A Reflection of the Blogging Kind
I decided to look back on my very first blog and reflect on where I was 3 years ago and where I am now. To see if I still think and feel the same way, and to notice how I’ve grown and changed since then. I started blogging back in April of 2016. I had to work through what was coming up for me, so I could feel good about leaving an imprint on the world this way.
It was challenging for me to just start writing. When I was introduced to only having to write a ‘sh%tty first draft’ that took the pressure off enough to get started. I remember thinking I don’t have that much to say; how am I going to keep this up monthly? Four years later I probably have enough content to write a book! As I read through my very first blog I realized this still all applies and I have been able to personally grow tremendously because I created a new foundation to support myself years ago.
Motherhood: What I didn’t know then, but I do know now!
As we step into motherhood our habits, thoughts, beliefs, and certain ways of life that were doing ok before can now be magnified when we have kids. Being a mom is also being a caregiver. Helping to nourish, raise, teach and guide our children. It requires a tremendous amount of our time, energy, and patience. It can evoke strong feelings of love, joy, compassion, connection, and blessed feelings. It can also draw out fear, guilt, anger, frustration, and overwhelm. Let’s add in that moms these days have a lot on their plates. Feeling stressed, run down, and burned out can be a challenging day to day reality for moms and their families.
About five years ago I found myself wearing the most hats I’d ever had to date. I was a busy mom to two wonderful girls, I was remarried and helping my husband run a successful business, I volunteered and helped care for our home. I was people pleaser and was really good at saying yes to all sorts of requests. I looked fine on the outside but inside I was a mess. I went nonstop and did a minimal amount of self-care. That’s until I found myself dealing with a severe back seizure and everything stopped. I couldn’t do anything for anyone. This started a whole new path in my life, a new learning of taking care of me and supporting myself in all sorts of ways.
Sometimes we believe that looking after ourselves can be selfish, or the people around us might believe that. I believe when we take the time and energy to regularly build in time to nourish ourselves we then come from a happier, more peaceful place. This translates into happier, more peaceful giving. This happier, more peaceful giving looks different, sounds different, and it feels different to the giver and the receiver. A wonderful win / win situation!