Last week was parent visitation at my daughter’s school. As a first-time Kindergarten mama… wow, was I impressed. It was so fun seeing my daughter and her classmates learn in real time.
Watching those five- and six-year old’s soak in the activities, excited, engaged and eager to learn, it really hit me. It opened my heart to a few questions, questions like… What is setting my heart on fire? How do I love to learn? Am I modeling that behavior for my girls?
As I reflected, I jotted down a few of the ways I love to learn in this stage of life and motherhood. And I’m sharing them with you. [Please note, this is NOT an ad – although, if you are one of these amazing women, I’d love to chat with you!]
Books. Anyone who knows me - or my grandmothers, for that matter - knows I love to read. I have vivid memories of library adventures at an early age. And I’m so very thankful for them. That love it still going strong. I’m usually reading a few books at a time.
Here are the two I’m currently working on (pictured):
Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo [witty, relatable, actionable]
The Nonrunner’s Marathon Guide for Women by Dawn Dais [sarcastic, reflective, funny]
Podcasts. I discovered this amazing, free resource after having my second daughter. We all remember the months of pumping, and by months, I mean hours and hours and hours spent providing for our babe(s). Podcasts were my go-to to pass the time. And now, there is no better way to clean the kitchen or stick with something for another 30 minutes (like the treadmill, literally).
My two favorites are:
Rise with Rachel Hollis [inspiring, tactical, interesting]
Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield [practical business advice, fun interviews]
Conferences. During my nonprofit career, I sought out opportunities to attend training, conferences and retreats – my past bosses received MANY requests over the years. It was my favorite way to learn. A treasured memory from my chamber days… time in Savannah with a mentor.
Now, as a stay-at-home mama and entrepreneur, I am blessed to set my own learning goals. In less than a month I will be traveling south to attend a dream conference – Rise Business. It features ALL my favorite female entrepreneurs – Rachel, Amy, Marie, and Mally. To say I’m excited is an understatement.
I’ll be walking into the convention center just like my 5yo walked into the classroom on parent visitation day… with a twinkle in my eye and a pep in my step, eager to learn ALL the things. And yes, I’ll pack a few books to read on the plane and bookmark a few podcast episodes for downtime. But I'll leave my rainbow book bag at home.
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My question for you: what is setting your heart on fire right now? And how are you diving in? Maybe it is your health, your career, exploring your faith or something wonderful in motherhood (or not so much… we’re stumbling into potty training right now with the cutie in the photo). Whatever it is, I’d love to hear about it.
And to all the ladies… if you are looking to simplify your week while growing your intention, I’d love to chat. I’m hosting a 2-hour digital workshop next week on this very topic. In it, you’ll learn about my best spent 30 minutes of the week, a self-check-in that sets me up for success. If you’re interested, send me a note or click the link below.