I was on a zoom call the other day when the statement “Your life is now” was mentioned. That really caught my attention. How many times do we go through each day, caught up in the next task to do, just trying to get through the day? 

Have you ever heard the saying, “The little things in life are actually the big things”? It’s so true.

Do you find yourself thinking “Someday I’ll get around to that”? I used to live like that, always thinking I would get around to that “someday”. All of the sudden, I realized 20 years had passed in the blink of an eye. That was a wake-up call for me. I realized I needed to be more intentional with how I was living;  I had to act instead of react. I had to make life happen instead of letting life happen to me. 

I began to focus on the “little things” in my life and how I approached each day. I no longer took for granted the people in my life and the “ordinary” things in my life. I cherish the conversations around the dining room table, the hugs, the laughter, the food we eat….the list goes on and on.

My life is very simple but to me it is so rich and meaningful.

I’ve learned to spend my time on the things that matter to me. I’ve learned to say no to the things that take away from what is important to me. When you say yes to one thing, you have to say no to something else. What are you saying yes to? Is it truly how you want to spend the few precious hours of time you have been granted?

 I have found that each one of us has different things we cherish and that’s ok. We don’t have to live our lives in the same way. 

At the end of your life, it won’t matter how much money you made, what kind of car you drove, or what kind of house you lived in. So many times we chase titles and money instead of focusing on the people in our lives or the things we say matter to us. 

So….what about you? How are you spending your days? Are you in survival mode or are you spending your days intentionally? 

The good news is you can change that. What are the things that matter to you? If you were able to pick the perfect day, what would it look like? 

After you answer those questions, what are some small steps you can take towards that life? 

If you aren’t sure how or where to start, I would love to help you! I’m a life coach and I can help! I found life coaching when I reached that point in my life I mentioned earlier, where I realized the years had passed quickly and I wanted to make different choices. If you can relate to that, I would love to help you!  I can walk that path with you and help you learn how to create a life you love. 

What is the “someday” you are waiting for? My friend, your life doesn’t live in “someday”; your life is right now. Spend your days wisely-we aren’t promised tomorrow. 

Love and blessings,

Mindy

-Christian Life Coaching to utilize tools to help you get the results you want in life. I would love to help you! Visit mindyheinercoaching.com to schedule a time to chat….I offer a free 30 minute session to start!

-Natural Wellness to offer simple, quick ways to care for and keep your body healthy so you can live your best life now!

I was at a seminar in June and Live Life in Full Color was the theme of the weekend. At first, it didn’t really hit hard with me. As the weekend progressed, I gleaned gold nuggets from the various speakers around that topic.

It wasn’t until I returned home after the seminar and encountered “life”, that the profoundness of that theme fully hit me. 

This has been an unusual year for me. I changed jobs in February, experienced a “health crisis” in May that landed me in the hospital for the weekend with no true diagnosis, and I graduated from Christian Life Coaching Certification in June. 

If you have been around here for a while, you probably know I’m a nurse, as well as a natural wellness advocate. I learned a lot from traditional medicine and love to use natural wellness to compliment traditional medicine. With my family history and my medical background, taking good care of my body is a priority for me. Do I always eat the way I should?  Of  course not. But I try to do as much as possible to care for my body naturally and reduce health risks. 

When I ended up in the hospital in May, I was upset. I had tried so hard to avoid that scenario and it happened anyway. And to make matters worse, I didn’t have health insurance at the time.  

 

When we were at the seminar, Dr. Edie Wadsworth, my coach mentor, was speaking during one of the sessions about living life in full color. She said, “We only think about the happy colors (i.e. pink, yellow, etc). But black and gray are colors, too. “ 

As I reflected on that after returning home, I realized how powerful that was for me personally. While going through a job change, coach certification, and a health crisis, I definitely experienced quite a few “black and gray” moments. But I also experienced a lot of “happy color” moments, as well. I made new friendships.  I experienced a lot of personal growth and learned new skills. I expanded my capacity to be uncomfortable and to believe that I was able to do challenging things. Many of those things would not have been possible if it weren’t for the tools I learned in life coaching; it truly has changed my life!

What about you? What colors have you experienced this year? Or even just this week?  

Many times we think we should never experience “black or gray” moments, that they should all be “happy color” moments. However, the growth usually comes during those dark times. We learn to appreciate the good times more after experiencing the “black and gray” moments. 

What does it mean to live a life in full color? It means experiencing ALL the colors, not just the “happy” ones. When you resist feeling something, you tend to get stuck there. That’s how we typically respond when we hit those dark, hard moments in life-we fight it We think if we resist it enough, it will just go away or work out on its own. But what we resist grows. 

When you allow yourself to fully feel and process those dark emotions instead of fighting them,  your world changes.  It doesn’t necessarily mean your circumstances change, but how you deal with the situation changes and that is what makes the difference. 

Love and blessings,

Mindy

If you are going through a “black or gray” time, I would love to help you! Visit mindyheinercoaching.com to schedule a time to chat….I offer a free 30 minute session to start!

-Christian Life Coaching to utilize tools to help you get the results you want in life

-Natural Wellness to offer simple, quick ways to care for and keep your body healthy so you can live your best life now

 When I was a kid, cell phones weren’t available to the masses. If the phone rang, the only way you knew who was calling was to answer it unless you took it off the hook so it rang “busy” on the other end. Our kitchen phone had a long cord so if you wanted to have a private conversation you either stretched it around the corner to the dining room or hid in the kitchen closet and whispered. Yes we actually did that!

  Answering machines were all the craze when they hit the market. Imagine being able to get messages from people who called while you were at the store! Just typing that makes me laugh.

 Computers were different then and the world wide web wasn’t invented yet. There weren’t iPods and iPads and iWatches.  “Boom boxes” and “walkmans” were the  ways you listened to music “back then”.  Video phones and other “futuristic” stuff was only envisioned through Epcot and the Jetsons.   

 There were less “scary” events in the world; families and neighbors watched out for one another. You felt relatively safe to travel and if you used common sense and reasonable precautions, you pretty much figured you were safe.

 In today’s tech world, the rules have changed significantly. You now can read the news on your phone or tablet. There are many jobs you can work from anywhere in the world, even while on vacation. Kids can do their school work on the computer and most kids have a cell phone.

 While all of this technology is amazing and can be extremely convenient and beneficial, it also has risks. Since technology wasn’t a big part of my life when I was younger, it can feel very scary and if you don’t know what you’re doing, it can have risks associated. But what I have found is that risks can be minimized with education and boundaries, for both yourself and your kids. This applies to all aspects of raising kids, not just using technology.

 Here are some things I have found helpful while raising my kids:

I’m sure most of you have heard the old saying “One rotten apple spoils the whole bunch.” That’s true with kids, too. Who they are spending time with can significantly affect the decisions they make in life. Get to know their friends.

The world can be scary and kids need a safe place to come home to. Make it a drama-free zone and a place they feel they can be themselves.

Make your home a place where kids want to be. This way you can know their friends and who is a bad influence vs a good influence. Getting to know the parents is important, as well .

Have “house rules” and enforce them.  Kids need (and want) rules. They need the stability of rules. They want you to love them enough to be in charge. I’m not talking about being a tyrant, but rather giving loving guidance and appropriate consequences. Kids don’t know how to regulate their behavior. It’s our job as parents to do that while teaching them and slowly giving them freedom to learn how to care for themselves and control their behavior. Give them age-appropriate responsibility and decisions.

You not only have to monitor the tv shows they watch, but also the videos online, the games they play, their texting conversations…the list goes on and on. I know it feels overwhelming as a parent at times but trust me, it’s necessary and it will pay dividends. Setting parental controls online is helpful but nothing takes the place of being alert and knowing what your kids are watching and who they are interacting with.  Our kids need us to be the parent and protect and guide them. You need to be the adult. You can be their friend later. For now, they need you to monitor what they are doing and help keep them safe.

Nothing can replace a mother’s intuition. It’s a very powerful gift that God gave to moms and we need to pay attention to it. If something feels “off”, make sure you are listening to that. You may think you are being paranoid or overprotective, but NEVER underestimate the power of that feeling. Many times it’s spot on.

 

 

Technology continues to evolve quickly and there will continue to be new things that pop up as a result of that. It can feel scary and overwhelming but if you continue to use common sense, set reasonable boundaries, stay involved in your kids lives, and keep open communication with them, you will do fine. I hope this has been helpful for you.

 

Love and blessings,

Mindy

 

P.S. If you need guidance in this area (or any other area that you are struggling with), I would love to chat….I’m a life coach and I can help!

Visit my website mindyheinercoaching.com and schedule a time to chat. If you have never scheduled a coaching time with me, your first session (30 minutes) is free! I’m so excited to work with you!

How many of you are directly affected by someone who has cancer or an autoimmune disease? Most of us have at least one person, if not several people close to us that are dealing with one or more of those conditions. And it’s becoming more frequent every day.

Do you remember when a diagnosis like that was rare? When I was younger, it was far less common to know someone who was dealing with cancer and autoimmune diseases were almost unheard of.

So, what changed? Why is it so prevalent now? Most of you know I’m a nurse. In my 30+ years of nursing, I have, sadly, seen people getting sicker, not healthier. A lot of that has to do with what we are putting in and on our bodies, as well as the environments we live in.

Our bodies accumulate all the toxins we are subjected to in our environment, as well as through our food and the products we use on a daily basis. Most of us don’t even know the ingredients in the products we use or how they affect our bodies. We just assume because they are sold in stores, that they are safe for us to use.

Here’s an eye-opening little experiment to try…… Take some of the products you use every day in your home, and on your body,  and look at the ingredients. How many can you even pronounce? Do me a favor and google the names of some of the ingredients listed and put “dangers of” in front of the ingredient. You will be shocked to see what comes up! (Is it any wonder that hormone imbalances/disorders, breathing problems, skin disorders, and more are on the rise when you read the problems those ingredients cause?!)

 Why is that important?  Our skin is a carrier, not a barrier, as we once thought it was; It absorbs everything it is exposed to.  Over time, this affects how our bodies function. Our bodies can no longer function as efficiently as they once did. It’s like a toilet that is getting clogged; it flushes slowly until it becomes fully clogged, at which time it overflows. The same thing happens with our bodies. Sometimes they just don’t work as well, other times we develop one of the things we discussed earlier.

So…. what can we do about it? Or are we just “sitting ducks”, waiting until it knocks at our door?

While it’s true that some things are beyond our control, there are lots of things we DO have control over. While some things are directly related to the age we live in (cell phones, microwaves, etc), there are plenty of things we can do to minimize our risks and improve our health.

Most of the products we use on a regular basis are super toxic. But the good news is that is very simple to switch to products that are not harmful to you and your family.

Did you know that plug ins, candles, and other typical air fresheners are as harmful as smoking a pack of cigarettes?!  And it’s sad that we have grown accustomed to using cleaners around our kids that have poison warnings on them. Not to mention how toxic laundry detergent, fabric softeners, and name brand dish soaps are. The agent that causes the bubbles (which we have been told indicates clean) is very toxic and can cause nerve damage with extended use.

While this can feel overwhelming and the thought of switching everything out can feel daunting, it doesn’t have to.

So what can a busy mom on a budget do to make things safer in her home, for herself, and for her family?? Super simple swaps!

I buy my products from a company that I have found;  I have been using their products for 9 years now. They are a very reputable company (they have been in business for over 30 years) and their products are all natural/organic. They have everything you need for personal care, cleaning, laundry, dishes, and more. They also have a line of supplements, as well as high quality essential oils.

They offer subscribe and save options, discounted options, credit to use towards future purchases, and it’s all shipped to your door! Most of their products are concentrated so it’s an extra value….you get multiple bottles/uses out of 1 product! It’s a win-win!

Where do you even start?! I picked a few products to switch out each month so it was more budget-friendly for me. But it was a no-brainer. I no longer had to worry about using products that weren’t safe for my family. (My husband is a mechanic. He uses harsh chemicals every day at work. While I can’t change that, I can reduce the amount of harmful products he’s exposed to at home.)

The first thing I did was throw my candles in the trash. I bought a starter kit with a diffuser and essential oils so my house would smell good without breathing in all of the harmful ingredients of air fresheners and candles.

The next priority for me was to swap out my cleaners for better options. I had stopped using cleaners from the store a long time ago due to one of my sons having asthma; I found his breathing worsened after using those harsh cleaners. I used vinegar, baking soda, and lemon to clean but my family detested the vinegar smell so finding Thieves Cleaner was a Godsend! Another plus? Thieves cleaner can be used as a multi-purpose cleaner. I put a capful in a glass spray bottle and use it on my counters, mirrors, etc. I use it “straight” as a spot remover/detergent booster for my laundry…..the many ways it can be sued are too numerous to list here!

I then moved on to purchasing different dish soap, laundry products, and personal care products. It took me many months to switch everything out but making those changes has drastically improved my health! (And I’m much more sensitive to “fake smells” now that my body has detoxed from all those other ingredients.)

If any of this resonates with you, I highly encourage you to check out youngliving.com and explore their products. They have truly changed how I care for myself and my family! As a nurse, it is my desire to see people living their best, healthiest lives!

Love and blessings,

Mindy

P.S. If you do place an order, I would be honored if you use my code when you order (12866758  or enter my name). If not, no worries….I’ll still love you. ;-)

If you are struggling with a difficult circumstance in your life, I’m also a life coach and would be honored to walk with you through that struggle. Visit my website: mindyheinercoaching.com to book a time. If you have not previously booked a session with me, your first session (30 minutes) is free! I can’t wait to chat with you!

How many of you are like me, just going through life, loving every moment and then all of the sudden something happens that changes your life? That was me when I hit the Empty Nest stage of my life.

I truly love being a mom! As a little girl, my dream was always to be a wife and a mom. Yes, there were frustrating moments but as a whole, I loved everything about it.  I loved the busy-ness, the friends, the activities-everything.

Then all of the sudden, I realized my kids were grown. Now what?! What did that mean for me? Who was I if I wasn’t taking care of my kids/family??

Maybe you can’t relate to that but maybe you’re a mom like me that CAN relate to that. So what does that mean from here?

The empty nest stage was my wake up call. I realized that the years were flying by-20 years passed in the blink of an eye! I loved every minute of being a mom but I was caught in the typical cycle of working because I needed to help support my family. I became acutely aware that time was only going to continue to speed by and I didn’t want to miss any more moments with my family.

It was in that moment that I began the journey to change how I spent my time and to gain the freedom to enjoy more time with my family. It was not an overnight journey and it has had it’s ups and downs but each step gives me confidence to keep going. I’m exploring options now that I wouldn’t have considered several years ago. Someday I’ll tell you about them.

If you are facing the Empty Nest Years (or any other life change), and aren’t sure what is next, I can relate. It was the Empty Nest Years (and all the lovely middle age health changes)  that led me into the world of natural medicine and life coaching.  Both of those things drastically changed my life!

If you are not sure how to navigate the next stage of your life, I would love to chat with you! I’m a life coach and I can help you! Visit my website: mindyheinercoaching.com to book a call with me. You’ll be so glad you did!

Love and blessings,

Mindy