I am a woman in my mid-forties, working a job in corporate America. I have 4 young adult/adult children from 17-28, one son-in-law, 2 signifigant others, and we just added grandchild number 7! Family gatherings at my house are exciting to say the least! I got pregant at the age of 15 and married my husband, we celebrated our 29th anniversary in June 2010. I have strived to be a good mother, a good wife, a good person. I have learned many things along the way and I still have a lot to learn. I have dealt with depression, perfectionism, and personal near-death tragedies.
This blog is a place for me to write about and share my ramblings and hope that my words may bring you a little joy, a few tears, and the relief that YOU are not alone in how you feel. Since beginning my blog, I have actually gone on medical leave due to stress, anxiety and depression. My blog has given me a place to write for ‘therapy’ lol!
I also started this blog to learn about the blogging world, how it all works, and about the business of blogging. My goal is to eventually author a blog that will be a business helping people to live a balanced life, with the goal of offering inexpensive products, resources and courses to assist in the process. Currently, all I have is the domain name and a front page with nothing on it, but sooner or later www.livingthebalancedlife.com will be unveiled!
You can find me at http://www.facebook.com/bernicemwood And find me on twitter at http://twitter.com/womanonajourney
Bernice,
I love your blog. Love it, love it, love it. I am so able to relate to you…I love the videos you post, just everything. You are the first blogger I’ve ever responded to and I want to continue to follow you. Thanks for blogging.
Thank you SO much for your comments! I know that people are visiting, but not many are commenting yet so it is good to get some feedback! It really does help when we realize that while we are individual as women, so much of what we think and feel, others are thinking and feeling the same things! I used to always dream of having a “normal” life, I now realize that “no one” has a normal life. We all have a our quirky things, but that is what makes us who we are!
I read “Do You Worry That Your House is Good Enough”, and I have to say it was perfect timing. By the way, I think I sent a response to it last night, but I had taken an Ambien (I have terrible insomnia), and I think it was a blur at the end. If you got it and couldn’t figure out what it said, please forgive me.
I have company coming today. My friend is staying overnight, and I have a small cocktail party tonight. I’m always NOT having company because the kitchen cabinets are a mess, and we are going to replace them, or the circa 1970s bathroom needs to be updated, or the doors need to be replaced. We haven’t done the renovations we planned on doing, as our son was building his own home (he built it all himself, plumbing, electrical, radiant heating, pine floors, building the center island, everything, AND my husband was there every weekend and during the summers. SO, the expansion of our kitchen and the renovations never happened. I knew they wouldn’t because we needed to help Rob; however, that’s why I don’t want to entertain. I never feel our house is good enough.
I’ve been getting somewhat better. I figure if they are coming to inspect, I don’t want them here. I am beginning to feel more comfortable that this is the way it is for now, and I want to have my friends over and have fun.
I’m sure there are so many women that struggle with this same issue. Thanks for your blog. Really love it.
Ellen
Bernice, I’m glad you found me through SITTS, and now I’ve found your blog! We do have many things in common, and I like the way you write. I’ve subscribed, and I hope you did, too. Spread the word that comments is what it’s all about, and following and supporting!
Thanks for finding me!
Great blog that deals with the struggles of everyday life!
Escape reality by visiting my travel blog: http://www.offtrackbackpacking.com
What a trip to find your blog. I looked at it, read it and had to laugh. I felt like I had just visited my own blog – we even have the same theme. 🙂 I haven’t read many of your posts yet, but I definitely will be. I can very much relate to your words from the little bit that I’ve read. Looking forward to finding out more. Hope you’ll stop by my page and have a look around. I’m just getting started and not very active yet though. Not quite sure where to start – little overwhelmed. ~Christin
I’m lovin your bloggin girl!
Thanks for sharing with the world:) Good to know I’m not alone with my “inability to unplug”. Recent vacation proved to leave me with the NEED for a vacation 🙂
Funny how life works.
Glad to see I’m not alone! lol
Mother of 3, married young to my highschool sweetheart, Corporate America girl swimmin with the sharks, perfectionist, artist, big dreamer and everything in between. Sound familiar? lol
My famous saying….”Been there, done that.”
Nice to meet you 🙂
Hi Bernice,
I feel lucky to day to find your blog.
Nice 🙂
Thank you for writing and sharing your stories.
Hi Bernice,
Really enjoying your blog. I totally “get it”. Good luck to you and looking forward to reading (and learning) from your posts.
http://mymeproject.wordpress.com
Nice blogging, Bernice! I just happened to find you on the WordPress home page.
Bernice,
Found you and your blog via the 31DBBB challenge, and I love your overall theme and how you write! Many of your topics go along well with the focus of my new blog, Just Gimme Coffee (which you have visited). I wanted to e-mail you as part of the assignment for Day 5, but couldn’t find an e-mail address for you. I would love for you to consider writing a guest post on my blog! Nothing long or difficult, just something similar to what you write here that goes along with my theme of slowing down and celebrating life’s simple pleasures. Let me know what you think!
Well it is nice to finally find a blog that I can relate to. I also in my forties and I have 4 kids, ranging from 14-19. I am starting to feel the empty next as I have 2 in college, one Senior in High School who is pretty much on her own schedule. So I only have my boy left. Cute blog. Love it!
Hi! I came over after you commented on my blog. Thank you for the encouraging words over there, and I like your blog. Going to subscribe now…
Bernice, great site, great wisdom. Keep on writing and thanks for posting your comment on my blog at http://theplayfulsage.com
I see what an inspiration to are to others. Never stop writing.
Hey Bernice – your blog is great! Will return for sure 🙂
Thanks for connecting on my marriage blog. So glad all turned out well two years ago! Focusing on the positive is indeed a challenge, but earplugs help during those noisy nights. 😉
Best,
Lori Lowe
http://www.lifegems4marriage.com
Thanks for dropping by my blog today! So glad I found yours. I enjoy your writing and can relate to many things you say. I will be back!
I have enjoyed reading your blog this past week. I subscribed after the first one! I am also trying to make sense of my life as I leave the 40s and enter the 50s, facing an empty nest as the last one leaves soon. Thank you for your writing!
I am so glad my writing speaks to you! Now is time to get to know YOU, what makes you tick, and where you want to go from here!
Welcome!
Bernice
Bernice,
Good Morning! I found your blog through Follow Friday and I’ve been looking around and reading. I just subscribed via email because I don’t want to miss a thing. Your post about simplifying is where my husband and I are at right now. The tips are great and there were some that I can immediately put into practice. Congratulations on your new grandchild! Kenley Grace is a beautiful name and I hope everything went well with her birth. Best wish to the new parents and to your family. I look forward to getting to know you.
Have a great weekend,
Candace
I subscribed to your blog and I love the advice you have to give. Especially the 40 ways to live, I printed them out right away and I am promising myself to read it every day! I am only 21 years old but I know I need to start living more and having more fun. I had a very stressful winter full of anxiety last year which has inspired me to look at life in a more positive way. I can’t wait to read more of your stories.
Eleisha
Found you on SITS today.
I think you are the perfect example of why someone should blog.
Blogs like yours can really relate to people and help them.
Keep bloggin!
I can’t imagine being a wife and mom at all, let alone at 15! Congratulations to you for the hard work it must have taken to get through 29 years!
And good luck to you on your new endeavor. I’m sure that’s a lot of work, but you sound like you’re up to the challenge.
Thanks Bernice. I stumbled upon your blog from Frugal Dad. Kudos to you for maintaining a marriage for 29 years! Don’t let the coporate world get to you. Good luck in all your endeavors.
Hi, nice to meet you !
As a woman in my 30s and recently quit my job, I have been thinking a lot about how to achieve a balanced life. I have started my own blog (everysixminutes.com) to chronicle my search. As you say, writing is good therapy.
Your business idea sounds intriguing and I wish you the very best of luck!
[…] What IS she rambling about? […]
Nice blog and great goal! I’m trying to do that with my blog too. I’m sharing free information about health and fitness. It’s my job and my passion.
i can send you many but can u contact me please
asap
http://www.youtube.com/user/ilovedreamtheater1
go there an see if u see anything familar this was written and recorded almost 3 years ago by me