Dear Trish


Dear Trish,

It's your half birthday. You're halfway to 43.  You've learned so much about yourself and I wanted to remind you about how magical you are even through all the struggles you've endured. 

A little over a decade ago you decided to move away from all of your friends and family for a reason that ended up breaking you in more ways than you can comprehend, but you know now it wasn't for nothing. 

This heartbreak pushed you into the start of your healing journey that started putting you back together. Your scars slowly healed as you faced the world around you. It introduced you to people and places that would ultimately change your life. 

Those first couple of years were scary and lonely as you started to uproot all of your fears and traumas. You learned to slowly trust again and even found love. 

You got married and welcomed your son, but the feeling of loneliness never really went away. You found more reasons to believe you weren't good enough - not good enough wife. Not good enough mother. Not good enough daughter. Not good enough friend. 

You often felt misunderstood when you were only trying to be the best person you could be to every person you encountered. The misunderstandings became toxic relationships that lead to doubt. But you kept on persisting even when it got harder. 

You cried so many times in life over people. People not liking you. People not loving you. People bullying you. People forgetting about you. People not being the person you always tried to be for them.

When you turned 40 and learned about your ADHD diagnosis, things started to click, and the way you viewed the world as a child made a little more sense. You've always loved hard and got lost in the emotions of life. You processed things so deeply that as a child, you couldn't understand why others didn't do the same. 

You worked day in and day out to stay in the light. To remember that you are worthy of all the things you dream of. 

My sweet magical girl, there was always light wedged between the dark wherever you were. You found joy hidden where you didn't think possible. That's the magic within you. 

The healing journey never quite ends once you start down the path. You have walked it with grace through pain, tears, loss and grief. You have learned that this path has built a story unique to you, but one that can and has influenced others. 

Today I want you to remember that you are resilient. People look up to you and admire you because you never gave up. You push every day through pain and discomfort and still find ways to show up for everyone that you love. If that isn't magic, I dont know what is. 

Not every day will be perfect and you may have had to re-vamp what you thought life should have looked like, but it's always in progress. Life is a beautiful mess of ups and downs. 

Keep being you. Keep moving forward. Keep remembering you are always supported. 

As for those people who turned toxic, they never got to know the real you. They never gave you a chance. And you know what? That's okay. You will persist without them. 

Happy halfway around the sun my love. You deserve your wildest dreams no matter how absurd they are 😉.


Trish List signature

That Midlife ADHD Post


I think I've briefly talked about my midlife ADHD diagnosis and then sort ot stopped talking about. Let me go into why that is in hopes that this reaches someone who understands and needed this reassurance. 

If we haven't met, my name is Trish. I am 42 years old and was diagnosed with ADHD 2 weeks after I turned 40 (in January of 2023). It was a shock because I never expected it. I've spent the last 2 years figuring it out, mostly silently. I'd like to share some of it, if not for you, for me, which by the way ISN'T selfish. 

When I got my diagnosis, it almost felt trendy to have ADHD. EVERYONE seemed to be talking about it in some way and a lot of them make it seem like it was funny. I felt like a fraud speaking about it. Like someone would call me out on just jumping on a trend, or at least that's how my brain processed that feeling. Which is common with ADHD by the way. 

At that time I was going through a lot of health issues and also trying to keep up in my business. I was burnt out and overwhelmed and adding this new identity to myself felt like an attack I didn't need. The only thing I knew how to do was research. I even thought at one point that I should incorporate it into my business. 

But then came that fraud/imposter feeling again. Add it to my business? Who was I? I was no expert. How could I speak about this when I had zero clue on how to handle it myself. At this point my business started declining. I was too overwhelmed to keep it all together. I called myself mean names and put myself down. I thought the ones already talking about it were the experts. Maybe I should just leave it to them to help "people like me". 

People like me... That kept coming back to me. What did that mean? I ultimately have lived my whole life with this and was now waiting for someone else to tell me what to do. I guess in some instances, that makes sense. This felt different. 

To be transparent, I trained for years for this and didn't even know it. If you have ADHD you probably are familiar with skill collecting and hyperfocusing. You go from thing to thing to thing. But have you ever stopped to pay attention to what you are guided towards that stick? Are there trends in what you gravitate towards? I don't mean that random hyperfocus that lasts for 2 weeks, but the ones that stay with you. 

For me, it was holistic practices. I went and completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training and meditation certification. I got certified in Reiki. I trained to be a life coach. When I was diagnosed with ADHD something clicked in me. These tools were meant to help me in this journey. That brought me some peace. That's all I wanted. Something to help me feel more like me. 

I never saw myself as an influencer of any kind, but more of a book of resources or maybe a buddy of some sort. I've tried to create content around it to incorporate into my business (coaching/energy healing), but I've always felt like I was masking who I really was. Look at my TikTok, I look so stiff and uncomfortable in the couple of videos I've posted. I've thought about roasting myself on this.. lol

Anyway, the point of all if this is to remind you, my amazing reader, that everyone's ADHD story is different, yet we all may feel the same. That imposter feeling. That lonely loner feeling. The mean to ourselves feeling. The we aren't enough feeling. The burnout feeling. Whatever it is, your ADHD isn't a trend. It's a part of your identity. That part of you may not have been invited, but they are here to stay. 

Take deeper looks at yourself. I know it's scary. I too freak out all the time over it. The more you tune into yourself, the more you can understand yourself. Those skills you've collected may be a key in all of it. Maybe it will lead you to a purpose that feels right for you. For me, it always leads me back here. To this blog. Where nothing ever stays the same in topics, but my reason is always the same.. to be a resource. To share my heart. To help someone else even if I never know about it. 

I feel like I'm in a blog season. Lots to share. I'll be back soon. Until then, much love. 

Trish List signature

Spring into Action: Setting Goals with a Splash of Sunshine!

Setting Spring Goals

As the days grow longer and flowers start to bloom, there's an undeniable sense of renewal in the air. Spring is nature's way of reminding us that it's never too late to plant seeds. Start setting goals and cultivating new ideas. In this blog post, let's embrace the magic of the season and embark on a journey of goal-setting that's as bright and refreshing as a spring day.

Embracing the Joy of Goal-Setting

Spring is the season when motivation starts to peak after the long months of winter, especially if you live in a place that is cold and gray. Just as nature comes alive, so can you. Take the motivation that the sunshine brings and use it to set goals.

Here are a few tips to help you embrace the joy of goal-setting this spring:

  1. Plant Seeds of Intention: Like a gardener tending to a flower bed, take some time to reflect on what you hope to cultivate in your life this season. What dreams have been poking at you in those quiet moments? Whether it's learning a new skill, building relationships, or embarking on an adventure, let your heart be your guide as you plant seeds of intention for the months ahead.


  2. Bloom Where You're Planted: Just as each flower blooms in its own time and way, so do you. Embrace the process, trusting that every step forward—even the small one—is a victory worth celebrating. Remember, it's the journey, not just the destination, that brings us fulfillment.


  3. Tend to Your Inner Garden: Just as a flower needs water and sunlight to thrive, so do you. Take time each day to nurture your mind, body, and spirit through practices that bring you joy. Whether it's a walk in nature, a cozy cup of tea, or a moment of quiet reflection, prioritize self-care as you tend to the garden of your soul.


All goals do not have to be huge and scary. Spring is a good time to remember the small things in life that bring you joy. Little things can open up doors to those bigger dreams you have. Enjoy the beauty of your surroundings as the earth blooms and notice those quiet moments when you become curious. Explore those curiosities. You never know where they will take you...

Happy Spring Friends.
Trish List signature

Reaching Goals Revamped


Is February like January to anyone else? And what I mean by that is something kicks into gear and I get motivated for my goals again. 

I seem to have a track record of coming back to old projects, thinking up new ideas or simply feeling like I'm making progress in February. Enter, the blogs back together. 

I got super motivated when I realized my Facebook page for this blog is still active. If you're not following me there, please do. I'm gonna post fun stuff there again. 

Also, what socials do you all prefer these days? Are we all hanging out on TikTok? Is Instagram still cool? Is there anyone who isn't angry at Facebook? Anything new I'm not up to date on? Drop your responses in the comments or on my Facebook page. 

Anyway.. I promised I would write a post to outline stuff I would be writing here moving forward. I hope this is helpful.

Topics

1. Lifestyle Stuff: Cool things I like and think you may like too. Maybe some minor fashion. Maybe

2. Life Stories: Our stories can often be the manuals for others to navigate their own lives. I have a lot of manuals to share and like to keep most of them in humor to keep it lite, but there are also some heavy topics I could touch on. 

3. Spirituality: Like mind, body and spirit stuff. Over the years I've done a lot of soul searching and got certified in some things.
 Yoga, Reiki, Life Coach, and other random little things I can speak on. I also like touching on the psychology of marketing. 

4. Entrepreneur Stuff: I've been an entrepreneur for about 3 years now full time. I suppose you can call this blog a part of my entrepreneur journey because early on it was generating money. 

*Fun fact, I did such a good job with building this blog that I don't even have to blog for years and still get thousands of views a month. I had to figure that all out on my own a decade ago. 

5. Wellness: I have a lot of stories to tell about health and wellness. This includes things like dealing with black mold, being frustrated when doctors don't listen, food sensitivities, yoga, journaling, weight struggles, healing on multiple levels: mind, body and soul, mental health and ADHD and the list goes on. 

6. Book Review: I'm reading a ton so I might share here, but mostly I mat share some of the book I'm currently writing. It's fiction rom-com featuring a woman with ADHD. I'm proud of where it's going and would be honored to get feedback from you. 

There are a lot of things here. I've never wanted to settle on just one subject. I'm sure I could but my ADHD mind would get bored so I would just assume so would yours. 

I'm excited for this space. I'm excited to come back regularly. And I'm glad to unlearn some of the marketing strategies I've learned over the years because I realized that when I focused heavily on marketing and what everyone else said or did I lost my path and my authentic voice. 

I don't want to write for views. I want to write because I can help people while also healing myself with my words. 

Talk soon. 

Trish List signature

How I Went Viral

How I went Viral

It's no secret that the goal these days for budding influencers is to go viral. Everyone wants that viral video or ahem blog post to get noticed. Let me tell you about when I went viral. Was it due to SEO? Probably not. It was right here on this blog. Weird right? That's exactly what I thought one day after noticing I had thousands of visitors every day for a week. This was over a year after I wrote the blog and after I had downsized how often I was writing quite a bit. I of course needed to go investigate where they were coming from.

I wrote a post in November of 2016 about the outfits I wore through all of the wedding festivities leading up to my wedding. It just so happened I had met someone who became a friend who sold Lularoe. You remember the craze of Lularoe when it came out right?

Well if you don't, think buttery soft leggings. Anyway, I just so happened to wear a lot of Lularoe at that time in my life and because I was dabbling in writing more about fashion at the time, I decided to write this post

Well, let's just say there is a Reddit thread dedicated to how much people dislike Lularoe and someone posted my blog post in that feed. Someone thought I was a retailer for Lularoe and posted how crazy I was to try to sell my product at my wedding.. which wasn't true by the way. 

The person I did buy my clothes from does still sell Lularoe today and you can find her website here. She is a great person who really knows her stuff about style and sizing. If you're looking for help, check her out. This isn't a place to debate whether you like the company or not, so let's not go there, please. 

The point of this post is to remind people that going viral can be very random. Things you never thought in a million years would somehow end up posted where a lot of eyes see it. It could've been something you did just for fun with no intention of anyone ever seeing it.

I know it's frustrating. I worked in marketing for a decade before I started my own business and it was always so hit or miss on what took off and what didn't. Things that I spent hours or days on went nowhere and things I posted on a whim would get the most views and engagement. It is a simple reminder that being original is the best way to get noticed. 

So to end this post with a giggle, I now rank on Google for Lularoe. That post is still my most viewed of all time and I strongly believe it is why I still get thousands of hits on this blog each month without posting anything at all. I just looked and one of my top posts viewed this month was a blog about visiting Maine back in 2014. Not too shabby for being almost 10 years old. SEO at its finest. That being said, in 2024 this blog is coming back to life. 

I know I have said that before, but it's happening. It will always be a place of adventure and wonder and will intertwine my current life shenanigans and things to educate in places I feel worthy of educating. Currently, I spend a lot of time working on my businesses which focus on marketing, social media, writing, and holistic services. I know it's a hodge podge of things that somehow fit together. If you want to see what that looks like, visit my website at Zen Between the Chaos

Hope to see you in the new year! Enjoy the rest of 2023!
 
Trish List signature

Does money stress us out?

Life stresses me out

I often come back to this space when things are on my mind. I always want to continue writing when things feel important. Many years ago, when I was living alone, barely making ends meet, and needing something to keep me busy, I started this blog. 

It is a diary of sorts of what has gone on with me over the past decade. That I am truly grateful for. At one time this space was being used to earn money. It was the only focus I had at the time. When I started to make money, it became a very different space for me. It no longer felt like a place to escape and connect. It was a job. 

Last night as I was falling asleep I had a conversation with my husband about my stress and how I couldn't quite pinpoint what was causing it. I lay there for a few minutes and it hit me. Money. 

I grew up being taught that when you make a lot of money that means you are successful. I also grew up with the belief that you do not quit your job unless you have a new one lined up. Money was going to make me happy so I needed to make sure I was always making lots of it. 

I stayed in my first "real" job for almost 10 years. I never made enough money, but in my small town, there really wasn't much else. If I didn't decide to move, I probably would still be working there if I am being honest. 

This move is where my money stress began. Things of course did not go as planned and things became a struggle. I was chasing the money just to survive. I have worked 2 and 3 jobs at a time just to meet the bare minimum. I made many job changes for better-paying jobs with bigger titles. As I got to the top of that mountain I realized, I was not that happy. I was able to support myself, making lots of money, but the happiness wasn't there. The stress increased. What was wrong?

Often times when we get bigger titles with more money, that comes with more responsibility. Now I am not saying I don't want responsibility, please don't misunderstand, but what I do mean is I took work home with me. I always felt like I needed to be "on". I never just turned it all off to relax. 

When you don't take the time to shut down and relax, you stay in a state of fight or flight. This isn't healthy. We live in constant stress and in turn, it causes health issues, anxiety, poor sleep patterns, etc. 

in October of 2021, I quit working full-time and went down to part-time. By the summer of 2022, I made the choice to 100% quit working for someone else and to work only for myself. Almost as quick as I quit that job, I committed to another person to help out part-time. 

I continue this pattern as I continue to heal myself and the money wound I have. When I "help" people out in business, I tend to take on all the stress that I wanted to leave in having a job. This time around I have started to finally put up boundaries. I will not bring home my work because I run my own business and that is what I work on at home. 

It has been a learning curve, but it is something that I realized has limited me to succeeding in my own interests. Being an entrepreneur is a new thing but it is also something that tests you in every aspect of your life. I would never give it up for anything, but it reminds me of how far I have come. 

Every day I learn a little more about my comfort levels and what I am willing to do to succeed. I wish I could help everyone all the time to succeed in business and in life, but I realized by doing that I can't succeed myself 100%.

I am less stressed now making less money than when I was at the top of my career. I am much happier now that I realized a lot of that stress came from bringing work home and always worrying about what others would think at my job. Now I focus on the important tasks and get them done - both in my business, my client's businesses, and my life. 

I am not saying that being successful at your job is wrong, but I want it to be okay for you to feel unhappy even when people assume you have it all. Having it all doesn't always mean happiness. 

When you start feeling unhappy or stressed out in your job and it continues on with no end, it is time to get quiet and see what has changed. Allow yourself grace as you put up boundaries and make choices that may feel uncomfortable. 

If you need help in this area and would like to do some coaching or energy healing, schedule a free consultation with me and we can get it sorted out. 

Talk soon!
Trish List signature

30-Day Challenge to Change Your Mindset with Joy

As we settle into Fall and prepare for the cold season + holidays and all the things that come in November and December, it is a good reminder to take a moment to pay attention to yourself a bit so you can keep your cool when stress starts to creep up. Whew, was that a run-on sentence? It might be. You understand though right? Sort of how you feel by the end of the year.. Am I right?

Anyways, working in the profession I am in, which is coaching people back to joy, I recognize it is VERY easy to believe nothing is joyful when you hit a certain point in your life. We often hear how becoming an adult means we no longer get to have fun. That simply is just not true. 

We work our tails off to get good jobs, make more money, support our families, please others, and so on and so forth. It really does make adulthood seem pretty awful. 

My job as your coach is to give you a different perspective through exercises and activities. Finding balance in being a hardworking adult and also having "me" time and moments of joy isn't impossible if you have the tools to do it. 

Last week while I was sick with a nasty cold I had this bright idea. Host a challenge to get people back into a place of joy. Then I thought, wait, there needs to be more than just the self-care/gratitude aspect to this. So as I coughed my brains out on my couch, chased my pre-schooler, and also did all those adult responsibility things I mentioned above, I drafted out what is now a 12-page workbook. 

This workbook holds 30 days of exercises and prompts to really get you focused on what gratitude and joy mean to you. What brings you joy and what doesn't. It connects your joy to memories that help you recognize what you are missing today. 

SO yeah.. I went a little deep for a free challenge, but ya know what? You're worth it. I know it is hard to put life aside to focus on yourself, so I hope offering you this workbook will help you take a few minutes out of your day to really do that. 

Get yourself signed up today. I promise you won't regret it! If you aren't already following me on social media, find me on Instagram and Facebook for more mini-coaching sessions!  (Also the form below for some reason is not showing name/email in the input boxes. Your name goes in the top slot and your email in the second. Or you can click here to sign up!

.
Trish List signature

What is Reiki?

Reiki

Updated February 13, 2024

You may have noticed the word Reiki being thrown around a lot in social places like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Just yesterday I was in a live chat room on TikTok for ASMR where Reiki was included. It was fascinating to me and I love how much attention this energy modality is getting. But what is Reiki?

I am a Reiki Master and have been since 2017. Reiki was something that I was aware of because I have been studying alternative medicine and holistic options for years, but when I was attuned to it, not many people knew what it was and what I could offer. 

Today I want to give you a basic rundown of what Reiki is and how it can help you. I also want to make you understand how it is used and how I specifically use it in my own life and work. It can be overwhelming when you hear about something over and over again but don't truly understand how it works. 

First and foremost, Reiki is not related to any religion. You do not have to be a specific religion to receive Reiki or to be attuned to Reiki. Reiki comes from the Japanese words Rei and Ki. It means simply Universal Life (Rei) and Energy (Ki). 

You must be attuned to Reiki in order to channel it as a practitioner. The energy does not come from the practitioner, but from source. Source can mean several things depending on how you view the energy of the world. Some believe it is God. Some believe it is the Universe. There is no right or wrong to where this energy of light comes from. 

The important thing to remember is that Reiki energy is not bad or harmful. The energy you receive is not your practitioner's energy, they are just a channel. This means they are not giving you their energy and they are not able to receive any of your energy either. It is a source of light. 

Reiki is done with the palms of the hands and can be done in-person or can be sent a distance, meaning you do not have to be present, but must give consent to receive it. It works best when you are able to be in a quiet space in a relaxed, comfortable position. 

It is safe for children, pregnant women, and animals. It is safe for those who do not like to be touched as Reiki can be performed with light touch or with the hands hovering above the body. 

Now that you know how it works, how can it help you?

The simple answer is this:

Reiki is a healing technique that promotes relaxation and reduces stress and anxiety. The energy flows through your body which improves the flow of balance of your energy to help support healing. 

So that means it is used for lots of things as Reiki flows where it is needed. Here are some common uses for it:

  • Better sleep
  • Eases depression, anxiety, and stress
  • Strengthens the immune system
  • Energizes and balances the body
  • Increases the rate of recovery from injury or surgery
  • Creates a safe space for those working through trauma or grief
  • Promotes a calm and safe space for those at the end of their lives
  • Helping animals cope with stress when injured or scared (Or really anything listed on this list)

Reiki is being used in places like hospitals, nursing homes, hospices/palliative care, animal shelters/vets, wellness centers, and in some instances schools. (I have provided some links for sources on how Reiki is being used in these settings).

I perform Reiki on myself daily and offer it to all of my coaching clients. I believe it helps acclimate my clients back into their daily lives after our sessions. It helps move the emotions they may have felt and remove blocked energy in the body. Life coaching is very personal work. Emotions come up that we don't think about ahead of each session. Our goals and dreams are tied to emotions and it is nearly impossible not to stir them up when we are setting goals and overcoming challenges. 

I offer 1:1 coaching sessions with Reiki as well as individual Reiki sessions. Both are available in person or remotely. You can book both here. (I am currently in a break until mid- March 2024) If you want to learn more about Reiki or my other services please follow me on Facebook or Instagram

I hope this was helpful and you can feel a better understanding of Reiki and how it can be helpful in everyday life. As always, I am here to answer questions and love to hear about your experiences. Share in the comments if you feel called!



Trish List signature

Who am I as a Spiritual Guide?

Spiritual Life Coach
Hey. I'm Trish, your spiritual guide. Over the time I have been blogging I have slowly moved into a place of self-awareness on my path to my spirituality. I have always known there was a higher power out there that brought balance to me and the earth. My faith was in source and the love it shined down on us. I have always believed in magic and manifestation, and often had moments as a child where I would zone out and ponder my purpose (I can remember back as early as 6 having these thoughts). I grew up all over the United States as my dad was in the military. I experienced all sorts of cultures and traditions as well as superstitions that came with them. I recall an event when I was 7 years old, someone told me of a woman who lived in the woods in South Carolina near our home. I was told she had a pet alligator that would eat children. It really made me feel uneasy. Everyone reassured me that it was just a tale and wasn't true. People rarely ever saw alligators in the area.

The next day I went down to the park. The woods from the story bordered this park. On the edge of the park where the woods began, was some water from recent flooding. I remember looking down into the water, and looking back at me were 2 big eyes. It was indeed an alligator. I will never forget that moment. Now let me tell you why I am telling you this story. In my work, I often refer to animal totems and tracking events (synchronicities). The alligator represents protection. It sends a message that you are protected and have attached good luck to yourself. This is a good representation of my life since that moment. I clearly walked away from that event unharmed, so protection and luck were all around me. I often think about situations in my life where things could have gone very badly, but somehow I got by unscathed. One example was a car accident I had 15 years ago. Helicopters were called, tons of emergency personnel arrived, and I walked away from the accident with non-life-threatening injuries. They expected the worst (I have pictures of the car, it was unrecognizable). When we are aware of things around us we are more in tune with what is and isn't about to happen. I have studied many modalities over the last decade to keep myself aware. I started the journey to help others by taking a 200-hour yoga teacher training (and took another over the pandemic just because), which opened my awareness of myself and the world around me. Shortly after completing my training and certification, I found out I was pregnant with my first child, something I didn't think was possible.

From there I had a very traumatic period that was the result of postpartum depression that really put me into what felt like paralysis. I didn't know how to move forward and I was called to study Reiki. I went on to be attuned as a Reiki master. I found my power again. As we loomed closer to the pandemic happening, I hired a life coach to deal with stuff that had me stuck and feeling pretty undesirable in all areas of my life. I felt like a failure. I was unhappy with my job. I was unhappy with my health. I was unhappy with my parenting. When I asked my coach almost a year after completing work with him why he didn't do certain exercises with me (at this point I was training to be a coach myself) he told me I was in such a delicate place when we started our work that he knew all I needed was someone to talk to and lots of Reiki to help get me balanced. It was in that moment that I realized that is what is wrong with a lot of coaching programs I had seen. They just followed a checklist of things to do. I knew when I was helping people I wanted it to be personal to their needs. I didn't ever want to leave any professional meeting with a client feeling like I just checked the boxes to get it over with. If every single one of my sessions went exactly the same way, I was doing something wrong. I am a guide for each person I come in contact with. I am not someone to tell you how to live your life, but someone to help guide you to the results and desires you want. At the end of the day, you are in control and I am there to help it be a little bit easier. As my awareness continues to expand as I do this work, I always want to remind you that intention can make or break any situation. We must experience both success and failure to sustain a happy life. I will never tell anyone I work with that they will be happy 100% of their lives after working with me. Happiness isn't sustainable 100% of the time, but happiness is a choice. You will get tools when you work with me to choose happiness even in the most challenging moments of your life. If you have interest in exploring more of what I can offer your path at this moment in your life, please take a look at my services. I am available for 15-minute calls to chat about what would work best for you. Stay well friends and keep your head up high. You are magic and everything you do matters.

Trish List signature

The Fun List

Ways to have fun

Are you struggling to find ways to have fun? Have you forgotten what fun is? In the past 2 years, we as a collective have gone through numerous shifts and changes in our daily lives. Some of us were already struggling to find ourselves and the things that brought us joy and fun. 

Last week I was challenged by my own coach to make a list of things I enjoy doing for fun. At first, I was taken aback by this. Fun? What's that? 

I had to sit there perplexed for a moment before my coach had me turn it into an exercise that helped me define what fun was to me today. 

I would like to share the exercise with you today in the hope it can help awaken your inner child and bring some fun back into your life. 

The first thing I would like you to do is to get a piece of paper. I feel like this is one of those exercises that need to be written down.

Define what the word fun means to you. This is important. Once you have a strong definition that is related to you, continue on with the exercise. 

Create 3 columns or sections and name them in this order:
  • Things I have enjoyed for fun (Past)
  • Things I do for fun now (Present)
  • Things I would like to try for fun (Future)

You want to have a minimum of 25 things that are considered fun to you. These 25 items can be scattered between the 3 columns. You can write as many as you like but shoot for 25 to start. 

Now you are probably sitting there thinking, this is hard. And to be honest, that is okay. I had some trouble too. But I want to give you some ideas on things that can be fun because you want to be able to implement some of these things into your daily life. 

You don't want all of your fun activities to require lots of planning and money to happen. You want to focus on fun items that are available to you now. 

Here are some examples: 
  • Crocheting
  • Dancing (In your living room of course!)
  • Singing
  • Painting
  • Visiting local attractions
  • Hiking
  • Going out to eat
  • Roller skating
  • Coloring
  • Having a get together with friends

Now that you have defined what fun is to you and made your list of 25 or more items I want you to pick 10 of them that you can implement into your life over the next 30 days. Some of them should be things you can do daily to bring fun into your life (Like dancing in your living room!).

I can't wait to hear about all of the fun things you implement into your life and would love to hear some of your plans. Leave them in the comments! Let's bring joy and fun to everyone who reads this!

Have fun creating!


Trish List signature

What's Up Weekend 4/22/2022



This here my friends is one of the things I miss so much about blogging. The fun and happy posts about what's going on around me at the present moment. 

I haven't shared yet about the first vacation I have taken in almost 5 years. It was the first vacation we took as a family with Baby Bloob, who just turned 4 on our vacation. That in itself is mindblowing to me. How is he 4 already?!

We decided to take a beach vacation. We planned it before gas skyrocketed in the United States so when that all came into play, we got a little nervous about driving and costs. We do own a hybrid car so thankfully we were able to make it work and make the trip from upstate New York to Nags Head, North Carolina without killing the bank account too much. 

Guys, when I say it was a magical place. I am not joking. We stayed at the John Yancey Oceanfront Inn in one of their Sea Building rooms. We had a slider door that walked right out onto the beach. We had a little private deck to sit and enjoy the view. When I tell you this was heaven, I am urging you to try it out for yourself.

Beach View
View from our slider door

It was also toddler heaven. He could play right off the deck in the sand. The afternoon provided a nice shade patch so he could play without the sun blaring down on him. 

Beach Front View
Afternoon play in the shade

We had a blast making memories in the sand and even some time in the water. It was quite cold, but it was fine to walk in and splash a bit. We had really nice weather for the 3 days we were at the beach. High 70's and 80's. 

Now as we go into this weekend I am focusing on getting stuff ready for our gardens for the summer. We had a random snowstorm that produced 8 inches of snow on Tuesday of this week but it all melted the next day. The grass is green. The flowers are coming up and I am 100% ready for warm days and cool nights. 

But until those days get here. here is a beautiful beach sunrise photo to soothe your soul. 



Chat soon! Happy weekend!

Trish List signature

Wednesday Musings 2022 Edition




Every time I turn around someone is telling me that I am meant to write. That my words soothe and teach without being over the top. I never considered myself a writer. I never would have thought it would be an outlet that brings myself peace and joy. 

I have written this blog for many years and it just hit me today that it is one of my joys in life. I was looking for a specific post I wrote back in 2018 and all the memories rushed in. 

This blog has brought so many forms of joy into my life. Community. Friends. Opportunies. Peace. 

I've shared new adventures. life events, heartbreaks, struggles, and favorite things here. I've shared tips, reviews, life stories, goals and silly memes. It's quite a smorgesboard of content to be honest. 

I have tried to change the feel of this blog recently and it really didn't feel authentic to me. I have never been a strict professional topic blog and I am seeing now that I wasn't meant to be. I was trying to mesh my business with my blog and it isn't working quite yet. This blog in itself was once a business of its own. But it definitely doesn't like to share the spotlight. 

So until I figure that out, here are some things I do know.. 

I really miss doing fashion posts. 

I really miss reviewing amazing things I am using. 

I really miss goal posts. 

I really miss random Friday happy posts and silly memes. 

I really miss sharing adventures and tips with you. 

I really miss my yoga journey. 

I am going to bring those things back and add these things:

My journey to becoming an entreprenuer. 

My love for meditation and energy healing. 

My weight loss joutney (Yep, finally decided to healthy and lose the baby weight).

I can almost hear the eye rolls from my long time readers. They are probably thinking.. "Trish. You say this stuff all the time. Just do you boo!". I do appreciate that setiment. My long time readers with their eye rolls are why I keep coming back.

If you're new here, welcome! Enjoy the ride. There are lots of twists and turns here, but I mostly like to keep it the zen between the chaos. 

Ta Ta for now!


Trish List signature