The Journal of a Busy Mother 

Why Gratitude is the way forward

Happy New Year Folks, I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and a great start to the new year. I have been MIA the last month, mainly because December was super busy as it is for most of us.

Over the Christmas period I surprised myself by allowing myself to rest and relax. It can be a hard thing to do when you feel like there are a million and one things to get done. Not only did I relax, but I also got respite from my ever-growing list of things to do. You cannot underestimate the importance of rest both physically and mentally. Normally, we associate rest with not having AS MANY things to do, when mentally speaking we are taking note of jobs that need to be done down the line. And if that wasn’t bad enough, we are consumed in technology – our brains are on overdrive 90% of the time during waking hours. Anyway, I digress! All I mean to say is I welcomed the break, the relaxation, the quality time with my family. It was needed, I craved the break in routine. No school/creche drop offs or collections, no lunches had to be prepared, no rush in the mornings. It was bliss!

This is my first week back and I feel like Bambi learning to walk, slow and as if I have been living in a fog and can finally see the clearing. I like to refer to it as the ‘Christmas Haze’. And usually my inclination would be to give myself a hard time for not being as productive or fast paced as I would like to be but what’s the point in that? Admittedly I like the slower pace of living. I have the privilege of working for myself, I don’t answer to an employer, I get to speed up or slow down at my leisure. Why wouldn’t I take advantage of that? Especially that my kids are the ages they are (7 & almost 2). I feel grateful. What a sweet deposition to be able to say that at this stage of the year.

I wanted to pause and reflect for a moment. I love New Year’s because as we ring in the new year looking back over the year gone by, remembering the highs and lows, I always stop and wonder where will I be next New Year’s. A year is not a massive amount of time and yet the opportunity is there to do so much in that time. I don’t feel like the same person I was in January 2022, I feel like I have grown so much in a year. I have come to like (was going to say love but that’s putting it strongly!) challenges, whether it’s an emotional, physical, spiritual, it is all learning. And you really cannot put a price on that.

January is well on its way, 2023 is shaping up to be a good year. Not for any major reason other than I get to continue doing what I love. Do I have goals/intentions for the coming year? 100% I do. Am I going to beat myself with a stick until I get there, absolutely not. I am journeying towards becoming my own best friend. Pouring my energy and focus into my joys in life. New Year’s resolutions I don’t really agree with, shock, horror! I don’t believe you need to wait until January to make changes in your life. Or wait until a Monday – I used to this too “ ah I will do it Monday”! You can make changes NOW.

What are some of the goals/intentions you have set for yourself? Have you decided on an action plan, how you will make that happen? What about your mindset? Have you decided how you will treat yourself as you reach this goal or transition? How we talk to ourselves is EVERYTHING. Believe me, you are talking to the converted. I was one of those people who consistently kicked my backside until I got to my goal. But do you want to know the kicker? When we do this, there is no end goal, once we hit the mark we are straight away kicking our behinds onto the next task in mind. Stealing our sense of accomplishment and joy. Instead replacing it with exhaustion. Steer clear from troubling yourself with this strategy. Treat yourself as you would if you already accomplished your goal. You deserve unconditional love and support in spite of where you are in your life.

Beginning the year feeling grateful can only make your year better. Take a moment for yourself and list three things that you are grateful for. We live in excess; we are not starved of anything. We may need to tweak certain things but their existence is within our reach even before we take the step. Privilege.

Let me end this post by telling you this story, my aunt works for a charity that provides for the less fortunate. She approached me one day, knowing that I was due to do my annual clear out of old clothes and toys and asked me to keep this family in mind. They were not in their country of origin, away from their extended family and preparing for Christmas. I was of course more than happy to give these things a new home, and what’s more my 7 year old daughter was excited to make another little girl happy. Bless her heart.

My daughter selflessly gave an old Frozen dollhouse that she no longer played with to this family along with a few other bits she has outgrown. My aunt came back to me the following week and said that the mother was blown away with tears of joy with my daughters kindness. When I told my daughter this, she smiled and said “good”.  In that moment, I felt grateful. Kindness is everything.

So instead of beating yourself up or being too strict on yourself, remember we achieve more when we act a little kinder to ourselves and others. Happy 2023 people.

Until Next Time,

Mind You,

Laura

xxx