For the last year and a half, David and I haven’t been able to get out and do too much because of my having a rough pregnancy and then us having a newborn (plus an insanely busy summer). We’re just now getting into our rhythm as a family of three and we’ve enjoyed being able to go on some fun adventures.
I firmly believe that every moment in life has the potential for adventure.
David and I try to live each day with this philosophy and for us that often means getting out and exploring our city as much as we can.
This morning I was reading from Joyce Meyer’s “Confident Woman Devotional” and what she had to say REALLY resonated with me, especially after what I wrote about last Friday. She writes: “I think the greatest tragedy in life is to live and not enjoy life. If you are warring with yourself all the time, you are not enjoying your life… We wrestle and struggle with ourselves because of all that we are not not, when we should be praising and worshiping God for all that we are.” (pg. 144) Oh man. This was just exactly what I needed to hear. I so struggle with “warring” with myself. I have such a hard time relaxing and allowing myself to be imperfect and I can be REALLY hard on myself. In fact, there are some days where I struggle to find happiness because I am so… in my own head. We laughed on Friday about my failed camping excursion (and now I can honestly laugh about it), but at the time I felt like such a failure. After reading Meyer’s words,
I realized that I was living that moment, but I wasn’t allowing myself to enjoy that moment.
I was warring with the fact that we weren’t able to pull off a successful camping trip instead of enjoying the craziness of the situation! I have noticed that I’m also prone to this with this whole capsule wardrobe journey. Sometimes I get so caught up in creating the perfect experience that I’m not actually enjoying life! But I started this whole journey so that I could find more fulfillment in life by not getting so caught up in the external parts of my person. This really is a journey… one that I feel I am only beginning. Do any of you struggle with living in, and enjoying, the moment? Or if you don’t do you have any advice for this lady about how to relax and let life’s “oops” moments be fun and not stressful? I’d love to hear from you! Let me know in the comments below.
Until next time,
I don’t think I’ve mentioned this yet, but I wish my husband was good at taking pictures because I would have loved to have photos like this of me with my kiddos. <3
I definitely am so grateful that my hubby likes to take pictures. He takes a lot of my pictures so that we can capture us doing things. However,these pictures were taken by my friend Olivia and she has a great eye! 🙂
The photos are lovely! As are baby and mom :). I can relate to much of what you said. Living in your head will definitely steal your joy! We’ve been in a transitional phase as well…life with an infant (again!), after raising two girls to ages 10 and 13, and also a big cross-country move this summer (Hawaii to Maryland). I feel like I’m just going through the motions and *waiting* to enjoy life again when we’re all settled.
Have a great week!
Thank you! You are too kind! I can’t imagine a move like that. Not only is it cross country, but it’s such different environments! And I totally understand what you mean about waiting. Sometimes I get stuck in that as well, where I think, if I just wait until “this” happens, then I’ll be happy! Nasty cycle. Thanks for your comment! It’s encouraging to hear I’m not the only one!
“Sometimes I get stuck in that as well, where I think, if I just wait until “this” happens, then I’ll be happy!”
Absolutely! I feel you on that.
Ugh! At least there are other people out there like me so I don’t feel so alone. 😉
This is probably the most valuable lesson I’ve learned as a new mom myself. I too fall pretty to trying to create the “perfect” experience. But our best days are when I let go and just have fun with my little baby, she’s only eight months old so I feel a bit ahead of the game to be realizing this now!
You are ahead of the game! I totally agree that the best days have come when I just let go and let what happens, happen!
I definitely have a hard time letting go of things and just enjoying the moment. I’m working really hard on it, though. Great post and great reminder! 🙂
Thanks Crystal! It’s so nice to hear from others that we all struggle with this. Solidarity right??
Yes you are definitely not alone! And no there is no perfect advice for it! The best advice I have gotten is to always approach things with zero expectations. But boy that is so hard!
That is SO hard, but I have found that when I will myself to think like that, things do go better for me. 🙂
Karin, Pregnancy and motherhood have made me keenly aware of my need to control and be “perfect”. Pre pregnancy I was okay with a certain number of “flaws” – they keep us humble and relatable, right? But having Evie and making the decision to stay home with her really upped my neurotic tendencies. I think it’s because she’s my “job”. She represents how successful I am. I was a really good esthetician. How do I know this? I had clients tell me all day long- how great their skin looked, how much they loved their brows, how painless that wax felt, etc. I have no way to gauge my success as a mother, yet. So I analyze each and every decision until I’m paralyzed and yes, very in my head. I’m in process- learning to let go and enjoy the journey. I’ve become aware of my need for Grace in whole new way. This is of course only one of the many areas I’m in process on;).
Perfect or not, I think you and your blog are fabulous.
Oh my word Christen… I feel like you just put into words exactly what I was feeling. When I was working outside of the home, there were variables and objectives that told me exactly how I was doing. And with Kit, even when I think I’m doing something right, she can’t say “good job mom, A+!” Haha. It’s so good for me though to be doing something where I’m forced to get my validation from God and not from others. And you are so sweet! I hope we can hang out soon!
Just one of many things motherhood is teaching us…
Awww, what a beautiful baby! And gorgeous pictures, too!
Thank you Jenn!