Time from a Mother’s Perspective

We are taught from a young age that success is based on how much you work. If you work hard, you will be happy. 

Raise your hand if you muse and bemoan how quickly time is passing.  

I admit that I used to do the same thing. I always responded “busy” when I was asked how I was doing. That was until a good friend asked me, isn’t it your choice to have a full plate?  What an aha moment!!! So simple, I needed to reframe the way I defined the word “busy.”

At that moment I made the conscious choice to change my answer to “How are you?” I decided to no longer use the word busy to define my life. What I did instead was life changing. I started to say “Good,” even if I was feeling down, frazzled or otherwise bothered. Guess what happened? 

As I stopped focusing on what for me was a negative definition of busy, I found I smiled more and was less focused on what I perceived was wrong with my life. I also noticed that I made the purposeful choice to be even more present to those around me.

Then I noticed that I no longer became quite as sad when I thought about the life events my children were about to undertake. I was emotional when I thought about my daughter graduating from high school and going off to college. Yet, I was also happy at the same time.  I was at peace, knowing that I had spent quality time with my daughter and that I had given her the knowledge and skills she needed to succeed in her future endeavors.

So how do I feel when Facebook or OneDrive memories show me pictures of my kids when they were little? 

I smile!! I have chosen not to dwell in what has already happened. Instead I reminisce with fondness and thank my God and the universe for all the blessings I have received. Truth be told, I am really enjoying the even deeper relationship I have built with my husband and girls since I made the choice to be present and not let the word busy define me.