Dr. Joyce Brothers says, “When you come right down to it, the secret of having it all is loving it all.”
However, no one ever said, you have to love it all, all the time! Guilt hits us at any time. We may feel guilty because we love our jobs and actually enjoy being at work some days! Or because we don’t love our jobs and it’s taking too much time away form our kids. Or we feel guilty that we stay at home and our kids are not as acclimated to social situations as the kid next door. Or we feel guilty that we missed a workout this week and ate like the food was going to get taken away! Or we feel guilt that we are leaving for a night/weekend to be with friends or for work!
I don’t have to sell you on how Moms experience guilt. However, have you given yourself permission to just take it one day at a time? I mean, to REALLY just think about the day ahead of you and nothing else? This means, no worrying about the persistent guilt you feel about working/not working, working out/ not working out, hanging with friends/not spending enough time with friends, etc. Can you just live in the day and love whatever it is, that day, you are enjoying? This forces us to appreciate whatever it is we are ‘loving’ and place less focus on our persistent guilt we may feel!
There are days I am really rocking and rolling in the classroom (or so I think 🙂 ), and I wish I could stay there all day! There are days, I am really enjoying playing with my kids, laughing and giggling…and I wish I could stay there all day. There are days I can not wait to leave the house to hang out with friends, or days that I would rather sit on the couch and get to bed at 9pm and not have to go out with friends. You don’t have to love everything about everything you have, every moment of every day! So let’s try to look at ONE DAY, at a time, and allow yourself to focus on whatever it is you are ‘loving’ that day….guilt free!
This idea of ‘having it all’ to me, really means loving and appreciating all you have, one day at a time!
Today…I am ‘loving’ teaching in the morning and hanging out with my kids this afternoon. (And I am NOT going to worry about the rest of my week and all the guilt I may feel in the coming days ! )
What are you ‘loving’ today?
Meg,
Wow! Are you in my head?
You are an amazing writer. I thought I was the only one who felt guilty about working and not being home with my boys. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I will continue to read…
Love You!
Karen
Thanks Karen! I am glad it is speaking to you! You are NOT alone! Keep in touch!