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Meagan Rigney

3 things to think about the week//February 22nd

February 22, 2021      Leave a Comment

Happy Monday, my friends!

I hope your weekend has been a good one, and if you live somewhere cold you have stayed warm. I’m definitely thinking of any of you that live in Texas, what a crazy week! 

Saturday was my daughter’s 13th birthday and I cannot believe how fast these years have gone by. She has been a joy from day one (and a challenge lol) and honestly? I love this age so much. We chat, we laugh, we share meme’s, and it has been really good. She is growing into herself and is really an amazing person. I’m so lucky to be her mom. 

Let’s get into 3 things to think about this week! I wanted to share a few more things that I do when I am not feeling myself, in particular, when I am anxious and feeling very blah. (Which has been this week! I’m feeling all the things and my body is letting me know that I need to RELAX. I am working on listening;)

1) I tend to notice I am having overly anxious thoughts when my body sends me certain signals. I get dizzy and staring at a screen or reading bothers my eyes. I also start to lose sleep, either I can’t fall asleep or I wake up too early with my mind racing. Then I notice my thoughts are stuck on one particular subject. This week I was thinking a lot about two conversations I had with people that circled back to me obsessing over how “messed up/lacking” I am or how I feel like everything is wrong in my life. It feels overwhelming and I try to hide or make the feelings go away by ‘buffering’ (online shopping, wasting time on the internet, procrastinating projects, etc.) The more I do these things the more bad I feel, and it starts to snowball. 

So how do I fix this? I start by reaching for the thing that will make me feel a ‘tiny but better.’ The other day I was sitting on the couch and decided I wanted to get dressed out of the sweats I had slept in. That thought felt a ‘tiny bit better,’ so I did that. Then what? I decided to have lunch because I was hungry, even though it was only 10:30am. SO I did that. Then what? A cup of coffee and filling my diffuser sounded good, so I did that. 

Do you see? You never have to decide all of it at once when you feel off, just ask, what would make me feel a tiny bit better? Follow the breadcrumbs and eventually you might feel even a little bit better. We aren’t meant to feel good all of the time, that is the joy of life. We experience contrast because that is the full human experience, to feel. So I feel the feelings and honor them, and pick things that will feel good in the long run. I listen to my intuition and it will lead me to feel just a tiny bit better. It is also deciding to STOP the things don’t make me feel better in the long run. To stop reading that trashy gossip site that feels yucky when I am done, to stop losing hours on online browsing. To stop racing forward to complete a to do list when I am feeling overwhelmed. What can you choose to do that will make you feel a tiny bit better? 

2) Something that has helped me as a woman and has been a gamechanger, is to track my cycle with an app and to write down my moods in my calendar on a particular day. I typically just write one word in my calendar on my desk, ‘happy, energetic, tired, anxious, sad, etc.” I’ll just notice it and write it down, and after a few months you might be able to see a correlation between your cycle and your moods. Seriously, I am 40 years old and still surprise sometimes each month when I feel a certain way and just not connecting the dots till later. I find it helpful to see that I almost always feel low energy during a certain week or that I feel better this week and not this week. It makes me feel more in tune with myself and to often have a reason for feeling anxious or sad. As women, we have bodies that work in a cyclical nature with so many things that change from day to day. Not many of us learn how to work with our bodies and honor our feelings during the month. By looking at my calendar I can start to notice that I am always a bit more tender and anxious and needy and it isn’t me being extra sensitive or weird, it’s hormones and normal. It helps me give myself a little grace and look to see how I can support myself better. 

3) Something I have learned over the past two years is to allow uncomfortable feelings to be here. They don’t have to be “fixed” or changed, they just need to sit a bit and they will move on. But only IF we deal with them. If we continually push them down and ignore them, they will cause major problems in the future (mainly in our bodies and through sickness.) For years I saw negative feelings as failure and ignored them. I found ways to push through, to pretend all was fine and keep going. I refused to let them “win.” I was like one of those pictures of icebergs that you see, calm on the surface and raging underneath. I projected happiness and perfection, and was a mess underneath. 

When I talk about “allowing” all feelings, it means just noticing them when they pop up. When you feel something, ask, “why do I feel like this? What is it telling me?” Our bodies are amazing, and they guide us where we need to go. Our brains hate pain and being uncomfortable and can lead us astray. Just notice and name the feeling. 

For instance, if I am feeling bad about my body, my brain might tell me to look at old pictures of myself and make a plan to eat less and work out more and create that body again (which is not healthy for me.) It might feel uncomfortable and tell me to hide behind damaging behaviors that make me not be able to feel bad in the short term (online shop, have more wine than is good for me, waste time online and read judgy websites.) All of these things make me feel BAD long term. They might take the pressure off right this second and feel good in the minute, but afterwards I haven’t dealt with the feelings and I have only ignored them.

My inner self, my body knows what to do. I will hear the thoughts and gently tell myself, “No, that it not true. You are enough as is. You are okay.” My brain will tell me this hurts too much that I should do something NOW to feel better, anything, but I know better. Like I mentioned above, I’ll reach for something that makes me feel a tiny but better. If I listen to my gut, it knows certain things (online shopping) won’t feel better, but getting dressed will. Writing my book will. Journaling will. You will find these things that make you feel better and you’ll notice them and write them down, so that the next time you feel this way you have a plan. I know reading inspiring books helps. Writing my feelings in my journal helps. Visiting a friend helps. Watching a favorite movie helps.

Little by little, I start to feel better. Maybe the next day, or next week. I feel it lift. I can look and see how all feelings (good and bad) pass. This is life. I have always loved the phrase, ‘it’s always darkest before the dawn.” I used to repeat this when I would feel like I was the only one awake at 3am with a new baby. Feelings pass, bad days pass, difficult times pass. Taking deep breathes and repeating mantras and just saying,

“I feel (insert feeling) and I am okay.“

I promise, all feelings, good and bad, will pass if we allow them to sit with us. Observe why they are there, what they are teleing you, and listen to the answers. I promise, it is truly lifechanging. 

​I hope you all have an amazing week! 

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Hi, friend! My name is Meagan and I like to overshare on Insta-stories, LOVE finding the best stuff for everyday life, and I truly believe that life is more fun when you feel good about yourself, both inside and out.

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meaganrigney

When that sunshine hits in the afternoon and you f When that sunshine hits in the afternoon and you feel like a new person. 🤩

Is it Spring yet?
Whenever the world seems crazy, just know that the Whenever the world seems crazy, just know that there are teens out there that are awesomely good people and they are so inspiring to watch! I get to coach and teach them on a daily basis and not a day goes by that they don’t make me laugh, and also feel good knowing that these cool people exist in this world. I can’t wait to see what the future hold for all of them. 😊
Happy 15th bday to my firstborn baby, Molly! Being Happy 15th bday to my firstborn baby, Molly! Being your mama is seriously the best-you keep me on my toes and make me so proud. You are so amazingly talented and wonderful and from the moment I knew if your existence I have loved you more than words can say. I love you to the moon and back ❤️
Short hair, don’t care. 💁🏻‍♀️ Short hair, don’t care. 💁🏻‍♀️
My kid is so much cooler than I’ll ever be ❤️
I’ve been coaching our high school powerlifting I’ve been coaching our high school powerlifting team (along with a few other awesome people,) and we had our first meet of the season this weekend. Working with these kids has been so freakin’ fun-they work hard and they make me laugh every 5 seconds. I feel lucky I get to mentor them both in and out of school each day.
Rolling into 2023 with a full heart. This past yea Rolling into 2023 with a full heart. This past year brought big, beautiful, years in the making changes to the Rigney family (we all decided ‘22 was was pretty amazing when it came to reaching big goals!) Looking forward to settling in and enjoying our accomplishments, and soaking up each moment with these kids of ours and this awesome life we have full of friends and family. Each year I think it can’t get better, and then it does. 💫
Haven’t worn real pants in a week and I don’t Haven’t worn real pants in a week and I don’t hate it 😏
Life lately…. Christmas + good food + gratitude Life lately…. Christmas + good food + gratitude + sparkly trees + family + cozy outfits + time off to love on my people 💫
Work looks-teacher edition! I’m a Resource Room Work looks-teacher edition! I’m a Resource Room teacher in high school and like to be comfortable (but still sorta cool? Lol.) I teach freshman-seniors and everything from Language Arts to Econ to Learning Strategies to US History. It’s fast paced and fun and I’m never, ever bored 🙃

Most of my stuff comes from Old Navy at this point, they are honestly killing it! I am a size 8/medium in most things. You can shop my outfits here…

https://shopltk.com/explore/meaganrigney/collections/11ed52d1acbbb795b3720242ac110004
⭐️FORTY-TWO today ⭐️ Grateful for…my hu ⭐️FORTY-TWO today ⭐️

Grateful for…my husband (he makes me laugh everyday and is my best friend), my kids (the funniest, kindest, most awesome kids on earth), my family (who always make me feel loved), my friends (can’t live life without you,) my co-workers (I’m obsessed with you all, how else do I teach without you lol), and just feeling settled after 20 years of moving. 

Looking forward to another year teaching high school (I hope all my students know, Mrs. Rigney adores you!) and just another year of being grateful for this beautiful + amazing life I’ve built. ❤️
Happy 13th birthday to my baby boy! He’s loving, Happy 13th birthday to my baby boy! He’s loving, affectionate and always willing to lend a helping hand. He talks extra loud on his video game headset with his friends 🫠, grew approximately 6 inches this year, and his voice has deepened so I keep thinking another man is in the house(!) But still, he’s my baby and always, always will be. I love watching his dedication to playing all the sports, being his mom is just the best. From the second he was born and they placed him on my chest, my heart burst with love for him. He’s pure magic and also currently taller than me and I don’t know how 13 years have passed but I have loved every second of them.
Vacation vibes, part 2! Vacation vibes, part 2!
Summer vacation vibes, part 1 ☀️🚤🌊 Summer vacation vibes, part 1 ☀️🚤🌊
I’ve been loving this oval Amazon ring since it I’ve been loving this oval Amazon ring since it came in the mail last month. If you know me, you know I like to switch up my rings often. I have a lot that I like to play around with. Life is too short to not have fun with jewelry 😊
Also, an ombré mani that I can’t stop staring at. I feel like in the winter I like nail art and in the summer I like simple neutrals. 

Follow my shop @meaganrigney on the @shop.LTK app to shop 🌈

#liketkit 
@shop.ltk
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This weekend…. Picked up our oldest after 11 da This weekend….

Picked up our oldest after 11 days away at summer camp (with no phones/no contact!) and it was amazing. Love this kid!
Travelled 3 hours across state for a lacrosse tournament that even included an afternoon at the beach 🙌🏻
On Sunday drove 1.45 hours to pick up Molly from camp, then drove 1.45 hours back to watch the boys play in the championship game (lost by 1, boo…), then drove 3.15 hours back home. 
But! My babies are back home and all is well. 
Our hotel had Direct tv so I was reunited with my beloved Hallmark and watched a few Xmas in July movies 🙏🏻

Anyone know how to steam Hallmark? I need it back in my life 😞
A little over two years ago my family started watc A little over two years ago my family started watching wrestling together. It kinda became our thing, following the story lines and becoming invested in each character. My husband grew up watching it, and he wanted to share that with the kids. Then, slowly but surely, I got a little bit invested myself. 🙃What I love the most is that we all watch this together, and anything that we can all enjoy as a family is what makes me happy. 
Anyway... @allelitewrestling came to Detroit and we knew we had to get tickets. We went the other night and it was awesome! The lights, the music, how invested the crowd was, I kept looking over and seeing huge smiles on all of our faces. This was what we did during the pandemic, in the uncertainty of quarantine and the world, we watched a lot of movies and we watched wrestling. Getting to see it live sort of felt like a full circle moment. We had survived, moved across the country, and settled into this new life of ours that we love. If you had asked me 3 years ago if I would have enjoyed a wrestling match I would have rolled my eyes, but sitting there the other night in an arena full of magic and energy, it was just magic. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
*Also, is this what one wears to wrestling? Bodysuits? Wedges? lol 😆
When the looser jeans of our youth (long live the When the looser jeans of our youth (long live the 90's!) came back, I resisted. You weren't going to pry my Madewell black skinnies off of my body! Those of us who have lived it already know how bad low rise was (2" rise, baby), or how our pants used to be shredded and dirty b/c they dragged on the ground, or how the fit of everything was just off. 
 But then I got sucked into buying a pair of "dad jeans" (which is funny because I use to borrow my step-dad's jeans in high school), and after I got used to styling them I like the look! First of all, my legs can breath lol. The key is to show of your waist in some way and just not take yourself so seriously. The older I get, the less I care about wearing what other people think looks good and wearing what *I* want. Are my skinny jeans more flattering? Yes. DO I feel more comfortable in these? Also, yes. Life is too short to wear anything other than what YOU want, end of story. Wear the skinny jeans, or the baggier ones, buy the cropped tank or the oversized flannel. Forget about what is "right or cool" or what you think you *should* wear and just wear what makes you happy.
My mom sent me a package filled with old pics and My mom sent me a package filled with old pics and report cards that are hilarious and embarrassing! 

My faves....skiing in jeans in the 90's?!
The leaning my chin casually on my hand school pic. 

The fact that I have maybe 10 pictures of myself in high school but took probably 20 selfies of myself yesterday.

Report card comments..."A great worker, sometimes I need to interrupt her independent reading to call attention to the next class discussion." 😆
"Meagan needs to "buckle down" a little more on her studies and a little less on her artwork." 🤩
Turns out, my independent reading has turned me into a Language Arts teacher, and my art has turned into an Etsy shop. 

(There’s still no reason for skiing in jeans.) 🙃
A few self care things I do on the regular... *eve A few self care things I do on the regular...
*every two weeks I get my nails done. I get gel on my real nails and often get designs or fun colors, and seriously have a Pinterest board and a special album saved on my phone with ideas. It just makes me happy to have pretty nails. 
*I schedule in workouts. I don't do well with "winging it," I have to be really intentional with my time. I work out after work on Tues + Thurs and also on Sunday, and will sometimes add an extra day. I feel my personal best when I am active.
*A couple of months ago I finally started the habit of flossing my teeth. I just started at night and for some reason it has stuck and I am on a streak and I feel like a real grown up. You CAN teach an old dog new tricks at 41:)
*Every Sunday I cook a lunch for myself to bring to work, and I pack it into 5 pieces of Tupperware. I find a simple dish and will eat it all week. That way when I get up I just throw it in my lunchbox and I have a healthy option to eat. 
*I research affirmations and have them written in a word document. Typically during my lunch break I will open up and read the document, and then I have a running list of things I am grateful for that I type out. I also have a couple fave self help books at my desk and I read a chapter or two. 
*Every Sunday after my workout I apply a face mask and let it sit, then shower and apply a hair mask and exfoliate. Then after my shower I put my self tan on. Love starting the week feeling refreshed and with a little color on my skin. 
* I have days I do certain things that make my life easier. Saturday I meal plan and order my groceries. Sunday is for picking up groceries, meal prep, and laundry. Tuesday and Thursday I work out when I get home and wash my hair. Linking certain days to activities takes the thinking/anxiety out of running my life.
*Reading daily, lots of sleep, lots of water, painting, writing, etc.
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