When our precious ones were younger, we were dashing. Now they are still precious, but we aren\’t dashing towards them.

Love, what is it you are dashing towards and what is ok for you to simply sit and ponder?

My empty nester friends, who are single, want to sleep through the day and night of Valentine\’s Day. Married ones long for surprise. All of them remember and love the laced hearts they made with their children, as well as, the pink iced sugar cookies and red construction paper all over the floor.

Change again. Children aren\’t home. Lovers are gone. Marriages need the fire.

No matter what sits in your home, you are there. How about exploring you and love?

When days are lonely and feeling cold I call on appreciation and compassion for myself.

Pay attention to the small things that cross my mind, eyes, and heart…that feeds me practicing my intuition. Some I act on and some I wait and simply notice. Isn\’t it fun when you are thinking about someone and the phone rings with them on the other line or you run into them at the market? Recently I had to buy a baby blanket which made no sense. I don\’t like shopping and I never look at baby things. There I was in the store and twice I had to go back and touch a stripped baby blanket. I ended up buying it. Not expensive, I told myself, and for some reason, I have to have this today. Two days later, my friend called to say she is going with friends to adopt a baby boy in two weeks. I am giving her the blanket for her friends. Fun gut reaction that worked out!

I don\’t think it takes much to feel loving or be loving. I think we over think everything and dwell on it too long. We don\’t remember to stop thinking about one thing and shift to another. We get stuck with hurt, disappointment, envy, uselessness, fatigue, criticism, guilt, anger, and mostly with not being able to let it flow. We cut off our heart flow. Paradoxes are real. We need to shut down and we need to open. That is what a heart does. The question is do we know check in with ourselves to see what we are feeling and thinking and then do we realize we just might not know anything, yet. Both are gems. Both are heartfelt acts….to know ourselves and to not know anything. Paradoxes…contrasts…truths…

Empty nesters are out of practice with focusing on themselves. Maybe February could be love thyself first and then others. Catch yourself when you are dwelling longer than need be or waiting rather than sparking. Are you boring yourself with your thoughts and actions?

May love invite you and motivate you to simply be yourself with a touch of newness.

Natalie

natalie@emptynestsupport.com
http://www.emptynestsupport.com/
Toll free, California time, phone number, 800-466-3310

Call for a consultation, speaking arrangement, support group, etc.

Natalie Caine Founder of Empty Nest Support Services

Natalie Caine is the founder of Empty Nest Support Services. When her daughter was a senior in high school, she realized that as a soon-to-be “empty nester,” she would be undergoing a major life shift. Not wanting to confront this transition alone nor have her many friends face this abyss without strong support, she created a support services group, which quickly grew into a new career and an exciting full-time business.