This has been a year of change – a year of change at home, at work, in my writing. I’ve watched my home transform from a busy hive of teenage girls and boys – ski racers and pole vaulters and children I’ve witnessed transform from kindergarten to graduation – to a place of quiet, a place where I find myself with much of the extra time I always dreamed of.

I’ve watched my daughter grow and blossom from afar, hoping to catch a glimpse on Instagram or Snapchat as she lives her dreams hundreds of miles away, savoring every image I see of her as she tackles college like she took on a ski course.

I’ve watched my son rest and heal and grow taller and stronger, towering above me as he faces his challenges head on every day, savoring each day we are together rather than missing his absence.

I’ve watched my classroom evolve with new technology, new students from all over the world, and new classes that have pushed me to intense levels of simultaneous exhaustion and joy, savoring each time I see the smile on their faces as they find their confidence.

I’ve watched my writing transform, seen my website grow and blossom and become more beautiful than ever before. I’ve watched my audience change, witnessed my words reach out into the universe – infuriating some, and soothing others – savoring every opportunity I have to connect.

And as I’ve learned with nineteen years of motherhood, I’ve learned to savor every moment. I’m training myself to be present, to notice, to look up, to feel gratitude. I’ve used Instagram to record #365gratitude – sharing a moment each day to savor the ordinary.

So when Midlife Boulevard asked for writing about motherhood, and working moms, I knew just what to submit – and I’m happy to share it with you here, today. My story about savoring every little bit is featured today – you can read it here – and while you’re on Midlife Boulevard, be sure to savor every little bit of their amazing content, too.

Motherhood Is Meant To Be Savored originally appeared here on mamawolfe.

Jennifer Wolfe

Jennifer Wolfe, a writer-teacher-mom, is dedicated to finding the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of life by thinking deeply, loving fiercely, and teaching audaciously. Jennifer is a Google Certified Educator, Hyperdoc fanatic, and a voracious reader. Read her stories on her blog, mamawolfe, and grab free copies of her teaching and parenting resources.

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My eyes gently open to the sound of birds outside my bedroom window. The March morning air was just beginning to glow pink and orange, and I breathe in deeply. Sunday morning. Smiling, I roll over, happy to realize the curse of Daylight-Saving time might just be easing.

Hoisting myself up to peer out the window, I glimpse exactly what I was hoping for – the squirrel-proof bird feeder lovingly hung many months ago was alive with birds: brown and yellow finches dive bomb each other for space on the two feeding perches, occasionally interrupted by the gentle mockingbird fighting for seed. Below, rooting amongst the anemones just starting to sprout and the pink tulips in their final burst of glory, I spy two lovebirds – doves that haven’t visited my garden since the squirrel invasion forced me to suspend all ground feeding months ago. Cooing happily, content in picking up the discards from the feeder above, they follow each other, side by side, from ground to tree top.

A desperate cry breaks the peaceful reverie; I scan the bare branches of the locust trees, but can’t spy the source. It must be a baby jay; like a newborn crying for its mother, the cacophony continues for minutes, then stops.

Downstairs, I hear his footfall down the hall, followed by the clink of the glass as he sets it on the counter. The back door opens and gently shuts, the tinkling of dog tags filtering through my open window.

With a flutter no louder than a hush, the birds flit to safety in the nearby lavatera bush. I know they’ll be back. Glancing out the window, I notice the feeder swaying on the hook is nearly empty, and I smile.

Sunday morning couldn’t have gotten off to a better start.

Jennifer Wolfe

Jennifer Wolfe, a writer-teacher-mom, is dedicated to finding the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of life by thinking deeply, loving fiercely, and teaching audaciously. Jennifer is a Google Certified Educator, Hyperdoc fanatic, and a voracious reader. Read her stories on her blog, mamawolfe, and grab free copies of her teaching and parenting resources.

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Is something holding you back from living your best life? Are you afraid that you might fail? Are you ready to move forward but find yourself frozen in fear?

You need to read this book: What Would You Do If You Knew You Could Not Fail.

 The parenting website, Ten To Twenty (I’m a regular contributor now) loved this review I wrote and is publishing it today on their front page – here.

I adored this little book; it was the first review I did for Viva Books, and has let to a great partnership. You can read more of my Viva books reviews about living in the present, gratitude, and finding the right words with these links:

Wholehearted Life

Toasts: The Perfect Words To Celebrate Any Occasion

The Grateful Life

Imagine The Life You’d Like To Live, Then Live It

header photo credit: Courageous via photopin (license)

Jennifer Wolfe

Jennifer Wolfe, a writer-teacher-mom, is dedicated to finding the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of life by thinking deeply, loving fiercely, and teaching audaciously. Jennifer is a Google Certified Educator, Hyperdoc fanatic, and a voracious reader. Read her stories on her blog, mamawolfe, and grab free copies of her teaching and parenting resources.

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I’m coming up on the four year mark with mamawolfe – that’s a lot of stories, thoughts and reflections I’ve shared with you!

This week, I’ve been re-publishing some past essays on several different websites – not only can you catch up with mamawolfe, but you will find new writers with wonderful stories to tell, too.

One of my favorite pieces from last year’s ski racing season – Thanks, Coach, For Helping My Girl Grow Stronger –  is up on Ten To Twenty Parenting:

On Midlife Boulevard, I’m sharing a piece I wrote about feeling uncentered, and looking for inspiration – “Finding My Muse: Searching In Tahoe Snow and Pine Trees”.

And I’m featured for the first time on Everyday Windshield with my story about going back to work after becoming a mom – click over and read “Moms At Work” – they’ve added one of my all time favorite photos of me and my babies, too.

Thank you for your ongoing support – it means everything to me.

~Jennifer

Jennifer Wolfe

Jennifer Wolfe, a writer-teacher-mom, is dedicated to finding the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of life by thinking deeply, loving fiercely, and teaching audaciously. Jennifer is a Google Certified Educator, Hyperdoc fanatic, and a voracious reader. Read her stories on her blog, mamawolfe, and grab free copies of her teaching and parenting resources.

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Big Changes and Greater Happiness: How To Live a Wholehearted Life

“Everyone chases after happiness, not noticing that happiness is right at their heels.”

~Bertolt Brecht

What is it you want out of life? Are you chasing around for happiness each day, searching everywhere but inside yourself? Are you pausing to breathe, to take in the ordinary in the extraordinary that is right in front of you? Are you creating YOUR story, or living out someone else’s version of your life? Are you living a wholehearted life, or feeling like there must be more but you’re just not sure how to make the change? Are you happy?

If you find yourself asking these questions on a regular basis, I have one suggestion: get a copy of Susyn Reeve’s brand new book, The Wholehearted Life: Big Changes and Greater Happiness Week By Week. Don’t wait another moment – order it right now, right here. You won’t be sorry.

As I’m moving into the second half-century of life, I’m noticing more and more frequently the questions that pop up in my mind – and how they are different than the ones I asked myself in my twenties, my thirties, or even last year. Less and less I find myself worrying about the external forces that impact my world, and more and more I’m concerned about how I  impact my own world. Questions about how what I do changes myself, my children and my students visit me much more frequently than questions about why someone or something might have exerted some action or influence. I realize how little control I have over anything or anyone besides myself, and how useless it is to get caught up in the cycle of wishing or hoping or willing change. The only way towards change, I’ve found, is to start within.

That’s where the appeal of The Wholehearted Life: Big Changes and Greater Happiness Week By Week comes in. Created over years as a self-esteem expert, master coach, corporate consultant, interfaith minister and award-winning author, Susyn Reeve has lovingly and carefully crafted a handbook-of-sorts to guide us through a weekly quest for mindfulness. This isn’t necessarily the type of book that needs to be started January 1 and then maintained on a rigorous daily schedule. Instead, The Wholehearted Life: Big Changes and Greater Happiness Week By Week allows the reader to move around at ones own pace.  If you like reading from start to finish, perfect. Prefer to take it weekly? No problem. Are you like me, and enjoy a daily dose of mindfulness each morning? Easy. And if life gets in the way, no worries. This book allows for multiple access points.

In her “How To Use This Book” chapter, the author compares using this book to ‘install(ing) a software upgrade in your mind, creat(ing) a personal ritual that nourishes wholehearted living in your daily life, and stock(ing) your personal medicine bag with remedies, tools, charms, and reminders to continually expand your capacity for wholehearted living.” I love that analogy of a software upgrade – my brain consistently feels like I have dozens of browser tabs open and scrolling at any moment! As a teacher-mom, I’m always harping about the need for ‘tools’ to navigate the world-and rarely do I think about replenishing my own toolbox.

The Wholehearted Life: Big Changes and Greater Happiness Week By Week consists of fifty-two ideas, organized with daily activities for each week. As a writer and wordsmith, I love Susyn’s incorporation of thought-provoking quotes from writers as diverse as Erma Bombeck, to the Dalai Lama, to Anne Lamott. A scan of the table of contents shows Week 1 beginning with “The Law of Attraction” – which inspired an upcoming blog post – and ending with Week 52’s “Celebrate Success”. I confess I did skip to the finish to read the last section, titled “Putting It All Together – Creating a Bag Of Tricks”-I always like to begin with the end in mind, and it made me all the more excited about what I’d discover in between.

If you’re looking to discover more, if you want to create happiness and get more out of this journey by living a wholehearted life, this book should be on your bedside table. Trust me – you’re worth it.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book for review purposes; all links are affiliate links.

Jennifer Wolfe

Jennifer Wolfe, a writer-teacher-mom, is dedicated to finding the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of life by thinking deeply, loving fiercely, and teaching audaciously. Jennifer is a Google Certified Educator, Hyperdoc fanatic, and a voracious reader. Read her stories on her blog, mamawolfe, and grab free copies of her teaching and parenting resources.

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