I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life! I’m sure you’ve heard me say that a time or two, right? But seriously, quite often when my husband and I are having our pillow talk one of us will ask “can you believe this is our life?” just to check and see if the answer has changed…and the other will always respond “nope, it’s still a bit surreal”!!!
But I don’t want people to confuse happiness with perfection.
Just because I’m happy doesn’t mean that every single day is full of rainbows and kisses.
Just because I’m happy doesn’t mean that every single day is full of rainbows and kisses.
Some days I get tired and some days I’m just downright overwhelmed. Admit it! Some times you are too, right?!?
It seems the older you get the more responsibilities you acquire and at some point you have to recognize that life gets full. Take my responsibilities, for example, we’re talking stuff I do daily:
Baby needs | Make Breakfast | Play with baby | Prepare Lunch | Comfort baby | Cook Dinner | Feed baby | Wash dishes | Bathe baby | Read to baby | Put baby to sleep | Hubby needs | Business needs | Blog | Engage | Respond
…and that’s just a few. I can’t even begin to mention all or include things that I attempt to do on a weekly or monthly basis (i.e. laundry, grocery shopping, exercise, etc.). But, I’m slowly learning that in order to stay in my happy place I need to take time to think about ME. So below I’ve listed just a few things I’m doing that you can do too…
- Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you (I Peter 5:7, NIV)
- Spend time with God…talking, reading, praying, PRAISING!
- Ask for help when you need it.
- Recognize your limitations.
- Treat yourself (to anything)!
- Take time to laugh…it’s like medicine.
- Spend time with your friends :).
- Take time to pamper yourself, often.
- Spend time by yourself (quietly at home AND out and about).
- Take a break from the routine that is life and do something fun (just for you).
- Exercise and eat healthy (you need the energy to survive :))!
- Last but certainly not least, I’m learning that it’s okay to just let some things go here or there, every now and then!
So if you stop by my way and you see that I didn’t feel like picking up the books today after Maddie pulled them down (for the third time)…
Or you see that Maddie got her hands on my coupons this week and I haven’t gotten around to reorganizing them…
Or you see that my sink is full of dishes…
And my child is somewhere stuck…
Maddie was not harmed in the making of this post…she does get in there daily though, but can’t quite get out!
Just remember, I normally have ALL things in order, seriously! But sometimes…just every now and then…I may let a few things go…here or there! It’s for my own good and you should probably do it too!
I loved reading this post mainly because I'm one of those persons who often gets lost in the daily tasks of life. Sometimes I'm so used to a routine that I just forget to take time to live. And that's not good but it's something that I'm working on.
I can say that when I decided to let go and truly trust and let God, life has been so much easier to deal with and so much easier to live.
I love your list because it speaks directly to me. Great post!
I am glad to see other people have a normal home like we do 🙂 Visiting from the blog hop
Maddie is such a cutie pie! It's amazing how many different roles we have to juggle on a daily basis, and sometimes mutilple roles at the very same time. Life you, sometimes I just let go and I don't feel bad about it. Because I know when I'm being a wife I'm there 100%. So this month, with my theiss work due, I'm committed to that, and I'm lucky that I have a husband that just picks up what I've missed and we carry on 🙂
Love this. So, so true. Makes me think of a wise man who once told me that only God is superhuman. And when we can't do everything and be everything to everybody, it doesn't make us subhuman…it makes us human. Humans with a serious need for a superhuman God. 😉 Thanks for this reminder.
It gets easier, eventually. Enjoy those baby years. They fly by so fast. New follower from TMAIT. Have a great week! Stacie xo
This is great Nicole.
This might just be my favorite post ever! I can so relate 🙂
Now that my kids are older, I miss those baby days…even when they'd pull books or DVDs on the floor for the sixtieth time that day!
You've given good advice! Thank you for sharing!
Martha
I love this post! I am also really striving to spend more time praising and praying as faith is becoming more and more important in my life. I am your newest fan via the blog-hop and so glad I found your blog!
As always, I appreciate you backing up your wise words with scripture! It is always a nice daily reminder for me 🙂
I love this post just because it is so full of truth! Thanks for sharing and being so honestly raw. I blog over at http://lovelaughterhappyeverafter.blogspot.com/ so feel free to check it out! 🙂
great post! Your Maddie sounds a lot like my Little C! I was just finishing up a post about he dumps the cereal all over himself. So cute! And that's how my sink looks 90% of the time.
Love it! And I can totally relate, even posted nearly the same concept today too 😉
So cute that she gets stuck in the chair. 🙂 You're so right, taking time for yourself is important and something we should all remember to do! I followed you from the link-up. 🙂
http://wonderwhatsnextblog.blogspot.com
A great reminder! I often get overwhelmed with the "urgent" of the daily tasks- dishes, books off the floor, feeding and bathing children, loving the husband. But you're so right some things you have to let go every now and then.
Thanks!
Great post, Nicole!! OMG! I laughed so hard when I saw your daughter! It is the cutest picture! I just want to eat her! But I am also glad she wasn't hurt! 🙂 They know what they're doing I think 😀
this is a great post!!!
thank you so much for co -hosting!!
LOL "and my child is somewhere stuck." Awww what a cute upside down darling!
Except for the child I have stuff that's disorganized too and I'm not even a mom.
Wise words. I am glad you reminded us all that happiness does not mean perfect. =)
The photo of your kid 'stuck' is SO cute. haha…
xo,
nancy
http://adoretoadorn.blogspot.com
Great post! It's a good reminder that life doesn't have to be perfect to claim your happiness! Loved seeing the "not so perfect" pics…reminds me I have dishes to wash!
Wonderful posts and I love your ideas for staying in that happy place!
Also huge love for posting the photos of things you let go for the day!! I love bloggers who are honest about motherhood and life! 🙂
Can't wait to read more of your blog!
Your newest follower,
Aanika from http://www.theactivemum.com
I love this post! So true and that pic of Maddie; hilarious! Absolutely, love this!
Haha! This was too cute!
I think that we can compare ourselves to one another so much that we feel our lives should always be in tip top order…just waiting for a pic to be taken and posted on a blog. But sometimes (you know, in real life), it's just a sit back, relax, eat something fattening, don't fold or wash a THING kind of day! 🙂
xoxo
This is great. Every now and then you HAVE to let it go and just enjoy the moment and your little one!
whitney
michaelandwhitneyweekes.blogspot.com
It's definitely important to take care of yourself and remember not everything is perfect! my sink is full of dishes right now but there's just too much other stuff going on 🙂
xo,
Angela
headtotoechic.blogspot.com