Embrace the Storm. This is my motto for Gnarly Bison, my credo, my mantra that helps get me through the day. But man is it hard to follow at times. Sometimes I feel frazzled and overwhelmed and I definitely don’t want to embrace the storm, I simply want the storm to END!!

The key is in keeping yourself accountable and taking on your tumultuous days with Love. Most of my storms these days involve my beautiful little children. I have an adventurous, spontaneous side, but for the most part I feel a great need for calm and quiet. But with all of these high-energy, high-spirited kiddos running around, that’s hard to come by these days. Sometimes I want to cry out (and sometimes I do!!), “STOP the Madness!!” But then I’m reminded of what a beautiful gift it is to have so much life and passion all around me! The chaos may be a trigger for my anxiety at times, but I am always responsible for my reaction to any situation. And who deserves a patient and loving reaction more than my children?! At times we need to humble ourselves and put our desires aside for the love and good of others. Essentially there are times where we just need to suck it up! Hard pill to swallow, but very true.

A tip from the book, Triggers, says, “We need to become proactive parents instead of reactionary ones.” This is something that takes thought, effort, and time. But, something I am learning is how important it is to be prepared in parenthood, and in life. That doesn’t mean that life can’t be organically lived, it means you are building up tools that you can use in those times of stress and chaos. Let’s remind ourselves to operate from a place of Love. Love for ourselves, love for our children, love for those around us.

-Tara xo

Gnarly Things to Check Out

Scripture: “If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.” -I Corinthians 13: 3-7 The Message version