For When You Want to Get Away

Lately I have been desperately wanting a break. A break from waking up early, a break from chores, a break from my kids, a break from writing, and a break from thinking. It seems there is no time or place to find that truly quiet space where I can gather my thoughts and recharge my mind. I love my family and I dread missing out on valuable time with them. But lately I’ve just wanted to escape to a Caribbean island, allowing the sun to warm my body and staring out at the beautiful blue water, immersing myself in peace.


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But then I think about how if I were actually there, by myself, finally able to quiet my mind, I would just end up thinking about how much I miss those crazy kids.

So, then, if a Caribbean getaway isn’t the solution to calming my mind, then what is?

Now that I am well into my years as a mom, I understand so much more about why my own mom did things. I understand why she needed those catnaps in the afternoon or why she rested on the couch after dinner was over. I understand why she sometimes had to say no when I asked her to play with me. I understand why she got worried or frazzled by so many things. Like me, she too was overwhelmed and frustrated and tired. She, too, had too many things to do in a short amount of time. But unlike me, I never, ever, heard her complain about being tired. She just went and lied down.  I never heard her complain that she had to cook dinner, she just did it. I never heard her complain that she wanted to be by herself, she just accepted that her kids were always with her (or she dropped us off at grandma’s house!).   

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The truth is things are the way they are. I could continue to fight them and be miserable, or I could wake up every morning and accept them, accept that I have young kids and they are going to test my limits, accept that I am tired and decide to do the best I can anyway, and accept that my duties right now are those of a stay-home mom, to take care of the house and the food and the errands. I could accept that all of these things are sometimes a little bit harder because I am a military wife (okay, a lot harder!), and remember my faith that there is a bigger plan, a good plan, for all of the challenges I face in my life.

If, for now, my Caribbean paradise is five short minutes in the car as I drive to the grocery store, or just one chapter of the book I’ve been trying to read for months, I’ll take it. With fewer complaints and the right perspective, my getaway can be much closer than it seems.     

31 Days of Peace, Day 24



 Do You Stop?



"Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it. -William Feather

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31 Days of Peace, Day 23

How a Road Helps Me Find Peace

“It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.” –Charles Haddon Spurgeon

There is a road on the way to taking my son to and from preschool that delights me every time I drive it. It is a hilly, winding road that reminds me of the back roads from home, the ones I would drive with my little 4-cylinder stick-shift car, feeling high as a kite and free as a bird. My heart was so content.

 Now, I drive this road with my big, automatic, kid-towing SUV, always a little frazzled about something as I first turn onto what my son calls “the road with the funny hills.” But as I continue on, I am overcome with peace by the beauty that engulfs this slight stretch of road, with the branches of the trees arching overhead and the leaves turning more colorful each day. I pretend I am in that small, peppy car again, hugging the corners of the turns and giving a little extra gas at the bottom of the hill so I can get to the top with more enthusiasm. But I must use extra caution with this big car, not only because the extra weight makes it less agile, but also because of the precious cargo sitting behind me.

Still, for a few short seconds, I am home again, reminiscing in the bliss of that feeling of freedom and rejoicing in the wondrous beauty around me. For a few short seconds, I am taken away from the hectic, frazzled life and am reconnected with the contentment I felt as I drove those back roads so long ago.

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31 Days of Peace, Day 22

Just Keep Going

When your path seems too long and your body is tired, keep going. When your spirits are low and you want to give up, keep going. When there's too much to do and you can't fit it all into the day, keep going. When there's nothing you can do, keep going. Keep going forward, pick up your feet, and lift your head high. Walk as though you are unwilling to surrender and you might just find the tides turning in your favor. You might just find the comfort of peace.  

 

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31 Days of Peace, Day 21

The Silent Voice

For the past week or so, I have been having some very vivid dreams. Some of them are strange, while others seem to be a simple reflection of the things which have been occurring in my life. But one of my most recent dreams was different. This dream spoke to me, sending a message about something I have been trying to figure out in my mind. This dream gave me an answer.

I was talking to someone in the dream, whom I do not recall, but I do know that it was someone I knew well and what I was saying was something I felt very passionately about. The words I spoke went as follows: “It’s not how much you know, it’s what you do with the things you do know that matters.” Though in reality my mind was asleep, inside my dream these words were pulling at my heart and I was eager to make sure the other person heard my message.

When I awoke in the morning, I considered what I had said in my dream. I wondered where it had come from. Questioning whether I may have read a quote on the internet and it was stored in my subconscious, I Googled the quote. I found some things which are similar, but nothing which was exact and certainly nothing I had actually read beforehand. What I find especially exciting about this message is that it seems to have been made specifically for me.

I have been thinking a lot lately about my future career path and the knowledge I have. I wonder if what I already know is good enough for the path I want to take. I wonder if what I know is good enough for anyone after being a stay-home mom for more than five years. I think about how much information is in the world and how much more I could potentially learn. I wonder if I will ever fulfill the extent of my mind’s capabilities.

I have come to believe that the other person in my dream with whom I was so eager to share my wisdom was, in fact, me. Something inside me needed to make sure I remembered the words when I woke up. That something was my spiritual faith. Every so often I get a clear-cut answer to my prayers and I believe this is one of those times. I often pray that God will help me with my struggles, and I also pray that He will give me content for my writing, content that I can use to continue my attempt to inspire others. Sometimes, if I am willing to listen, I am able to hear his answers. This time, He told me exactly what I needed to hear:  “It’s not how much you know, it’s what you do with the things you do know that matters.”

I was relieved after hearing these words. There may be a lot I still don’t know, and there may be more I will need to learn for my future, but these words have opened my eyes to all that I have been doing with my current realm of knowledge. I have been taking the opportunity to teach my kids what I remember about the leaves and the trees and the birds and the creeks. I have been using my health education to cook healthier meals for my family, talk about which foods are healthy and which are not, and encourage the kids to exercise regularly. I attempt, to the best of my ability, to speak to my kids and act in ways that will instill important values and morals. I use what inspirational wisdom I have to, hopefully, encourage others when they are struggling. I continue to write, a job which I have fully placed upon myself and which has no real obligation, because I believe in seeing the positive light. I believe that no matter how badly we might be struggling, there is always a way to pick ourselves back up. I believe in using the hard times to get stronger. And I believe in sharing these things with others in hopes that they, too, will see the positive light.

There will never be a time when I have finally learned enough, and I will always be open to new information. But now I see that simply having knowledge is not what matters. What matters most is that I take the opportunity to use what I do know to benefit myself and others.  

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31 Days of Peace, Day 20

 

Time Away

 

 

On this day, I decided my peace would be found in taking a break from the computer, from too much technology, and from writing. This is why the 20th day of peace is one day late. The delay was well worth it, as it was a much needed break which allowed me to spend more time with my family. We had a wonderful day!

 

 

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31 Days of Peace,Day 19

 

Reflections

 

Remember to take the time to reflect. Reflect upon your life, reflect upon who you are, and reflect upon your faith. It is during these times when our wisdom grows the most.

 

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31 Days of Peace, Day 18

Thankful Thursdays: Thankful for my Kids

Another week has passed and there is much to be thankful for. Specifically, though, this week I wanted to focus on my kids. It is so easy for a mother to complain about the whining voices, persistent demands, rude behavior, lack of listening, and absence of a simple “thank you mom” to make her feel appreciated. But it is also easy for her to focus on those things her kids do which make her smile and melt her heart if she is willing to look past the challenges.

It is common for mothers to have an idea of how they want their children to be, as though there is a predetermined mold they hope their children fit into. But if we don’t allow our children to be their own unique people, not only will we suffer but so will our kids. It seems to be a law of nature that children must get on their mother’s nerves as much as possible, but then act absolutely perfect for everyone else. We fight it, we get frustrated, and we wonder why. Perhaps we should just let it be.

Here is what I am thankful for with my kids this week:

1.       That they come to me for their needs, like food when they are hungry, comfort when they are sick, and a blanket when they are cold because it means they trust me to help them.

2.       That my daughter is happy to see me when she gets off the school bus in the afternoon because it’s likely there will come a day when she would prefer I not be there.

3.       The increasing knowledge they display when they are playing in the house and having conversation. It’s amazing how much information their little minds hang on to.

4.       Their imaginations.

5.        How they want me to play with their toys with them.

6.       The extra kisses they give me out of nowhere.

7.       The messes they make with the art supplies because it means they are expressing their creativity and having fun while doing it.

8.       The loud, obnoxious singing from my daughter because it means she has a song in her heart.

9.       Their persistence in venturing away from me at stores or asking if I can buy them a toy or candy because it reminds me that I did the exact same thing when I was little.

10.   The temper tantrums, because it reminds me that they are still little and one day, when those tantrums are no more, I will miss these years.

What are you thankful for this week?

 

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31 Days of Peace, Day 17

What We Can Learn From the Changing Seasons

Everyone gets tired, eventually. We get tired from the demands of life. We get tired of the things in our closets. We get tired of eating the same foods. We get tired of the winter cold or the summer heat or the spring rain. We crave change, a fresh start, a new dress, or a new season. We desire to wake up refreshed with a newfound excitement for the days ahead.

It is not always easy to know how or when to change. Sometimes change happens to us whether we want it to or not. But sometimes we have the choice to make a change. We have the ability to refresh our souls and wake our tired eyes. Just as the trees shed their leaves, just as the snow creates a white blanket of purity, just as the flowers bloom into an array of new color, so too can we change our hearts and minds allowing us to find a new perspective, a new energy, and a new peace. Every few months, Mother Nature ever so gently gives us a cue for finding this peace.

Right now while the leaves are falling, allow your hearts to shed their anxieties. Let them fall to the ground and get blown away by the wind. Lighten the load which weighs down on your soul. Refresh your mind with this change of season. Then open your tired eyes and see clearly how exciting your life can be.

 

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31 Days of Peace, Day 2

 

Bring on the Rain

 

This morning as I stood outside with my daughter waiting for her school bus, we were surrounded by a pleasant stillness as the rain fell gently and the water pooled on the edges of the street.  The neighborhood was particularly quiet, partly because the birds were seeking shelter somewhere rather than singing their usual morning songs, but also because the rain seems to have a magical way of slowing us down and opening our senses to our surroundings.

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What I did hear was the gentle patter of raindrops falling on the leaves and hitting the puddles.  The air was filled with the scent of autumn from the wet leaves which had already fallen to the ground.  As I took it all in, my tension drifted away and I was left in a state of relaxation.  I looked at my daughter, appropriately prepared for the weather with her rain jacket, matching rain boots, and Barbie umbrella.  I think she was excited for a rainy day just because she had a reason to carry the bright pink canopy with her.  She, too, was calm, embracing the dreary day for what it is rather than allowing it to get in her way or alter her state of contentment.

 

Sometimes we need rainy days.  Sometimes we need something to slow us down and listen to our surroundings.  Sometimes we need the weather to prevent us from our usual outdoor activities so that we open ourselves up to new opportunities. Maybe it's taking a break from the usual three-mile run and instead relaxing with a yoga DVD.  Or perhaps rather than taking the kids to the park, there is an opportunity to show them how to build a fort inside using tables and blankets. 

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Today I am using the rain as a reminder to embrace the days which would otherwise seem less desirable.  Today, I find peace in the stillness of nature and the quiet pitter-patter just outside the window. 

 

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31 Days of Peace

Day 1



Today as I was catching up on some of the blogs I follow, I came across a blogging series hosted by The Nester where writers are encouraged to write on one particular topic of their choice every day for 31 days.  That is a lot of days to write about one thing!  But it inspired me to think about what topic I would want to write about for 31 days.  I though about 31 days to a no-yelling mommy, 31 days of keeping in touch with people, 31 days of not complaining, and the ideas go on.  Finally, I narrowed it down to a topic which would allow me to finally slow down after a pretty crazy couple of months and simply be in the present. My personal series is called 31 Days of Peace.  You can grab the button and follow along here:


<a href="http://achancetobloom.blogspot.com/p/31-days.html"><img src="http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o776/rcllwhite/31DaysofPeace_zps85801c84.jpg" /></a>

On a side note, it took me two hours, but I finally figured out how to create a grab button for myself!

 

So here is my first of 31 days of Peace.

 

Today is the first day of October.  Again.  How time flies!  This is one of my favorite months of the year because it brings with it the refreshing cool air, an abundant array of gorgeous colors, and a promise of hope.  

 

For the past four years, my husband has been either deployed or training during this time of year.  Whether October fell during the beginning of his absence or right in the middle of a long deployment, I always looked forward to it.  For me, it was a milestone for moving closer to the time he would be home.  It meant the holidays were right around the corner, which I knew would keep me busy and help me bear his absence.  It meant a break from the heat and more enjoyable time outside with the kids.  It meant that for the first time in months, I could take a breath and finally begin to feel peace.

 

This year October brings a different kind of peace with it.  This year, my peace is found in my husband's presence and our family being whole again.  It is found in the wisdom I have gained regarding time and how a year really is far shorter than it seems.  It is found in the love and gratitude I have for God for being my comfort, answering my prayers, knowing my strength, and holding my hand as I travel down the path of life. 

 

On this beautiful first day of October, as I breath in the cool autumn air and feel the warmth of my family's arms around me, I am at peace.

 

 

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