No matter what, regardless of situation, flourish. Make lemons out of lemonade. Bloom where you are planted.
Easier said than done!
It is a concept that I struggle with daily. Often, it is one I honestly don't even try to accomplish because it feels so ominous. And, even more often, I grieve the loss of a dream or dream of an alternative. And I wish away the present.
I fill my days with busyness and praying that tomorrow will come soon.
I am a Photographer.
I am a Dental Hygienist.
I am a mother of young children.
I am a wife.
I am a friend.
When one role is focused on, a different one suffers.
Just catching a glimpse of my calendar from across the room gives me a rash.
I love all of my roles. I love all of my people. On paper, I love my life. But living it is chaotic and messy and trial by error! And not at all how I imagined.
My house is a DISASTER almost always. I am 30 pounds heavier than I need to be. My children cling to me and sabotage any effort I put into being productive. I never see my husband. My friendship suffer because I have zero free time. And through it all, my mind always retreats to this small Bible verse my mom needlepointed onto a little framed piece of fabric and hung in her kitchen window when I was a child - "Bloom where you are planted."
How on earth am I supposed to bloom on this section of earth when that section over there is so lush and fertile and ideal? I want to bloom over there, not here!!
I know It will get better. Parenting young children is ROUGH. But looking at social media you would never know it! I see it all the time on my friends' profiles. "I did laundry, worked out, prepped all my meals, groomed the dog, washed all my windows, showered, painted my nails, snuggled with my kids and it's only 6:15 AM!!!!!" and I see the photos of your immaculate houses, your toned bodies, your bathed children, your care-free smiles and I think - "WHAT???? Am I living in some alternate universe where parenting is messy and chaos and you guys are in the real world where you wake up to perfection?"
How absolutely defeating.
So here's my game-plan for my life from here on out. Here are my steps for learning out to be content with my life...
1) I'm done comparing. I'm done trying to portray my life as perfect. You're going to get to see the messy :) I'm totally not clearing off that stack of papers and magazines from the kitchen table or sweeping the kitchen floor before I take a photo of my kids to post on FB. My house is a mess. And also total 1990s style. Get ready to see my brass fixtures and oak trim, people!
I'm going to celebrate the messy and the chaos!
Because you know what? I want my friends and fellow mamas to know that if all you can do is lay on the floor and let your toddlers climb all over you for hours, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!!
If you don't remember the last time your kid had a bath, YOU ARE NOT ALONE
If you look at the food stains on your clothes and wear them anyways, YOU ARE NOT ALONE
What matters more than having a clean house and a polished image is that your family knows that you love them, that you want to spend time with them, and that they are more important than anything else
2) I'm counting my blessings -first thing in the morning.
Gratitude is the first step toward happiness and peace. I am so blessed, but what is the point of blessings if you don't recognize them or appreciate them!
That's it! Just those two things!
Because embracing the chaos makes my blessings obvious!
I have everything I need to bloom.
Sunshine AND rain.