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| Ack! I’ve failed at updating this “series”… soooo here it is… |
If you’ve been reading for awhile, you’ll remember that at the beginning of 2015, I started a new little “blog series” {okay, blog series is a bit strong for what I do… I’m not realllly a blog series type of blogger. I’m more of a throw whatever I’m thinking on a certain day type of blogger… but I digress} called A Whole New Year. I had chosen a theme word for the year, as many of the hip, young people seem to do these days, and decided to form all of my new year’s resolutions around that word. And for 2015, my word, was WHOLE.
Why whole? Because I’m not gonna sugarcoat it, folks. After three babies, three rounds of the MSPI diet, three times of leaving jobs to stay home, and all the changes that come with getting to be a mama, I was feeling a little lost in the shuffle of it all. I was feeling like my children had become my whole self. And I wanted to take some time to focus on putting me back into the picture.
So I did it. I was off to a roaring good start, too, if I’m being honest. I took it very seriously. I was very devoted to my monthly goals. For like, four months, people. And then, the posts stopped coming. Partially because I got scatterbrained as I often do. And partially because I couldn’t come up with anything else new to do… because all the things I started doing were working. Working their mojo… making me feel whole again.
If you missed the posts, you can do a little review of them, here: A Whole New Year
So let’s play a little game I like to call: Blogger Mamas: Where are they now?
We are 6 months into 2015, and regardless of whether I’ve remained on track with making my goals each month, I can tell you that the point of the year, the word that I’ve chosen, it is still in full swing. And that, my friends, was really all that mattered to me in the big picture. So while I’ve failed at continuing to add new goals each month, at the half-year check, I call this mission success.
I’ve been talking to too many mamas lately who feel like they are a bit lost in the big picture of their lives. This isn’t an uncommon issue. As we have our own littles {or biggers} to tend to, we are bound to shift the focus from ourselves, or from our marriages, in different directions. We are bound to make sacrifices {though I sort of hate that word for motherhood. I mean, really? Sacrifice? Seems a little dramatic}. We are bound to change our priorities. In fact, I think, in some ways — in some periods of our motherhood — it is required.
And then, it is our responsibility to shift back.
So this year, I’ve been able to refocus a bit. On me. And while that still feels selfish to say, it feels blissfully wonderful to actually accomplish.
I’ve been able to add fitness back into my life, providing me with a mental outlet. I’ve added a Facebook page for the blog which has allowed me to connect more with people on a daily basis and to do something sort of new-ish from a blogger perspective … something that, for an extrovert and a feeler like myself was somewhat missing as I am at home with little dudes. I have made a concerted effort to evaluate what kind of mama I want to be… or need to be… for my kids. And by and large, have stopped comparing my discipline, organization, activity schedules, and the like, to other moms around me. This has helped me to judge myself less and not feel inadequate as my boys’ mother. I’ve learned to play the guitar. I’ve gotten my house in a bit of order. Gone on vacation. Spent time with my husband. And my friends. I’ve been living, friends. And I feel, as I stated the other day, more content.
I feel more whole than when I began. And whether I can credit that to the word of the year, I don’t know. But I do think it was the kickstart I needed.
So that’s it… my Where are they now.
And just because I can, I am sharing another guitar video with you today. Because while I’m still no Anna Christensen {you guys, she’s a friend of mine and she’s dreaming big dreams and making them happen for herself! Writing her own music… making her own album… finding what makes her WHOLE}, I love love love playing and doing something that is just mine.
Here’s the thing… my thought for the day. I think we often don’t do things for ourselves because we think it’s selfish or not worth the time. I think some people think that finding something that fulfills them or they are passionate about seems fluffy or meant for kids right out of college. I also think that sometimes we let fear get in the way of stepping out of our comfort zone and doing something that we really want to do. But I am here to tell you, in all my Baby on the Brehm wisdom {ahem. And why can’t I use that smiling/crying emoji on my laptop?}, that you need yourself. You need to tap into what makes you content — life is just better when you can be some semblance of a person you love to be. I think you need to find ways to feel whole. And if you’re a mama and being a mama is the one and only thing that makes you feel whole, that’s totally cool. But if not, if you feel like you are looking for something additional to fill your bucket, go with it!!
And with that, I leave you with a professionally made little ditty {my husband is a saint for just going along with all of this crazytown I bring} of me playing {or plunking} one of my fave {because if Mandy Moore and I ever met, I just know we could be the very best of friends}, very easy songs…
+Also, maybe this is weird BUT{I think we’ve all determined I’m a little weird. Okay, maybe a lotta weird} — if you have any questions for me, shoot them my way. I’m compiling a post with FAQs that I get about my little space here, parenting, blogging, and the like!
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