Two years ago, I discovered the beauty of having something to look forward to.
The story goes like this: that summer my kids were in a week-long day camp - the first time both had been in a full-day camp at the same time in 9 years. I used the hours from 9am - 4pm to run errands, visit with friends, date my husband, schedule beauty appoints and other awesome things like sleep in! I filled the week with several events that filled me with excited anticipation. I used the hours to recharge, connect with other adult people and and fill up my own joy tank!
We all know life as a mom can be a bit...well, exhausting. Beautiful and precious and wonderful but exhausting nonetheless. Am I right?! Scheduling these special soul-filling times allowed me to desperately miss my kids more than ever. I was able to enjoy the time I spent with them! Carving out special time for myself - making things all about me - made me feel like a whole person again. Truthfully, I sort of woke up. And I realized that I need more things in my life to look FORWARD to.
I'm not only talking about time for just myself. I started opening our house to guests more. Seeking opportunities to create memories with my kids individually and as a family. Creating special time for just Kevin and I. Scheduling more family trips. And documenting everything. My theory has always been to document all the good times so that the horrible times are less memorable!
When I created this blog over 9 years ago I named it No Regrets. The theme was all about how my past was not going to impact my future. No looking back (which is all I did) and deciding once and for all to not dwell on my failures (which is all I did). After my second child was born, I changed the name to My Life Today. My desire was to focus on the blessings of today everyday. To not look back, to not look too far ahead but to remain in the present and be grateful for the here and now.
So basically, I've titled my blog about the past, present and now the future :) I'd like to see all moms schedule more things in their lives to look forward. With their families and apart from them. In an effort to lessen all of our mental stress, let's look at what we love...and do more of it! Let's take more time to examine what brings us all joy and schedule more of THAT in our lives! There's always going to be the things we have to do that we hate doing - for me it's putting away laundry & unloading the dishwasher. But scheduling 1-2 things/week that give me something to look forward to in life...I think it'll make the other stuff less miserable.
It's true that saying: if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. Maybe you're like me and have had those desperate moments of feeling useless in the big scheme of things. Well, I say it's high time for a pedicure. Or creating a book club. Or volunteering at the nursing home. Or reading a book on the beach during lunchtime. Or a hot bath. These are the everyday sort of things we can look forward to.
It may also be time to start putting away money for that Hawaiian vacation. Or getting a health club membership. Or going to night school to get that degree you've always wanted. The long-term desires of our hearts.
To me, having Something To Look Forward To is more than a calendar event. It's more of a mentality. I want to actively schedule events in my life and for my family that create both memories and strengthen our bonds with one another.
Wether its a trip to Costco or Aruba. Starting planning your Something(s) To Look Forward To today! I'd love to know what you are looking forward to how this outlook has effected you personally. Please, email me at splendidlivingsb@gmail.com and use #stlft2014 for any IG or Twitter posts.
