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The Design Inspirationalist

~ Inspiring Ideas | Spectacular Creations

The Design Inspirationalist

Tag Archives: stress

Be About Being Better

28 Monday Aug 2017

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration, motherhood

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be about being better, bebetter, breathe, letgo, loverecipe, loveyou, onlyhuman, pause, self care, stress, takeabreak

When you had a bad day and you are super stressed and have no patience left and find a way to blame yourself because you are supposed to make sure everything is going as planned and find solutions and fix all that isn’t working but the truth is you’re only human and need to give yourself a break.

There are times when you just need to be about being better to yourself. And it’s in those darker moments when you need it most.

Pause. Breathe. Let go. Rest.
My recipe for being better.


Image reposted by @urban_sprouts on Instagram

Inspiration Photo Friday: Babies Galore

16 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday

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american dream, baby, chapter, children, journey, kids, life, mommy to be, stress

We all know the routine of growing up. You get married, buy a home, and then have kids. The American dream, right? These past few years have been a whirlwind of weddings and new mommy’s. It’s all good and happy, but at the same time a little overwhelming.

I just turned 34 and I know I’m not getting any younger. But having kids right now just isn’t on my to do list. Since the year of our wedding and buying our first home, my husband and I have had it a little rough. Life has thrown us a handful of obstacles and it seems we are always fighting to get by. I started Gray Star Design in hopes to finally be successful on my end, while he works for less money than he deserves. The hardships of being an artist. So I would say, this is not a time to bring a child into the world. I mean, we don’t even have health insurance.

Growing up with a single mom who worked numerous jobs and having a Grandmother who raised four kids on nothing, I understand what it means to struggle. I, too, have struggled all my life financially. Being stressed for all these years about the one thing I don’t care about has surely taken its toll. Sadly, you need it to survive and all I know is the feeling of getting by. I certainly don’t want to raise a child in that kind of atmosphere, they deserve more than what I had. I am crossing my fingers that one day my husband and I can live a comfortable life without always dealing with financial stress. Then maybe, we can start a family.

So, with all these new babies and little kids running around, it does put a little pressure on me to have a child of our own. However, I am smart enough to know what is good for me, and my marriage and career is my focus at the moment. Just not ready to make my life all about someone else yet. And I know it doesn’t end when you have a baby, but in reality, it sort of does. It’s closing a chapter and starting a new one. I just have too much I still need to do.

Right now, I will embrace the little munchkins in my life and give them tons of love. I am lucky to have friends and family who have healthy children and I am very happy for the new chapter they have started. I wish them all the best on their journey as parents and will be there every step of the way to support them. Besides, I already have two furry kids of my own to take care of. They may not be the real thing, but they are mine and I love them with all my heart. It may be babies galore on the other side of rainbow but here on my side, the possibilities are endless.

Inspiration Photo Friday: Babies Galore - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

Inspiration Photo Friday: Blooming Beauties

21 Friday Jun 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday, The Great Outdoors

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beauty, bloom, flowers, garden, life, nature, patience, plants, stress, summer

My husband and I have been so busy with home projects and family gatherings that we haven’t been able to actually sit back and enjoy summer yet. Thankfully, our list of things to do is almost done! This is our second summer in the house and it’s really not until now that we are seeing some of the most beautiful things bloom on our property. It’s such an inspiration to see nature at its best, thats for sure.

Our garden is doing well. It’s wild and free and showing its true beauty through various plantings from the past. Our hydrangea bush is finally blooming and even the peonies I planted last year are saying hello. Clover accents the space and the pink roses bring color, while my Grandmother’s hosta is growing at a spectacular rate. And it was nice to see the group of iris’ from the previous owners bloom as well. Didn’t get to see them last year.

The photo below is one I took of the left side of the garden, where our back fence begins. Last year, I intertwined our other rose bush with the fence so it would have a natural stake and spread out. What a beauty is has become. I imagine that whole side of the fence being covered one day. How pretty would that be? It really made me smile to see it all coming together.

All our blooming beauties have shown me that sometimes, time can only tell. Waiting for things to happen in your life is never fun and I highly support going for what you want. However, there are times when you just have to allow nature to take its course and try to enjoy the ride. Patience is not only a virtue, its a gift. Personally, it’s the one thing that has helped me get through a lot in these past few years, in every aspect of my life. Rushing into something, whether big or small, just isn’t worth the stress. Sit back and relax, because everyone’s time will come.

Inspiration Photo Friday: Blooming Beauties - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

Inspiration Photo Friday: Spring Cleaning

12 Friday Apr 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday

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dedication, focus, life, love, mental, mentality, nature, old habits, people, positivity, Spring Cleaning, stress, warm glow

I feel we all need a little spring cleaning when the warmer months arrive. And not just during spring, but every few months. So much goes on in our lives and between work or school, family and friends, relationships and marriages, and raising your children, sometimes it seems like its never going to end and time just isn’t on your side. Did you ever think that you are creating too much to do?

I know we are all busy. I, myself have tried to fight the clock to get tons of stuff done and most of the time its work because it seems like I never have time for myself. It’s just not a healthy way to live. Week after week, the same old story. And what is it all for? I certainly don’t have to be as busy as I am. I can spread projects out and just make clients wait for them to get done instead of working by butt off and stressing myself out. This is the one thing I will be “scrubbing away” for my spring cleaning. It may be a good quality in some aspects but in the end, its just hurting me and it has to stop.

It’s funny because most of what hurts us, we create. It’s part of who we are. This is why its essential to pay attention to ourselves and our behavior, to see what needs to be tweaked or changed, and in some cases “scrubbed clean.” Just rid yourself of those layers that simply aren’t helping you. You want to evolve and move forward in life, not be held back by mental messes.

Today in New York, the weather is a little rainy and cool, and the windy air has been busy pushing nature around all morning. I can’t help but find it totally appropriate for my last day of working with clients. My hiatus has finally come. Not only am I sweeping old habits away but Mother Earth herself is cleansing as well. And even though its a little wild outside, the birds are still singing and the day still goes on. With a little dedication and strength, the sun will show her face and shine her warm glow on all of us.

Take some time to redirect your destination and move forward with a smile. Sometimes the path can get a little rocky and we forget who is most important, ourselves. If you can’t be your best self than how you can you be the best for the people you love? Scrub those bad layers off and get to the real you, then focus on what you really want and what you need to do to stay happy. Surround yourself with love and positivity and create a shield so the negative energy can’t affect you. Those bad habits and stresses shall be stripped away for good and a new, reinvented you will be ready to face the day.

Inspiration Photo Friday: Spring Cleaning - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

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