Be Grateful

At Pearls For Life; Family Yoga, we know that Thanksgiving may have past, but the prevailing attitude during that time is one we should take with us year around. It’s hard though to maintain an optimistic outlooks when life is hard. Not even hard, just routine.

I was talking with a new mom recently and reminiscing about how hard it was day-to-day, feeling like I’d never get a full night’s sleep again. Her eyes filled with tears and she blurted out, “I’m so tired!” I assured her that this time would end and that someday her baby would sleep through the night and she’d actually forget these times.

She couldn’t embrace that in the moment. I understand, neither could I when my kids were little.

I remember being in Target one day – kids in the basket freaking out and this lady stopped me and said, “Ah. I remember when my kids were little. Enjoy this time, it goes by so quickly.” I remember I honestly wanted to punch her. Enjoy this time?? My kids having to go to the bathroom as soon as we leave home, dirty diapers when I’ve forgotten to bring an extra, crying in the car, waking up every two hours, carrying a bag that’s twice my size with snacks smooshed at the bottom! Enjoy this?

I see what she was saying. It was all gone and so quickly.

Enjoy this time. Yes, I said it. Be grateful for this time. They are small, their issues may be relatively simple. Yes, it’s exhausting and one day just seems to melt into the next and nothing seems to change and then one day, we sleep through the night and the kids are asking for the car keys.

I guess it’s about perspective. We always want to look beyond the confines of the now. But pause and consider the moments. Consider the now. Yes, the house is a mess and you haven’t worn makeup in three days and you can’t remember the last time you had a grown up conversation, but take time to be grateful.

It’s gratitude learned in the simple times that will carry you through the more complex.

Be grateful.

Photo:http://28daysofgratitude.blogspot.com