2014 was a crazy and wonderful year for our family. Like most families, we had good news, bad news, tears of joy and tears of sadness. Personally, I battled some (non-major) health issues and had a rude awakening with some scary diagnoses from some of my closest family members, and as a result, am much healthier today than I was last year at this time.
The birth of our second child (the sweetest boy on the planet, I might add) kick-started the year for us in March. From there, I enjoyed a wonderful, awesome maternity leave spending time with my two children, hanging with my awesome husband (who works from home) and just enjoying the simplicity of not having to rush around to work, etc. It was a truly amazing experience. After my 3-month maternity leave ended, I catapulted back into the complete chaos of being a full-time, working mother of two young children.
As I recently took a few days off for the holidays – literally – just 3 days total, I am longing for a simpler life. My husband, sister and I often joke about moving to Montana and starting a farm. It sounds crazy….but is it? I don’t really want to move to Montana (I hate the cold and I love NC!), but I really DO want a simpler life. For me, my husband and most importantly, my children. I want us to PLAY and BE SILLY and not live an over-scheduled, stress-filled life where we can’t enjoy each other’s company. Our babies will only be young once. My daughter will only want to spend every waking moment with me for so many years. She will only ask for 25,000 kisses and hugs to stall the inevitable bedtime for a short time in the grand scheme of things. My little boy will only crawl under my feet everywhere I go for so long. I want them to live on “toddler time” and I want to join them in doing so without being stressed out.
Now, I am not a religious person in any way, but I was recently inspired by a very special young woman who came into my life briefly in December. As a result, I found myself listening to a Christian radio interview and there was a line that really spoke to me. “As Christians, we know the two most important days in our life are: 1) the day we are born and 2) the day we figure out WHY we were born.” While I’m not even sure I would call myself a “Christian” (not sure what that really means, to be honest), I really thought that statement was pretty profound since I don’t think about WHY I was born very often and I’m guessing I’m not alone.
How can we figure out why we were born if we’re overscheduled, running ragged and crazy all the time? This year, I want to have less “to do” yet DO MORE. I’m just not sure how.
Goals for 2015
Here are my goals to get me started:
· Enjoy more time with my family and friends.
· Take better care of my body and my family’s bodies.
· PLAY more, work less.
· Have more MEANINGFUL conversations
· Take time to be THANKFUL, respect our planet and the resources and gifts we are fortunate to have at our fingertips.
· Find a way to contribute to improving others’ lives or the world.
· Start discovering WHY I was born. (If you have any tips on how I can figure this out, I am ALL ears.)
Lofty goals, I know. I think I might be turning into a hippie in my old age and I am OK with that. While I don’t know how I’m going to accomplish this, I’m pretty sure starting with a simpler life might be my first step in figuring it out.
What do you wish for in 2015??
Great blog!! I think stating your intentions is the best place to start!!!
Thanks, Kelly! I figure if I say them out loud (virtually), I am a bit more accountable! Happy new year!
Having the last few days off from the regular busy routine has been blissful. I’m not looking forward to going back to school, work and activities and trying to balance it all. I also was thinking it would be so nice if we could live a bit more like this last week has been. Good luck with your goals!
Tamara – here’s to more relaxing days in 2015 and less chaos for all of us 🙂
Isn’t this the truth?! It is not until we slow down, that we realize how important the relationships we have. What great goals! Everyday, I ask myself a similar question of my purpose of my life, and some days I can answer it clearly and others, my family answered it for me. 🙂
Thanks Jennifer! I am really hoping to make some progress in SLOWING DOWN this year and listening to myself so I can figure it all out…. good luck to you too!!
I love this post and agree with everything you have written My one word this year is SAVOR.
Melissa, I will add that word to my list! 🙂 Best of luck.
I am a Christian. I started my journey three years ago at a church that healed my brokenness. It is true we live more when he have less. I try everyday to get rid of every bill so I can live more. God gives us all a gift and its up to us to use it. It sounds like you are listening to yours. Enjoy your simple life. No one says they shouldve had more stuff on their death bed.
A simpler life sounds grand. I love this post. Your kids are gorgeous and what you want for your family is priceless. I’m looking forward to traveling, getting fit and having fun with the people that mean the most.
Annie, you just made my day 🙂 hope you travel somewhere super-fun and enjoy the simple joys in life!!