For most of my life I considered myself to be a somewhat of a perfectionist. OK, lets be real, I was a over the top perfectionist. I was someone who would start cleaning the kitchen counter and end up scrubbing the fridge for no real reason at all. I was the girl in college that didn't spend time hanging out or partying. Rather I was the girl buried in her books on a Thursday or Friday night overly stressed that I wouldn't get an A on a test or that my paper wasn't perfect. I would even call my dad at anytime of night to express my anxiety. He would always promptly reply, "Sissy, it is going to be fine. You are a smart girl." But, as much needed as it was and appreciated I never truly believed it. You see, I have always worried about the small stuff and this carried on into much of my adult life. I always wondered if I was good enough? Smart enough? Making others proud?
This all changed once I became well, a mother. When you become a mother as most of you know, everything changes. Life is no longer about you. Hallelujah! Living life worrying about all of these tiny things was stressful and down right exhausting.
Since becoming a mother two years ago, my perspective on life has changed. I no longer worry if my house is spotless or if I made everyone happy that day or that everything is done early. Life happens. Things and people will get in your way. It is OK to let those little things go on your to do list to spend extra time cuddling with your little one or to dance in the car with your husband and child to your child's favorite song. Life will go on if you don't spend hours at school working on things for your students that aren't immediate. Life will go on if you let yourself be lazy here and there.
I tell you all this because having this perspective has given me a new lease on life and has truly set me free. Amen to that sister! I now live for well, big laughs and small moments.
I laugh everyday. When I say laugh, I don't mean that little chuckle when someone says something funny and you don't get it. I mean the kind of laugh that makes your belly hurt and your eyes tear up. I live to make other laugh and join in on the joy of having a good time no matter what I am doing.
I now live for the small moments. These are the moments that aren't always written in a scrapbook or captured by a picture. These small moments make your heart warm and bring a smile to your face. These moments almost take your breath away because they are truly that amazing. My small moments are in my day to day and often happen unexpectedly. I live to hear my daughter sing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider," to dance in the car to a Jason Aldean hit, to stop for a second to hug my husband not for any other reason then just to tell him that I love him. Life is about big laughs and small moments.
Live your life not wrapped in bills, work, or other nonsense. Live your life with big laughs and small moments!
