I worked today and had an awesome, crazy-productive last day before holidays, which always feels great. Because I ended up getting in some website change requests that I wasn't anticipating getting in at the beginning of the week, I ended up canceling a coffee break/date with a co-worker to try to get more things done. I felt really bad cancelling on her so I sent her a message asking if we could reschedule for after the holiday and when she replied to say no problem, she sent the nicest message.
Those sweet, encouraging messages are fuel for tired and temporarily sad souls, and though I wasn't tired or in a low period emotionally, I was feeling like a bit of a failure, for (once again) not getting nearly as much done as I thought I would/could. Reading those words of support made me feel better, and I didn't realize how much I needed to hear them until someone said them to me. This is good thing number 1.
I would also like to use #1 to remind people that it doesn't take much to make someone's day better (or to keep that happy soul nourished and happy). So, if you think something nice about someone you know -- if you think they are kind, or funny, or beautiful, or wonderful, or bright -- just say it. Your energy is focused on that person in that moment anyway, it costs you nothing to deliver the message, and (realistically) keeping that thought trapped in your own head doesn't do anyone else any good. So share the love and give the thought purpose and you might change the course of someone's day.
My good thing number two comes in the form of baking cookies with my sweet boy. I had never attempted gingerbread before (or any rolled dough cookie, actually), and I did have some challenges, but they turned out okay. Not great. Just okay. They taste good, but are too thick. I half expected to toss them all in the garbage, so the outcome was better than I anticipated. #ConsiderItAWin. I've learned a few things for next time.
I had about a hundred other things I should have done, but kept reminding myself that this time, these experiences, are what memories are made of -- not how clean our house was.
3. Tonight, I put a four year old to bed for the last time. I feel as though nearly every parent says the same thing every time their child celebrates a birthday, but I can't help but be a part of that group. So, I will say the cliché: I can't believe another year has passed and I will have a five-year-old tomorrow.
When I watch him unfold into the person he's going to be, I'm already so proud. He's one of the sweetest kids I've ever met. He's a soft little boy who is free and open with his affection (jeez, I wonder where he gets that from... 😏); he's funny already (he coined the term "yumtastic" for those most delicious of meals and treats); he's smart; and he's (one of the two) most beautiful little boy(s) I've ever seen. I'm so lucky to be his mom and to get to love him so much.
The last good thing I want to highlight comes in the form of the always sought after warm fuzzies. Tonight, after we got the kids to bed, we wrapped presents - birthday and Christmas. While we wrapped, we had that oh-so-wonderful fake fire on the TV, which is (thankfully) accompanied by Christmas music. The tree lights were on (as they are all the time when we're home) and it just gave me those warm fuzzies and, most will agree - there is no better feeling.
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