Last week I wrote about self-care and last year I really didn’t do it that well.

There was a lot going on.

So, I am putting in plans to do it well this year.

This is my self-care part two.

I know that it is another venerable post but I am wanting to be real with my blogs.

I am wanting to make a difference.

What are my plans for this year-

• Walk twice a week
• Sing everyday
• Go to the gym 3 times a week
• Once a month boxing session
• Blog one to two times a week
• Finish work on time once a week
• Work on songs – this could be writing and learning the lyrics
• Got to art therapy
• Sleep in one day on the weekend
• Catching up with friends
• Going out for coffee
• Being creative
• Write
• Work on my book
• Catch up with family
• Catch up with my nieces and nephew
• Visit my music mentor this year in Melbourne
• This is a difficult one for me but saying no to things (aahhh)
•  Have fun.

What are you putting in place for your self-care I would love to hear from you.

Let’s encourage one another in our journey.

Let’s cheer each other on.

From Tracey

My word for this year is-

  Self-Care

This is a vulnerable post, and I really want to encourage others through my journey.

Last year was the most challenging year that I have had in a long time.

As a Chaplain and also in my life journey.

I work as a primary school chaplain and I love my role, I really do.

I think that the last time that I have a year like this was in 2016, but that was also mild compared to last year.

There have also been other challenging years like 2007, but that is another journey that I will share later.

You know when you just go and keep on going when there are difficult situations happening?

It is like you have dived underwater and do not know where the surface is.

It is like you swim to the bottom, you swim to the side and then finally you find the surface.

You have held your breath for so long and when you eventually surface, you find yourself gasping for air.

It is time-consuming, it really is

This year I am going to focus on my self-care.

For me this is quite challenging, I know that I can support others but I need to take what I say to others and take my own advice.

Yes.

This year I am going to focus on things that I really love.

I am going to do things that fill my bucket.

I love being creative I really do.

So, this year I have joined a gym and have an amazing personal trainer.

He is also a boxer, so I have had I few PT sessions with him.

I also want to get back into my singing.

My plan this year is to visit my music mentor who is in Melbourne.

She is from Carer and Carter; they are country music artists who have won golden guitars.

I will share how I met her in another blog.

I have also decided not to take on too many things.

I find this difficult and after last year I really need to change what I do.

I want to do things that fill my bucket.

I was talking with a friend this year that said your bucket was not full.

I said my bucket, I only had the handle.

We laughed about this.

I am so grateful for the amazing people that I work with that have been there for me.

It has encouraged me so much.

I am grateful.

I will share more later.

What are you grateful for today?

Let’s encourage one another.

Tracey

I love being creative, I really do.

Most of you will know if you have been following me that I work as a primary school Chaplain, which I love.

I really do.

I love spending the weekends being creative.

Creativity for me is investing in self-care.

We always talk about self-care and what that looks like.

It is really important.

I must confess sometimes I am not very good at self-care.

I know.

I had a session with my supervisor this week and she knows that this term for me has been very busy and full on.

As I have said to some people that I work with, this term just looks different.

This term has been full on.

This term has been busy.

This term has been about others.

This term has had moments when I just sit in the space with students that want to have a chat.

This term I am available for them, they are my priorities.

My self-care has been-

So, this weekend I have been looking at a course about creating a journal by Roma Waterman.

Roma Waterman is an amazing Christian woman.

I have also been posting on Tik Tok, my user name is princesssparkles24, and I would love you to follow me.

I am also on Instagram traceybuckley1.

I have also been working on making some journals as well.

I am committing this week to create something every day and posting it.

I would love to hear what you are doing for self-care, let’s encourage one another.

I am also passionate about community.

Love you

Tracey

I don’t know about you but life gets busy, it really does.

I have just returned from a 5-day school camp with the year 6’s at one of the schools that I work at.

We went to Point Peron in Rockingham and had the most amazing time.

I was able to do abseiling, archery, orienteering, laser tag and the Point Peron Challenge.

Oh, and The Tracey Show, I will tell you more about this in another blog.

It was long days but oh so worth it, so many lovely memories were made.

I came home exhausted but very grateful.

I did rest for the whole weekend.

I have been thinking a lot about what brings me joy and bringing more joy back into my life.

Now it is not that I have totally lost my joy, it is that I need to have some things in my life that fuel me. That inspires me and that sparks my creativity.

So, for the next five weeks I am setting myself a challenge.

Drum roll please………………

My challenge for the next few weeks is to do something every day to bring more joy into my life.

To keep myself accountable I will blog about the things that I do.

I might even share some of my adventures on tik tok.

Search for @princesssparkles24.

I am being very vulnerable here.

Let’s encourage one another.

What is one thing that you can do each day to bring more joy to your life?

I would love to hear from you.

Let the challenge begin.

Lots of love

Tracey

Recovery Part Two.

I am so grateful to be able to share my journey for Recovered Living.

My message is you are worthy, valued and loved.

I am cheering you on.

You are amazing.

I want to make a difference.

I am here for you.

Lots of Love

Tracey

I am so grateful for having God in my life and how he wove all the amazing people that we’re able to help me.

The journey was not easy but it was possible.

I am so grateful for the most amazing people in my life.

I have always had on my heart that I want to make a difference.

I have always wanted to make a difference.

I am cheering you on.

You are amazing.

Lots of love

Tracey

I love the weekend, I really do and I love the time to just be.

I love the time to just reflect on the week that has been.

I love the time to embrace the week that has been.

I love the time to just slow down and to take a breath.

I love that I have the time to drink my coffee slowly and to sit on my lounge.

What do you enjoy about the weekend?

What are some things that you do on your weekend?

I would love to hear from you.

On the weekend there is time to inhale and exhale.

On the weekend there is time to be present in the moment.

The weekends are also my time to be creative.

I love being creative.

I really do.

Creativity is something that fills my bucket, I need to be creative every day.

Creativity fuels me, it encourages me, it is important to me.  

My creative purpose today is to encourage others.

This weekend I am sending out encouraging messages, I love this.

I really do.

I love encouraging others.

I am wanting to send out encouraging messages.

If you would love to receive one, please message me.

Let’s encourage one another.

Who are you going to encourage today?

This week I am going to post on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/theheartproject.net a picture a day of what I am grateful for.

I will also post a picture a day on this website as well.

There is so much going on in our world that we can focus on the negative and get drawn in.

What we focus on magnifies. It is so true.

This is an opportunity to look at what we have in our world and how grateful we are.

It’s the little things that we can overlook and not realise that what we have someone else is praying for.

I what to grab my phone and focus on capturing the wonder in our lives. I want to notice the little things; I want to be in the moment and be mindful.

I want to slow down and notice life in the slow lane.

I want to notice the goodness in our lives, I really do.

So, I am taking a deep breath and beginning.

Today I have been reflecting on this year, as you know I work as a primary school Chaplain at two amazing schools.  I love, love, love my role.

I just wanted to say to all the amazing people that I work with that you are so kind, caring and so invested in the students. You really are.

I really value everything that you do.

I see how much you invest in the school community; I see all the hours that you do.

I notice how much you give to the school, I notice the many hours that you do, the many hours that your give out of your time and how much you give over and above.

Your students are so blessed.

You are creating memories for your students.

I hear from your students how amazing you are.

I want to say thank you.

I want to say that you are making a difference.

Be encouraged.

I want to say you are amazing.

I hope that you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Take time to invest in yourself.

You deserve it.

Take the time to rest.

If you need anything please let me know.

I am here for you.

Today in this busy season please know that I am praying for you.

Yes, you the amazing person reading this blog.

I don’t know what is going on for you at this time of year, can I let you know that I am passionate about giving back.

What do you need prayer for today?

Please let me know.

This season for me is about giving back, it’s about making a difference.

I am committed to praying for you.