He curled up with me on the couch. His tiny head falling right on my shoulder; his bony arm hugging me around the waist. “Triangle?” he asked looking up at me, waiting for permission to push the play button for the youtube video that was loading way to long for him. With his eyes fixed on the screen he enjoyed every minute of it and I enjoyed every minute of him. Could it really be that Josiah is almost three? I browsed my blog soon after he left to read the stories of our adventures together, to see the photos of my nephew growing up and changing . . . and while I wished I recorded more, there’s one story that always resurfaces in my memory and one that never fails to melt my heart. You can read it here or read it down below!

Right before he left tonight I asked my little nephew, “Josiah you know who loves you?” To which he confidently proclaimed, “God.” Although I can never love perfectly and am more selfish at times than I need to be, I love you too Joe and very much so! Happy Birthday little sunshine!

The three syllable word I long to hear again

The sun felt especially warm that afternoon. I took my goggles out of a chlorine smelling string backpack and felt the water with the tip of my toe. The pavement around the pool was scorching as always and I was ready to feel the water against my skin when I heard a loud “Yuu-liya” coming from the kids pool. Against the splashes and typical noises at the pool I could pick out that sweet and pleasant voice as if there was no one else around. Tiny feet started running towards me leaving watermarks on the hot pavement and my name was voiced louder and louder. With his dark curls wet from the pool and his green floatation device hugging tightly his bony arms, Josiah ran up to me and hugged me with the greatest excitement, all the while repeating my name. “You’re just about the only three syllable word he knows,” my brother-in-law said walking up right behind Josiah. After more hugs and name repetition, the dark skinned little guy slid from my hands and jumped back into the pool, forever melting my heart.

I guess I brought it upon myself this time again. It was cold aaaaand windy. The weather forecasted rain as the day before, but I was determined to make it happen and bear through any unwelcome discomfort. Maybe I should have remembered all of those other times I got sick, but I was so hoping to break the pattern this season. Despite the thick layer of clouds and no sunlight whatsoever I jumped into the pool. The next two days were perfect pool days, but I spent them indoors, because my body hates sudden temperature changes and I still have chills running across my back. Perhaps I should live in Bora Bora, or maybe I should try some other ways to build my immune system, besides trying the proven failed effort of swimming on cold days. On the other hand my wish for a day off came true. Not only did I have one, but now two days off, accompanied by reading a book on networking I so wanted to finish this week, drinking lots of tea and no sense of urgency to get anything done! While writing this I also got a hand written note from my high school friend Alex and she simply made my sick day that much sunnier! We reconnected in the beginning of this year after losing contact for quiet a few years and I’m so happy to have her back in my life! I’m off to my regular spot on the couch wrapped in a warm blanket and I hope you readers have a splendid day! Yours truly, Yuliya.

“Never trying is a lot worse than losing”
“All effort-even failed effort-produces muscle”
“Comfort zone is actually a miserable place”
“Fear is the fence that keeps us stuck in our comfort zones”
“The worst thing is to never try at all”

My quotable Thursday series usually highlights one quote at a time from a recent read, but I couldn’t help but include ALL of these excerpts, because they are like nuggets of gold that have been pushing me to do really really hard things the last three weeks. My high school friend told me about this book, which is written for young people, but is just as relevant to all of our society and at any age! I bought Do Hard Things a few days after our conversation and was glued to my iPad until I finished this short and practical read!

As the title gives itself away, this book is about doing hard things and doing the things that are hard for you! Staying in our comfort zones will never bring great results and it’s always the first step that’s the hardest to take. The last few weeks I have been moving mountains of work through my office, these big projects I have put off for my employees (I kid I kid, I don’t have regular employees except for the day of the wedding, but a girl can dream), and now I can freely move on to the new ones!!! I’ve also been doing the one thing that’s really really hard for me like asking. Asking requires a lot of humility, because you’re admitting out loud that you need others, you cannot do it without their help. Once I did just that, admitted I need help, things magically started to move and people have been helping me with a whirlwind. This book has really kept me on my toes to keep doing hard things and to break the many complacency patterns I’ve developed in my life. There are no shortcuts in life (I believe I blogged about this before) ;), and if I want change and growth, I have to get past my fears, I have to take on bigger risks, and I have to keep asking. Do what’s hard for you! Happy Thursday, Yuliya