Tools for the Urban Woman

Thanks for checking out my blog.

By my own account I am for the most part living a fulfilling life. I live in Chicago with my husband. We have a house. My husband and I have our own moderately successful careers. We have 2 kids. We are healthy.

So why do I feel like a hamster on a wheel. Or not even a hamster. Worse. One of those Zhu Zhu pets whirling around my tiny track and spinning on my wheel and then coming to a completely inanimate stop.

This feeling has been with me for awhile now. About 2 months ago I decided to do something about it. This blog will be a catalogue of my progress in exploration.

What am I doing?

In no particular order:

1. I am taking better care of my body. I signed up to run the US Women's Triathlon Series sprint distance triathlon in Naperville, Illinois on June 13.

2. I am going to church. Tom (my husband) and I have been checking out a number of different religious communities in the area to try and find a spiritual home.

3. I am removing myself from those things that no longer fulfill me.

4. I am accepting things which I do find to be fulfilling.

5. I am trying to listen and learn from my children.

6. I am trying to work on the happiness of my marriage.

7. I am trying to grow my business.

8. I am trying to learn how to be a better business woman and professional.

9. I am trying to have a thriving garden and respect the environment I live in.

10. I am trying not to become obsessed with money (or rather lack their of).


HI!

I don't think I have anything figured out, by a long shot. But I will say that there are moments of clarity. I live for those moments. Someone recently was talking about inspiration and how in those inspired moments you are directly connected to the larger spiritual consciousness.

I would like to have more of those moments.

Who doesn't want to live a fully inspired life?

There will be some practical tips as well in terms of tri-training, gardening, business, spirituality, conscious living, relationships, child rearing, urban biking and everything else that crosses my path as a woman of many roles, living in a big city on a small to medium sized budget.

I also must pay homage to the books I have been reading to get to the point where I have actually started a blog about my journey.

They are (again in no particular order):
"The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin
"How To See Yourself As You Really Are" by His Holiness The Dalai Lama
"Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert
"Slow, Fat Triathlete" by Jayne Williams
"Urban Shaman" by Serge Kahili King

Weigh in if you would like to do so. Keep me accountable. For my part I will be honest.

Dana

"I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life - and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do" - Georgia O'Keefe