a while back, andrea coached me through an exercise that helped me to define my core values. seems like a thing one should obviously know, right? but this was about the values beyond the basics, and values that are more personalized and detailed.

and throughout my days, my work, my dealings and my decisions,
i refer back to that coaching session again and again.

when i can remember what it is that i love, what truly honors who i am, what really matters ~
i have so much more clarity and assurance..and i end up taking better care of myself.

one of my core values has to do with beauty.

i must continuously find beauty to feed my spirit. and
beauty for me always comes down to nature and momma earth.

when i dont regularly get a dose of the woods, or a country field, or the perfectly tinted ocean ~
i get crabby and i feel like i cant breathe and i just cant do what i need to do. like the person who needs to exercise to keep his mind clear, i NEED beauty to keep me in sync.

this summer has been FILLED with beauty.
from our front porch, to the coasts ive been able to visit, to the walks in our old town,
right down to that wee little wren who sits on the fence and sings away every morn.

and this past weekend it was like i was living Flower Island. everywhere i turned, i saw color and shapes and butterflies and hummingbirds...and everywhere i went i could smell the scent of lilies... (heaven i tell you.)

ive noticed that i have felt really, really, good this summer. more so than others.
and i truly believe it is because i have been focusing on this value more so than i have in a long time.

i just want to encourage you to know what you love, and know what fills you, and to make sure you do what it takes to seek that out. even if its for 5 minutes a day, know it and find it and get some. :)

its important.
you are important.

xo
jen gray