DO WHAT YOU KNOW

photo of us from October 2010, when hipstamatic was the coolest new thing, and we didn't know how it worked, and it was raining.

I read this post from simple mom this past week (I read mommy blogs like they're gossip magazines) and it inspired me to figure out what the things are that "only I can do" so that I can start framing the decisions that I make around those priorities, and feel like I have some sort of game plan for this whole "life" thing. We'll see if it works, but even if it doesn't, it feels like a good idea.

TSH wrote:
"Let me explain. We realized that yes, our jobs overseas were important and life-changing, and the friends we worked with could say our presence there was valuable. But at the end of the day, someone else could do them. Nothing hinged on the balance of us living overseas.

But no one else could be my children’s mother. And no one else could be Kyle’s wife. Those were undeniably roles that I and I alone could play. If I didn’t do those things, there was no substitute. Nor would I want there to be."

So I did some soul searching. Seems to be the season for such things.. and I'm going to be doing some major simplifying. Because I do have jobs that only I can do. And, I've been slacking on some of them.. like eating right & exercising regularly, for instance. Who else can do that but me? And like TSH said, only I can be James' wife. Even in the few months we've been married, maybe I'm already taking the role for granted. And I don't want that.

And these are important jobs.. the most important ones.

NEW PRIORITIES (things that only I can do):

01. To build and strengthen my relationship with James, always.
02. To nurture my mental, physical, and spiritual health.
03. To learn how to efficiently manage our home (grocery shopping/meal planning & preparing, budgeting, cleaning schedules, designing our space, etc, etc.)
04. To seek out and create space for new experiences + personal growth (travel and art fit in here, too).
05. To start preparing for our someday family, financially, mentally and otherwise.
06. To be involved in community by building and investing into relationships.
07. To take time to play and to rest.

I chose seven items on purpose.. to correlate with the seven days in the week. With one specifically designated for play and rest. Enough things to keep me occupied while still maintaining balance and providing for down time. And maybe, to start with, I'll try to focus on one thing each day of the week. Ease my way into a new framework of thinking.

James said the other day that "We should make our New Year's resolutions now.. that way we have a better shot of keeping them. AND we'll be ahead of the game come January." Haha.. there is some truth to what he's suggesting, though. Why wait to make changes? So, I'm starting now. And these are mine. xo

Love my husband, take care of myself, manage our home and make it a comfortable safe place to be, seek out and create new experiences for us, start planning for our future and figure out what we want, be involved in community, have fun, and relax.