Monday Inspiration - Choosing

Happy Monday, y’all! I hope everyone had a wonderful Father’s Day. I did my best to stay off of social media over the weekend, because well, anytime I log on it’s just more negativity. People are so hyper-focused on the election, Trump, racism, the BLM movement, police brutality, or taking down statues. And then, there’s a heated debate on just about every single topic underneath the sun. It’s almost as if people have forgotten that we aren’t all the same? All of these narratives being tossed around lately have been really draining these past few weeks.

So, instead of getting lost down that rabbit hole for what seems like the hundredth time, I did my best to enjoy the weekend with the people I love most in this world. And today I'm choosing to see the good in humanity. I’m choosing to believe that all of this turmoil will create a positive change. Hopefully, it will also teach us all a valuable lesson too. And I'm choosing to give thanks. 

Today, I’m doing my best to lean on my faith during this time. Because, no matter what, I’m Catholic first. During these chaotic times, our church is calling for us to listen to others. We are being called to pray for the world; for our brothers and sisters. We are being called to extend grace and request it for ourselves as well because we are far from perfect. So, today, I'm choosing to sit back silently and learn. I’m choosing to make an effort in seeing the good.

One Day

Emery does this thing where she randomly starts naming things that she wants or wants to do. Sometimes they make sense, sometimes they don't. But I always tell her that she can do WHATEVER she puts her mind to do.

"Mom, I want to grow big so I can be a big girl on skates, but I want to be small like I am now." 

"Mom, I want to go to the moon so I can fix it and then I want to talk to the stars."

"Mom, I want my hair orange like Merida."

"Mom, I want to be a mermaid so I can talk to the fish."

"Mom, I want a skateboard but I want to color it myself and can I get one that has different shapes?"

"Mom, I want to be a witch, okay? A green witch. But no hat, okay?"

"Mom, I want to ride a rainbow."

The list is endless, and she's extremely serious when she's announcing her wants. So today, I've decided that I want to create my own version of this. So, in no particular order, here goes: 

One day, I want to have a career that I'm passionate about.
One day, I want to visit Paris at Christmas.
One day, I want to live by, if not close to, the beach.
One day, I want to have another baby.
One day, I want to volunteer abroad.
One day, I want to finish college.
One day, I want to learn how to surf.
One day, I want to climb a mountain.
One day, I want to be completely debt free.
One day, I want to go skinny dipping.
One day, I want to road trip from one coast to the other.
One day, I want to jump out of a plane.
One day, I want to adopt or foster a child.
One day, I want to swim with dolphins.
One day, I want to see the Egyptian pyramids in person.
One day, I want to learn to speak French.

Now, my list could go on and on too. Most people would say that these things are achievable at this very moment. Realistically though, I know I might not necessarily achieve any of these at all unless I really work for them. For example, I'd love to have more kids, but unless something changes financially, I won't. Or, I'd love to learn how to surf, but unless I live somewhere close to the water I won't ever be able to practice enough to be any good at it. And so on, and so on. These are what I hope for, what I dream about being able to do...one day.

I'm a little ashamed to admit, but I spent a good part of my life thinking that I wouldn't do much with it. I would live in the same town, and work at the same job my entire life. I won't ever go anywhere because I can't afford it so I should just get used to viewing the world through some one else's pictures. I guess I just assumed I should be complacent, and grateful for what I have. And I am! I know just how blessed we are. I know that every day is a gift, and we shouldn't waste it by being unhappy with what we have. But I also know that wanting things can be a good thing. Having hopes, dreams, aspirations....those can be the start of something truly spectacular! 

I think my aversion to wanting more, was because it meant I would have to really try for it. Nothing in life is handed to us, we have to go out and get it. Sometimes, we also have to fail. And that right there, can be a scary thing. Inconsistency, uncertainty, unpredictability. Those words alone make me nervous. Slowly, I'm learning to be okay with this though. I'm learning to be okay with failing; with coming up short. But always knowing that I'm trying new things. Different things! I'm wanting to do more with the life that I've been given. I want to know that I'm attempting something in life. No one can say that I didn't go out and leave my print, however tiny it may end up being. 

And this is something I'm deeply passionate about teaching as well as showing my daughter. That being a dreamer is pretty awesome! Wanting to do more with your life is great! Some things we will achieve and others we will fail miserably at. BUT IT'S OKAY! Because even though we failed we still did it. It may not have been our thing but at least there are no regrets. And who knows, maybe it opened up a door to other possibilities we had never even considered. All because we wanted something, one day.