I have recently started binging Orange is the New Black on Netflix. I know, I’m super late to the party, but at least I’m here. I just watched the episode when one of the guards is trying to help an inmate suffering from mental illness. He tells her, “All we can do is make the most of right now.” #Truth!
I have been trying to stop bringing myself down lately by not dwelling in the past. It is such an easy mental trap we can live in, especially with that asshole Facebook sending us picture reminders of how much thinner, and carefree we looked 10 years ago when we were in college. I would look at those pictures and call myself an idiot. Mostly because I focused too much of my attention on shitty boyfriends, and I didn’t appreciate myself enough. BUT when the guard said to make the most of right now, it made me realize it’s not enough to just not berate ourselves over the past and wishing really really hard that we could find a tear in time and space to be transported back to the day I allowed my mom to perm my bangs and only my bangs for my school picture. No, we need to take it a step further, and we need to make the most of today and right now!
I know we can often go through each day looking forward to our big plans this weekend, or telling ourselves this is just going to be a shitty month, so I need to muscle through it. We don’t need to spend our time that way! Even if you have a period of time you know is going to be stressful, find the happy in each day. Do something for yourself in each day that brings you joy. This life is going by so fast. We have no way of knowing which will be our last, so we need to be sure we are filling each day with the most we can.
This is also so important for me to do with my kids. Again, that jerk Facebook will send me pics of my kids from years ago, and I can’t help but feel sad. I am not having any more children, so as they enter each new chapter there is a part of me that mourns the last chapter closing. Everytime it is close to one of their birthdays, and Brooke or Ricky will start telling me they are almost X years old, I say, “no you’re not! This year I decided you are going back in years!” They laugh, and tell me no mommy! It is sad they are growing up, but if we squander today, tomorrow they will be a day older and there is no getting that time back. I swear this story isn’t bullshit, and I also will tell you there is no way I will be able to keep up with this every morning, but this morning I had an amazing moment with my children.
Ricky and Brooke were fighting, and it was escalating. The worst part of their morning fights, is that it makes all of us in a bad mood, and they are always over petty things. Ricky will tattle on Brooke for not brushing her teeth, and Brooke will tell on Ricky for not putting on clean socks. A lot of times there will be tears, and I find myself asking the universe to remind me why I have kids. In my mind came the phrase, make the most of this moment, and I made the kids stop what they were doing, and we sat in a circle in the living room. I made us all close our eyes, and yes I did hear complaints, and I also threatened to take away fortnite if they didn’t do what they were told. So we closed our eyes, and I made them just be still and quiet for 2 minutes. Then we opened our eyes, and we each said 1 good thing we wished would happen today.
It was a precious moment! It took a situation that was getting out of hand, and brought it down. We left the house with smiles on our faces, and I was mentally giving myself I high five. Man, I owned that mom moment!
So, moral of my story, as if I haven’t said it enough, I would love for all of you to do one thing today that is going to make you happier. Do one thing today you have been telling yourself you will start this weekend, or next week, or next month. You will be so proud of yourself! Try to encourage a friend to make that scary leap! Like I wish I could encourage the mom with the old Ford Taurus that gets to school at the same time as me that it might be time to retire the slut4life bumper sticker that may have been cool when she was in college and owning her sexuality, but now is just weird and is sending the wrong message to her children that are now at a age where they can read. But I mean, no judgements or anything.
Today, I am going to take a bike ride with my kids when I get home. I have been trying to get in shape, and instead of going to the gym by myself, I will enjoy the beautiful day with my children distraction free from electronics while burning some calories also! My ass tomorrow will be the only thing that won’t appreciate the bike ride. What are you going to do today?
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