What do Duct Tape & Boundaries have to do with ZEN?
Gumption & Purpose
You probably have or will one day be in possession of your mother's personal possessions - particularly the costume jewelry.
Repurposing Memories
For what is at once meaningful and significant - yet worthless, it is hard to let it go.
Here's a lovely idea my sister-in-law, Nancy, had to honor that meaning and significance. Let's call it a Mom Tree.
The base is a Styrofoam shape. So, if you'd rather have a Mom Cube, go for it!
Duct Tape is 'da Bomb!
Wrap the Styrofoam form with duct tape to cover up the white that might show through in the nooks and crannies between the jewels.
You can find all kinds of colored duct tape at Home Depot, etc. Nancy used an iridescent duct tape she found at the Dollar Store.
After the form was all covered, she used a hot glue gun and bits of wire (you'll need a wire cutter) to put the jewelry on.
TaaDaa!
Holiday Boundaries
There is no season where we feel more obligated or where the expectations of others are more prominent in our lives that the holidays.
One of the most difficult things to (re)learn at this phase of our lives, is to set loving, kind boundaries. Even more difficult is standing firm, holding your boundary against the push back from loving friends and family who aren't used to you standing firm.
My thought?
Trust YourSELF
Trust YourSELF is prompt #2 of my 5-Prompts for a Zen Holiday. I think it may be the most important of them all, as well.
We all find ourselves in a touchy situation from time-to-time and think we don't know what to do. But, I suggest, while you may not know what THE answer is, you will know what the answer is NOT.
How can you tell? Your gut.
That discomfort, the tightness you feel in your gut; THAT feeling is telling you something isn't right. Most likely your gut is telling you the answer is NOT whatever the situation is pressing you towards.
Trust it. Trust yourSELF. Trust your gut.
You may have to put some practice in on this. Saying "no" when someone you want to please expects a "yes" is hard. It's tough for a few reasons:
- Creating potential friction by knowingly "going against the grain".
- Fear of disappointing someone or hurting their feelings.
- Guilt for prioritizing your needs over the comfort of others.
But, you know... you KNOW taking care of yourSELF is not selfish or mean.
It's strong and healthy.
It's also kind. You're giving someone else an opportunity for personal growth. You're helping them grow stronger and healthier, so respecting your boundaries is a win-win for everyone.
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