Isn’t it so easy to want more? I would love more people like you visiting the blog every day. I could use a new pair of black boots. There’s always something more I want for the boys. I definitely could use more time in a day to get things done. And there’s always that one more thing to do. Actually there’s probably about 10 more things to do but who is counting. And if only I could be more. More patient. More involved at school. More productive. More put together. Sound familiar?
Well you know what. I have enough. I am thankful for each and every one of you and really, my tan boots go well with most outfits anyway. I do enough. I really do. I know this because I am exhausted by the end of every day. I am enough. You are enough too.
I don’t blog very much about my personal journey but it’s there. My soul is a work in progress. As we close in on this most thankful time of the year I have been making an concerted effort to really focus on what I have, what I have accomplished, as opposed to what is still left unchecked on my to-do list or what is still on my wish list of things to acquire. You know what? It really is making me more peaceful. More grateful and more thankful. At the end of every day instead of mentally checking off what I didn’t get done I am starting to look at what I did do. Maybe there are dishes still in the sink and the dishwasher needs to be unloaded but perhaps I managed to put away all the laundry and finally clear off the dining room table. Sometimes I have to make a list. Write it down. See it with your own eyes. Some days you will be amazed. Maybe you didn’t cross one thing off that to-do list but you did about 12 things that weren’t even on it to begin with. You did good. You were enough.
Like today…
I finished a cup of coffee, got the dishes done, packed the kids for an upcoming trip, wrote a blog post, ran some errands, spent some time promoting a few things on social media, did a craft project with my two year old, did laundry (although don’t be fooled it’s not put away), photographed a project for another upcoming blog post, took the cat to the vet, and managed to sit down and have dinner with all three boys. Oh and I got a shower! I spent a little quality time with each child, played with and read to them and tucked all of them in with hugs and kisses. It was a good day. THESE are the things that I will go to bed thankful for tonight.
Nothing overly glamorous and there was a day where finishing a cup of coffee or taking and shower would be no big deal. A day when cleaning the kitchen would take 5 minutes instead of 50. But for the season of life that I am in that’s huge. I deserve to give myself credit for that. It counts. Believe me I am totally grateful…times a billion, any time I get a shower complete with shampoo and blow dry. It counts for you too! A few of those things were not what I set out to do today but it’s where the day took me. There are many things still not checked off, but I am going to bed grateful. Thankful that I had a full and meaningful day. Thankful for what I did accomplish instead of disheartened by what I didn’t. Thankful most of all that even if my to-do list remained completely untouched and there wasn’t much else exciting or productive that I did, more than likely I was busy being a good mom. Thankful that I am there to kiss boo-boos. Dry tears. Give hugs. Feed tummies. Play or offer a lap. I’m certain that my babies are grateful even if they can’t say it.
It’s a paradigm shift. One that I intend to continue to practice. Will you try it with me? By looking at what I did do I am finding that I have a greater appreciation for myself, for this life that I am living right now. This place that I am in and the things that I have. I am enough. I have enough. More clothes would just mean more laundry anyway (and I am completely grateful for less of that). I am thankful for what I was able to accomplish today and I am thankful that I had the means by which to accomplish it. Being of that mindset at the end of the day make for a much more grateful heart than the one that comes from beating myself up with thoughts of… well you didn’t get done x y or z.
So… this post is a little out of the norm for me. I hope that you enjoyed it. Each day in November from the 1st – the 21st a group of beautiful bloggers will be sharing a gratitude related post or activity and quote as part of the #21DaysGratitude movement. The schedule is here along with all of the info if you would like to find out more or join in.
These are the wonderful bloggers joining in the 21 Days of Gratitude: Inspired by Familia, Upside Down Homeschooling, Still Playing School, Makeovers and Motherhood, P is for Preschooler, The Educators’ Spin On It, Toddler Approved!, The Connection We Share, Mama Pea Pod, Mum in the Madhouse, Mama Miss, Plain Vanilla Mom, Tips from a Typical Mom, Learning with Mouse, Preschool Powol Packets, Kids Yoga Stories, Dirt and Boogers, Local Fun for Kids, Positive Parenting Connection, Kitchen Counter Chronicles, The Good Long Road, Bits of Positivity, JDaniel 4’s Mom, The Eyes of A Boy
I hope you will stop by and visit them and perhaps be inspired.
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