One of the most important messages I hope to communicate is that the best self care is the everyday kind. The kind you integrate into your regular life. It's the small, regular practices that can keep you sane, give you energy, and help you not want to run away from your life.

A prayer time in the shower? Yes.
Wednesday morning yoga with a friend? Yes.
Reminding yourself it's okay to be human? Yes.
Eating a real lunch, not just kids' leftovers? Yes.
Heading to bed with enough energy to brush and floss? Yes.

But there are other experiences that that go beyond the day-to-day. And I want to encourage you to invest in what brings you JOY this year.

​As I've shared before, one of the great joys of my life is friendship. Cultivating deep relationships with my friends is a great source of enjoyment, love, and comfort.

That's why, when I heard that my friend from Australia would be in L.A. for a week, I jumped at the chance to see her and some of the dear, old friends we still have in the area.

I am so glad I had the privilege of saying YES to this life-giving trip.

Here are some photos, if you'd like to see (or scroll to the end for your "Invest in Joy" Action Plan!).

Lexie and Maite were my first housemates out of college. It was my first time seeing Maite as a mom(!), which was a total delight. (And she's been telling her co-workers about my podcast interview - thank you, friend!)

This woman has been a cheerleader in my life since we were sophomores in college! Not only is she incredibly ambitious (hello, realizing her dream of working at the Oprah Winfrey Network), she has a beautiful heart and sees sides of me others may not.

​Okay, last ones of the friends I stayed with, my husband's college besties and their two awesome daughters...Love you guys!

I've come back to Seattle feeling like I've made a valuable investment in my own joy, and in the lives of my friends. Win/win!

What brings YOU joy?

• ​Being outdoors?
• Learning a new skill?
• Competition?
• Travel?
• Ending the day knowing you used your time well?
• ​Kid-free conversation?

(And if you're not sure, check out this post on how to figure out what you want.)

What is ONE way you can make an investment in JOY this year?
Examples:
- I will hire a babysitter on the first Saturday of the month so I can have coffee with a close friend.
- I will start a special savings fund now to take an art class this spring.
- I will finally replace my jacket and get insoles for my boots so I can get outside more easily.

What needs to shift to be able to do that?
Examples:
- I will stop spending money on _______ to be able to invest in ________.
- I will take 10 minutes to journal about everything that keeps me from spending money on myself (even when I see that it's making me feel sorry for myself!).
- I will ask a friend to keep me accountable to finally _________ (planning that trip, taking that class, signing up for that activity).

​As my friend Katrina writes, "Part of self-care is saying, 'Even though I could go without this, I am going to allow myself this life-giving moment.' For weary moms, I can't stress enough the importance of this. Not only do we need to model self-care to our kids, we are better able to serve and give of ourselves when we are whole and taken care of. "

Confession:  I'm torn every time I write a post like this, because what I really want is to talk to each and every one of you about it! I'm certain that the questions above can help you, but sometimes you need a real, live person on the other end of the conversation to help you invest in what matters most.

​That's why I make time every month to talk to women just like you about what brings them joy and what practical steps they can take to find more of it.

If you'd like a compassionate partner in sorting out how to invest in JOY this year, I hope you'll reach out! Just fill out the contact form, and I'll email you back ASAP to find a time to talk.

Whether you're figuring out what brings you joy, scratching your head about how to have more of that in your life, or feeling stuck in actually making the investment, I'd love to be of service.

​Happy New Year, Brave Self Care community! As we turn the page on a new year, I took a look at the most popular blog posts from 2017. These are the posts that got read, shared, and 'liked' - THANK YOU for your support! Here they are in case you missed them.​

How to Avoid Your Monster Self  (part 1 // part 2 //  part 3)
For those of you having more bad days than you'd like, learning how to pay attention to yourself and make adjustments will help keep your Monster Self at bay.

Preschool Drop-Off in 17 Easy Steps
You want to drop my son off at preschool? It's easy! Just follow these 17 simple steps. (With pictures!)

9 Things I've Said 'No' to This Christmas
From the comments section: "I've been kicking myself for not doing Advent readings/devotionals regularly so I was pleasantly shocked that they were on your list. Thanks for reminding me that NO is an OK response sometimes."

Celebrating One Year
How making my first best friend in kindergarten led me to where I am today.

6 Ways to Figure Out What You Want
"We are experts at knowing what our kids want and amateurs at knowing what we want." Learn six strategies that I use with my clients to help figure out what YOU want.

What's the Difference Between Coaching and Counseling? - Charissa's Pick
This post answers one of the most commonly asked questions I get asked - what's the difference between working with a coach and getting counseling? Read on to find out which is a better fit for you.

If you've enjoyed these posts, please consider subscribing to my mailing list. Every other week, I send a newsletter with encouragement, real-life stories, and my best self care tips. I don't want you to miss this.