Habit Making – Melissa Schlies

Before Setting Goals, Do This First in 2022

Three months into my first job in youth ministry, I sat in the office of one of my coworkers. My shoulders were hunched. My eyes were heavy. I was afraid I was going to cry if I said too much. I felt so empty. Across from me sat one of the few fellow women leaders on our staff. She was a force, and yet cast a motherly gaze directly into my face. Though I was trying hard to keep it together, she drew out of me what I needed so badly to say: The way I was leading and living [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2022-01-03T01:01:55+00:00January 3rd, 2022|Categories: Balance, Habit Making, Health, Holidays, Mental Health, perseverance, Practice, Routines, Self Care, Social Distancing, Start Here|Comments Off

A (Mostly) Unexpected Christmas Bucket List

One of my favorite Christmas memories from growing up, is of my dad taking our family into Boston. He wanted to introduce my sisters and I to one of his favorite memories as a kid: seeing The Enchanted Village at the now former department store, Jordan Marsh. A small mechanical village with over 250 animated figurines, The Enchanted Village, takes you back to a Norman Rockwell version of Christmas. Created originally in 1958, it can still be visited each holiday season at a large furniture store in Massachusetts. Only, at fourteen, I probably didn’t appreciate it as much as [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2021-12-12T20:56:03+00:00December 13th, 2021|Categories: Acceptance, Adulting, Christmas, gratitude, Habit Making, Holidays, Hope|2 Comments

My Fall Bucket List & How Fall Helped Me Find Contentment

For as long as I can remember, fall has been my favorite season. It has the perfect weather to wear a sweater, but not need a jacket. To drink a hot, fall flavored latte without overheating. And to turn on the oven, and bake a pie. But ten years ago, Tony and I entered into a difficult life season, and fall became even more dear to me. Fall has the perfect weather to wear a sweater, but not need a jacket. To drink a hot, fall flavored latte without overheating. And to turn on the oven, and bake a pie. [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2021-10-13T23:20:23+00:00October 14th, 2021|Categories: Anxiety, Change, Conflict, Contentment, Creativity, Depression, grief, Habit Making, Health, perseverance, Self Care|Comments Off

One Surprising Step in Finding Contentment

“So, is it possible to get to the point where I am ok being single?” Over the tops of our Starbucks coffees, she looked me straight in the eye and I couldn’t lie to her. Not that I wanted to. It’s just, as a mentor whose job it is to encourage, it can be difficult to speak the truth when it’s discouraging. “It may be. But it’s also possible you will always want a relationship until you have one. I know for me, as hard as I tried, the wanting never went away.” I replied, hoping my words didn’t sound [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2021-10-11T01:28:56+00:00October 11th, 2021|Categories: Acceptance, Contentment, Habit Making, Health, perseverance, Relationships, Self Care, Singleness, Waiting|Comments Off

How Do We Find Contentment—in All of This?

As I write this, a big red truck is beeping outside my window. The sound of grinding pavement can be heard in the distance. It’s not the perfect soundtrack for writing, but here I am. For almost six months now, our city has been digging up the streets around our house to replace our gas lines. And even though today there’s the promise of new pavement, believing it will all be over soon, is difficult. There’s been too many weeks of “no parking” signs posted on our sidewalks. Too many days of circling the block trying to find our way [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2021-10-04T14:18:01+00:00October 4th, 2021|Categories: Acceptance, Anxiety, Balance, Contentment, Depression, Habit Making, Self Care|Comments Off

When You Feel Behind & It’s Already Fall

In January, when we were all praying this year would be better, I committed to practicing yoga at least three times a week. I needed a physical way to release all the stress my body was carrying—but also, I was out of shape. And rather than begin with an intense exercise regimen that may be hard to maintain, I decided to slowly build back the strength I had lost in 2020. Soon, yoga became a morning routine I looked forward to. It helped me start my days with purpose. Emotionally, I was calmer. And the more I practiced, the stronger [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2021-09-16T10:22:58+00:00September 20th, 2021|Categories: Acceptance, Anxiety, Balance, Change, comparison, Conflict, Failure, Habit Making, Routines, Uncategorized|Comments Off

Three Things To Remember As Fall Begins

Last week, Tony and I got on an airplane for the first time since the pandemic began. We went to visit Family. On our way home, due to a connecting flight, we sat on a hot tarmac in the middle of North Carolina, waiting to take off for Pennsylvania. And though, it wasn’t one of those awful situations you hear about on the news where people get stuck on a plane for hours, It felt like we were waiting forever. While Tony fell asleep next to me, I read. Then from my seat, I looked around the plane. Finally I [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2021-09-10T10:47:09+00:00September 13th, 2021|Categories: Anxiety, Change, Failure, grief, Habit Making, Hope, Routines|Comments Off

Simon Biles, The Lies We Believe About Rest, & An Announcement

Did you feel it? The Earth shifting under our feet last week as a woman stepped away from what was expected of her—to take care of herself. Through prioritizing her mental health over Olympic glory, Simone Biles modeled what many of us women struggle greatly to do: She chose rest. She chose herself. Instead of trying to meet the expectations of her country, judges, colleagues, friends, coaches, and family, Simone listened to what her mental, emotional, and physical self was telling her. She couldn’t keep going. So she stopped. I am not sure what your journey with rest and self [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2021-08-01T20:01:39+00:00August 2nd, 2021|Categories: Anxiety, Balance, Courage, Habit Making, Health, Mental Health, Self Care|Comments Off

Creating Routines With Your Spouse Step 5: Repeat

I am a person of habit. I will drink my coffee the same way for months or years on end before changing it. When we go to our favorite sushi place, I always get their Thai rice noodles. When I listen to music, I’ll listen to the same album over and over before moving on to another. For example, this year, I listened to Taylor Swift’s new albums way more than I want you to know. In other words, If I find something I like, I’ll stick with it until it gets old. As much as I love hiking mountains [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2021-07-25T23:39:11+00:00July 26th, 2021|Categories: Balance, Change, Habit Making, Health, Marriage, Relationships, Routines|Comments Off

Creating Routines With Your Spouse Step 4: Keep Talking

Before he ever told me he loved me, Tony showed me. About four months into our relationship, we went to Maine. We traveled with a group of friends to the northern part of the state to hike Mt. Katahdin. It would be the first mountain I had ever climbed, and the morning of the hike, I began to worry I wouldn’t reach the top. Thankfully, there were plenty of other newbie climbers in our group and they assured me, we’d take breaks when we needed them. The weather was perfect and slowly but surely, we made it to the peak. [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2021-07-18T22:40:46+00:00July 19th, 2021|Categories: Adulting, Balance, Change, Habit Making, Marriage, perseverance, Relationships, Routines|Comments Off

A (Mostly) Unexpected Christmas Bucket List

My Fall Bucket List & How Fall Helped Me Find Contentment

One Surprising Step in Finding Contentment

How Do We Find Contentment—in All of This?

When You Feel Behind & It’s Already Fall

Three Things To Remember As Fall Begins

Simon Biles, The Lies We Believe About Rest, & An Announcement

Creating Routines With Your Spouse Step 5: Repeat

Creating Routines With Your Spouse Step 4: Keep Talking

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