Last night after the kids had set the table and I was done in the kitchen, I grabbed my big camera really quick to take a few snaps, for no actual reason other than it was a very normal, unpolished, and totally typical dinnertime with one child at sports and (of course) the oldest at college. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how our perspective can so quickly change how we feel and think about our life. When we see our to-do’s and chores as gifts, the eyesores and imperfections as beautiful, and the mundane as special. Don’t get me wrong – fun activities, cute decor, and exciting adventures are amazing — but they will never sustain you or me when so much of life is made up of the unglamorous stuff. Carpools, commutes, picky eaters (notice the plate of just chicken below, lol), giant whiteboards (hey, homeschool), meltdowns, haphazardly hung decorations and art, pepper still in it’s store-bought jar (the weird things that bug me 😬), missing phone chargers, giant messes, broken dishwashers, and general chaos. When those things look more like b-l-e-s-s-i-n-g-s to us, then all the fun, pretty, adventurous stuff gets to be the icing on the cake — or if you’re not a cake person like me — the fudge, whip, and sprinkles on the ice cream.
Oh to live a life that’s as sweet as dessert, without the pressure of making it perfect!
Currently taking inventory in my own life of the things that feel like burdens that could just as easily be considered a total gift if I just shift my POV. Want to join me? Let’s chat in the comments!
This girl loves to put salad on her plate… I think it makes her feel grownup, like mama, but after a bite or two she’s totally over it. I like to call it salad fatigue.
Waffles isn’t allowed at the table during dinner, but I’m a sucker for photo-ops.
Flower’s from our friend’s garden. My absolute favorite.
xo, Rae
P.S. — Because I have personally struggled with this in the past, I just want to elaborate on one thing… In no way am I endorsing being passive about your life and the things that you want!!! Appreciating the everyday stuff doesn’t mean you have to settle, it just makes the process of moving forward more of a conga line and less of a hot mess express. 😘
yes, yes yes! The little things are the big things :) Great post, Rae.
xoxoxoxo, Danielle!