Night-shift Reflections
Welcome to my new series called "Night-shift Reflections". Sometimes when I am awake in the middle of the night (at work) I reflect. My topic tonight, simplify.
"We women have a lot to learn about simplifying our lives. We have to decide what is important and than move along at a pace that is comfortable for us. We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something. We have to learn to be content with what we are." Marjorie Hinckley
I love this quote and many things about it resonate with me.
1) simplifying our lives.
I have been thinking about how much time I waste on the internet. Don't get me wrong, I do not think that the internet is all bad. I love catching up on my friend's blogs or searching pinterest for great recipes or home decorating ideas. I have learned a lot about budgeting, DIY home projects, cute church ideas and making more wholesome and creative meals from the internet. But I have started to feel this sense that I need to do it all and this is overwhelming and counter-productive.
2) develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something.
I recently decided I was going to run a half-marathon this summer. Mostly because I have been running on my treadmill a lot and I thought it was a worthy goal and I might possibly lose some weight in the process. I hurt my knee last week and had to take a few days off running. Then I thought, why am I doing this in the first place? Just to say I did it? Who really cares? It wasn't that I was trying to prove to someone else but more that I was trying to prove to myself that I can do it. Then I finally gave myself permission to NOT do it and it is a relief!
3)move along at a pace that is comfortable for us.
This sort of brought it all home for me. There are a lot of great things to do in life but I finally have realized that I do not have to do them all today. There will be time to garden, to read books for leisure, to run half-marathons, to sew, to travel, to have chickens :, to get involved in politics (yeah right, maybe never) one day, BUT I don't have to do it all right this minute. For me moving along at a comfortable pace means letting go of this notion that I can and need to do it all right NOW. Maybe I will plant (and kill) a tomato plant here and there or try to read a book once in a while or maybe not.
I am in school, working part-time weekend nights and together with an awesome husband we are raising a toddler. Pretty sure that is enough without adding the extra burden of trying to achieve the unrealistic.
I haven't lost the baby weight yet (probably won't until after the next baby) but I am kind and patient with Eliza, I won't be running a half-marathon but I tickle my husband's back almost every night, I rarely get dressed in anything other than my yoga pants if I don't have to but we sit on the couch as a family many nights and laugh and giggle (at all the cute things Eliza is doing), I don't have cute craft projects for my toddler to do 9 out of 10 times but I read to her everyday before nap and before bedtime, my house is often messy but I talk to my husband multiple times throughout the day just because we can't go more than a few hours without a play-by-play of each others day.
I believe in hardwork. I believe in goal setting and stretching yourself to be better. I believe in creating opportunities for yourself and not burning bridges or shutting doors. I believe in making the home a sanctuary and to me that means decorating it with the things I love and of course, filling it with the smell of homemade cookies! I think it is great to cultivate your talents and find joy in creating, exploring, SHOPPING, baking, jogging. I happen to like Diet Coke and peanut M&M's for an afternoon snack. So this year is not going to be the year I run a half-marathon, clean between the oven doors, sew Eliza's princess costumes or make playdough from scratch but maybe this year I can learn to be happy with where I am at, with what I am doing and with who I am.
"We women have a lot to learn about simplifying our lives. We have to decide what is important and than move along at a pace that is comfortable for us. We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something. We have to learn to be content with what we are." Marjorie Hinckley
I love this quote and many things about it resonate with me.
1) simplifying our lives.
I have been thinking about how much time I waste on the internet. Don't get me wrong, I do not think that the internet is all bad. I love catching up on my friend's blogs or searching pinterest for great recipes or home decorating ideas. I have learned a lot about budgeting, DIY home projects, cute church ideas and making more wholesome and creative meals from the internet. But I have started to feel this sense that I need to do it all and this is overwhelming and counter-productive.
2) develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something.
I recently decided I was going to run a half-marathon this summer. Mostly because I have been running on my treadmill a lot and I thought it was a worthy goal and I might possibly lose some weight in the process. I hurt my knee last week and had to take a few days off running. Then I thought, why am I doing this in the first place? Just to say I did it? Who really cares? It wasn't that I was trying to prove to someone else but more that I was trying to prove to myself that I can do it. Then I finally gave myself permission to NOT do it and it is a relief!
3)move along at a pace that is comfortable for us.
This sort of brought it all home for me. There are a lot of great things to do in life but I finally have realized that I do not have to do them all today. There will be time to garden, to read books for leisure, to run half-marathons, to sew, to travel, to have chickens :, to get involved in politics (yeah right, maybe never) one day, BUT I don't have to do it all right this minute. For me moving along at a comfortable pace means letting go of this notion that I can and need to do it all right NOW. Maybe I will plant (and kill) a tomato plant here and there or try to read a book once in a while or maybe not.
I am in school, working part-time weekend nights and together with an awesome husband we are raising a toddler. Pretty sure that is enough without adding the extra burden of trying to achieve the unrealistic.
I haven't lost the baby weight yet (probably won't until after the next baby) but I am kind and patient with Eliza, I won't be running a half-marathon but I tickle my husband's back almost every night, I rarely get dressed in anything other than my yoga pants if I don't have to but we sit on the couch as a family many nights and laugh and giggle (at all the cute things Eliza is doing), I don't have cute craft projects for my toddler to do 9 out of 10 times but I read to her everyday before nap and before bedtime, my house is often messy but I talk to my husband multiple times throughout the day just because we can't go more than a few hours without a play-by-play of each others day.
I believe in hardwork. I believe in goal setting and stretching yourself to be better. I believe in creating opportunities for yourself and not burning bridges or shutting doors. I believe in making the home a sanctuary and to me that means decorating it with the things I love and of course, filling it with the smell of homemade cookies! I think it is great to cultivate your talents and find joy in creating, exploring, SHOPPING, baking, jogging. I happen to like Diet Coke and peanut M&M's for an afternoon snack. So this year is not going to be the year I run a half-marathon, clean between the oven doors, sew Eliza's princess costumes or make playdough from scratch but maybe this year I can learn to be happy with where I am at, with what I am doing and with who I am.
posted by Mandy | 6:10 AM
3 Comments:
I love this post Mandy. If it makes you feel better, I have run several half marathons this year and run all the time and still haven't lost my baby weight! And as soon as you run a half marathon, you just think to yourself, yeah, but it wasn't a full marathon, so it doesn't count, and then you end up on a slippery slope!
Right now I'm stressing myself out because I am doing photoalbums and I can't remember anything about any stage. So this reminds me, I am okay!
And I think it's amazing you're working and going to school and raising your daughter. You're awesome!
The perfect blog and subject of my life. I think you hit the nail right on the head. We don't have to be perfect, just happy.
What a beautiful quote by Sister Hinckley and a beautiful post. I loved reading this, and looking at Eliza who is just so adorable! You should feel so proud for all that you are doing, and never worry about the baby weight.
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