self-care: living large.

The Universe is hinting at me today to offer a little morsel from the wonderful book, The Mother's Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life, by Austin author and life coach Renée Trudeau. The book is available at Renée's website, at amazon.com, or locally at Book Woman, Book People or The Crossings.

The following is from chapter eight, Outrageous Living: Reclaiming Adventure in Your Life.

Experiencing and embracing our adventurous selves is a great way to t reconnect with and nurture our essence. Often, when we have kids, we think we should "act parental," and squelch our desire to try new things. Where did that come from?! Pushing ourselves a little beyond our comfort zones can be healthy, energizing and inspiring, and can:

• make you feel alive;
  
• give you a new perspective;
  
• open up your mind to what is possible;
  
• breathe new life into relationships;
  
• remind you of who you really are;
  
• inspire your children and friends to try living beyond their comfort zones.

What is the one thing you've always wanted to try, but never have? Take a solo trip, learn to play a musical instrument, learn to speak a new language, go back to school, complete a triathlon, grow a vegetable garden, write a children's book, go skinny-dipping under a full moon??

I challenge you to explore and reconnect with your essence by spreading your wings and trying something new. Spend a few minutes thinking of two ways you want to inject a sense of adventure into your life over the next three months. Get a girlfriend to do the same, share your ideas and help one another follow through.

I'll be thinking of mine, and will share them within the next week or so . . . how about you?