’m spending more and more time trying to get organised. I know I’m being less productive because my mind is jumping from one job to another. I think it’s because I’m in “I’m so busy” mode and can’t find a way out!

Our lives are so busy as we struggle to fit everything in and our minds are so busy we forget stuff, compromise our standards and rarely feel the satisfaction for a job well done.

I wonder, how long do you think we can keep this up for?

If our heads are as full as our calendars, where is the time for spontaneous acts of fun, enjoying the feeling of satisfaction after a productive day, self care, rest and relaxation?

I need white space in my calendar – it’s where my best ideas are formed, it’s the place I recharge my battery, it’s where I remember stuff!

Confucius said, “Wherever you go, go with all your heart” – it’s a good mantra to live by don’t you think? I’d like to add “…and with all of your mind.”

In some Asian countries the word for heart is the same as the word for mind. Coincidence? I think not.

If you’ve read any of my previous stuff, I’m always banging on about slowing down and noticing stuff. If you want to read more on this subject try this post.

I’m challenging you to stop being so busy (or at least stop talking about how busy you are), start giving things your undivided attention, start to slow down.

Choose one thing today that you can do and give it your full attention. If your mind wanders, it’s okay. Let the thought pass by and bring your focus back to the job at hand without judgement – that’s mindfulness. Here’s a few easy ideas to try in your everyday routine…

~ eat a meal and truly taste every mouthful ~ go for a walk and really notice stuff ~ give someone your undivided attention ~ in the shower really focus on the water cleansing your body ~ take 5 minutes to just sit in silence ~ brush your teeth and really think about what you’re doing ~

So, let’s set ourselves apart from the crowd – let’s be fully present, mindful and do stuff whilst really thinking about what we’re doing. People will notice (because it’s different to what they’re doing) and you will feel happier and calmer – guaranteed.

Let’s be less busy.

It’s the little things 17/04/16

April 17, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ 5 Comments

It’s the little things from the last 7 days that have inspired me, filled me with energy, humbled me and made me feel down right unstoppable!

Here’s a round up of all the amazingness from my week

Surprise stay booked for next week (Thanks hubby)

100 followers on Instagram – *“from little acorns mighty oaks do grow”* (American proverb)

I’ve felt humbled and excited this week by my ‘firsts’ – I’m still such a newbie to blogging but boy am I loving it.

Wonder what’s got you excited this week? Let me know.

Hugs xoxo

Unexpected things that happen when you start working out

April 12, 2016April 11, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ 2 Comments

There are a couple of things you expect to happen when you make serious lifestyle changes. For example, you want to become fitter, feel healthier and lose weight.

No surprises so far?

A little under a year ago I introduced a healthy eating plan and started working out regularly and that’s what happened to me – I lost 2 stone , dropped 3 dress sizes and feel pretty good most of the time.

Result.

However, along the way a few things happened that I wasn’t prepared for. So, here’s a list of 7 unexpected things that might happen when you start working out…

Sunday afternoons are for food prep

Yep, you can no longer go out on a Sunday afternoon. No, you will instead spend most of the afternoon grilling large batches of chicken breast, steaming vast quantities of broccoli and cooking more rice than your local takeaway, just to see you through the next week. Not to mention the drama of matching food tubs to their lids…

You have to check out the fitness section of every clothes store

I so don’t want to be that girl at the gym (the one who is so coordinated even her trainers match) but I gotta tell you, I’m getting very close!

You start watching videos of people working out

Not only are half the people you now follow on social media fitness models and trainers, but you also watch videos of them working out. You also get envious when they receive large deliveries from sponsors showing you what they’ll be wearing and eating all next month.

You have like, a million water bottles

I had no idea there were so many. Ones with sports lids, sip spouts, metal balls and filters to mix your drinks better or keep fruit in place. There are battery operated mixers, ones that are impossible to knock over and they obviously all come in plenty of colours to match every gym outfit you own…

You crave chicken not cupcakes

Seriously. You substitute one addiction for another. Bye bye cravings for something sweet and hello I need chicken. Like really need it. Now. Cold from the fridge.

You get excited about the smallest ways to spice up your chicken and rice

Who knew there were so many seasonings and peppers and spices to add flavour to the daily grind known as chicken and rice. We had so many restaurant chain hot sauces bought for us as gifts at Christmas. Friends compete to see who has the hottest pepper sauces and trade them like contraband. Anything to make you feel like you’re eating something novel.

You ache. Every. Single. Day.

I expected a little ache – regular exercise after 42 years of sitting on the sofa was bound to have a price. However, I was not prepared for at least one sore muscle group every day.

Getting fit and healthy was still one of the best decisions I ever made – the benefits obviously outweigh the negatives (even the things I didn’t expect to happen) and this post was written in good humour as a shout out to all the like minded people.

You know what I’m talking about.