Do More of What Makes You Happy
Once a
gain, I am dragging myself out of bed, mentally going through my day’s checklist as I stumble through my morning routine of teeth brushing, super-speed showering, and grateful coffee-making. I get kids dressed, give them breakfast, check the boys’ school bags, figure out lunch for myself and the twins, plan dinner prep, check emails, mark bills to pay. I look at the calendar, and hey, what? It’s OCTOBER?
This is the moment where I give in to clichés: where did the time go? I blinked and whoosh, my babies are one, the days are long and years are short, blah blah blah.
I look at myself, the stereotypical stay-at-home parent with four young children and too many work projects because I don’t know how to say no (and secretly, I enjoy being useful outside of looking after children). My skin is too sallow, my body’s gone to a place that’s best described as squishy, my eyebrows are unkempt, and my once always-pretty nails, cut short and stubby, and remains stubbornly color-free. Let’s not even look at my feet.
I have fallen into the familiar hole of putting everyone else first and then losing myself. I once took pride in my appearance – beyond vanity of which I’m sure I didn’t lack, I liked being healthy and feeling good.
It’s more than looks, though. It’s the inner joy that’s missing. The daily grind has grounded me to dust, and I’m a pale shadow of who I used to be and what I could become.
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I like hot chocolate and reading. I rejoice when it rains. I love daisies and leather-skin journals. I like funky rings and charm bracelets. I like the buzz in a busy café. I like over-sized armchairs and throw blankets. I love cool sheets and clean laundry.
I like the smell of bookstores and running my fingers along book spines. I like eating ice cream and watching my favorite TV show. I like having one-on-one conversations with friends over a good meal. I like writing and photography.
I like window shopping and trying on clothes I know I’m not going to buy because heck, it’s fun. I love going to the movies and indulging in caramel popcorn (no sharing). I like baking and taking long walks (hah!). I like doing yoga and the good feelings afterwards.
So why don’t I do what I like? Why don’t I carve time out to do what I enjoy? Why don’t I look after myself?
Life is too short to wonder. It’s time to do more of what makes me happy.
MORE INSPIRATION:
- Why I Stopped Saying No to Screen Time
- Small and Mighty Moments
- Create Your Own Village
- The New Bedtime Story for Mama
Read more from the INSPIRE posts
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Photo Credit: Funny Girl at BigStock Photo. This post was written by Alison Lee exclusively for BonBon Break Media, LLC.
