WHY THE ABILITY TO HAVE MORE DOESN'T MEAN YOU WANT MORE

Ever since I moved to Toronto, I can say without hesitation that I've been fortunate enough to have pretty much whatever I wanted. I thought I knew what that comfort was before, but I didn't really...

I thought success was defined by things... What kind of car you drove, how big your house was, what brand of clothes you wore, etc. I remember when I bought my first flat screen TV and king sized bed. I remember how good I felt making those purchases, because in my mind, I felt that I had made it. When I met my husband and we bought an Audi, GAME OVER.

We moved into a three bedroom home with so much space. A home with an extra room for guests. A home with two fantastic patios, a huge open kitchen, AND ROOM FOR ALL OF OUR THINGS. Soon we were buying things just to fill the space. Then something started happening. I had anxiety because we had TOO many things. Too many clothes. Too many electronics and gadgets. My husband's huge, burgeoning shoe collection was making me mad. Our daughter had too many toys, things she never played with, and they were everywhere. A reminder of success began to be my enemy. I started having trouble getting restful sleep because of the energy of so many things.

Something had to change.

Our beautiful boxer boy Jameson was diagnosed with lymphoma in June. Going up multiple flights of stairs in and out of our house - in time - wasn't going to be the easiest thing, and I know that carrying a 60-pound dog up and down stairs wasn't going to work for us. As it is, carrying our 24 pound daughter Joeli up and down the stairs - with her stroller and gear - started to become a drag.

Just a girl and her dog #JoeliEstelle #Jameson #Love ❤️

A photo posted by Melissa Bunting (@melissabuntcake) on Sep 14, 2015 at 2:05pm PDT

I talked my husband into downsizing. At first, he was hesitant. He thought we were managing our home just fine. But I was persistent.

It's been a couple of weeks since we downsized into a home that has no stairs. It's quite a bit smaller. Moving in and finding a place for everything has been daunting and overwhelming. I wondered right away if I had made a mistake...

Maybe I shouldn't have persuaded him to move. But something magical started to take place.

Comfort.

I realized that purging and donating things that other people could use more made me SO happy. Having less is making me happy. I am sleeping better. I am happier with less.

What an awesome life lesson to FINALLY learn. :)

Why having a gratitude journal will change your life

When you're out, do you notice things that make you grateful or thankful? Since moving to Canada in 2011, I've made a conscious effort to live in the moment. It was something that I had really never done. I was very concerned with advancing my career, and because of the thrill of that chase, I really never took time to appreciate what was around me.

I lived at the beach basically for over six years - between San Diego and Tampa, I lived where people go to vacation. I didn't really appreciate that beauty until I was gone. I didn't appreciate that I could go to the beach and clear my mind whenever I wanted.

Fast forward to today. A friend of mine inspired me to start a gratitude journal, and even though I'm only a few entries in, I can tell that it's life changing. A gratitude journal is a great way to keep yourself in a thankful and positive state of mind.If you can write down things you're grateful for a few times per week, it's ideal.

Making my first entry in my first #GratitudeJournal. Excited, nervous all wrapped into one!

A photo posted by Melissa Bunting (@melissabuntcake) on Aug 5, 2015 at 5:51pm PDT

Studies say keeping a journal like this has many positive health benefits - including better sleep, decreased anxiety and depression, fewer symptoms of illness, and it's a good way to get through the difficulties of life.

Nothing is too big or too small. For instance, my hubby and I celebrated our friend's birthday last night and I enjoyed a delicious cider. I don't have them often and it made me happy. It added to my experience out with friends and for that I am grateful. I came across this list of how to get into a grateful mindset.

Give it a try and see how it changes your life. Going back and reading entries in your journal is a lot of fun :).

THIS SHOWERHEAD SPEAKER WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

I LOVE SHOWERS.

Sorry for yelling. But I do.

I could stand in a hot shower for hours. I am obsessed. But as a new mommy my shower time ain't what it used to be. So I have to make my time in the shower count.

My husband got me quite possibly one of the best inventions ever made.

This is the Kohler Moxie showerhead. What makes it awesome is that it pairs with your phone via Bluetooth so you can LISTEN TO MUSIC IN THE SHOWER. Yes. The sound is crisp and clear. I listen to everything in the shower from Jay-Z to Mozart and it all sounds amazing.

I've had this showerhead for over a year and I love it.

What's cool about it too is you can pop the speaker out and move it around if you want to listen to music elsewhere.

It is a little spendy, but if you love showers and you love music, I promise you'll love this!!

A 2015 LETTER TO MYSELF...

Dear Melissa,

How can you possibly top 2014? You said the same thing about 2013, and 2012, and 2011. Life just keeps getting better and better. At times you wonder why positive, healthy things keep happening. And then you remember, because YOU wanted them to. Your decisions affect your energy. What you think about, you bring about. This is a good reminder to always remember.

At this very moment, you have everything in life you've ever wanted. You have a loving husband. A beautiful, healthy baby girl. A great group of friends and a family who you wish was closer. You have a great job that you enjoy.

How can life possibly get better?

It can. How?

Change.

Positive change.

Change that takes you out of your comfort zone.

You have a lot of things that you want to accomplish this year. Writing it down puts the elements in motion. This list will be revised and added to through the year... And as things get checked off the list. This is fun.

1) Rededicate yourself to a healthy, clean eating plan. You know you feel your best when you don't eat junk. Become a more adventurous cook.

2) Be a better wife and partner.

3) Save for the future. And that Audi S4.

4) Schedule your time so you don't forget to do things for you. Nails, hair, massage.

5) Be a more available friend.

6) Surround yourself with people who are comfortable enough in their own lives to allow you to grow.

7) Go to the gym. For your health. For stress relief. For fun. Three times per week minimum.

8) Watch at least one movie per week.

9) Go to bed after 8p but before 10p.

10) Call your mom and dad at least three times per week.

11) Your way isn't the only way (even if you know your way works.)

12) ROCK A BIKINI!

13) Negative self-talk is so 2014.

14) Experience more Toronto.

15) Continue laughing from your belly.

Love, Melissa

I challenge you to write down a list of goals for the year and follow your writing as your year progresses. It's amazing how fun it can be to watch how much control you have.