Does it ever hit you like a ton of bricks?

I am talking about the realization that your life is not so bad after all? The one you get after you have just had a super crazy day full of chaos and you’re not quite sure how anyone could possibly stay sane or make it through type of realization? Well that is kinda hitting me right now.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving I wanted to ask you a question.

Do you ever remember your mom saying, “You can have dessert when you finish what you have on your plate.” You frantically shove food in your mouth that you hate trying to get it down so fast that you don’t even taste it. That my friends is what is on my mind today.

I am a fast eater, I think that is a skill I acquired from working in healthcare and being a parent. If I wanted to eat at all I had to eat quick at work. There were no breaks guaranteed. If I wanted to eat a meal hot at home I have to finish it before Rosie spills her milk or Harmony asks for ketchup or Lehana asks for something to drink right after get the fork almost to my mouth. I shovel it in quick. So quick, that I am not even 100% certain I even know what it tastes like. Can you relate or am I a lone ranger?

As I sit here in the quiet this morning as my family sleeps I am now realizing that the way I eat food is exactly what my lifestyle looks like. Quick, fast, while its hot and in a hurry. I am realizing that I am not savoring what I have done and celebrating it. I have been so busy that I ordered our Thanksgiving meal from Festival. (hand hits forehead)

Some call that smart (which something is better then nothing), but I also see sadness. I want to teach my girls how to make pie crust the way my grandma taught me. Yet I don’t have the time to? I want to learn how to cook a turkey the right way, yet I don’t have the time to? This is sad friends. Really sad. Why do we let ourselves get to this point? I don’t know about you but I am over it. I want to chew my food slow and enjoy it. I want to chew my life slower and enjoy it. I went back in my phone photos and videos today and A LOT has happened this year and I don’t even think I have had time to really chew it all up.

I AM DONE! Starting this Thanksgiving morning. I AM DONE!

Today was the first time that I got to look at my photos from our family vacation this August. It was a trip that will be remembered and shared for years to come. My family and I traveled over 1500 miles in a van to New Mexico and Arizona. We spent more then 80 hours in a van with a 2, 6 & 11 year old. As the tantrums poured out I remembered thinking, we need more trips. We need to break away from unproductive busy. In fact, I know why they call it business. It’s just short for “busy ness.” Don’t get me wrong, I love my business, but not when it robs me. This was the trip that we got the case of the “bed bugs” and had to be doped up on benadryl and anti itch cream and I almost forgot about it?

As, I look back at my photographs and videos I don’t see bug bites. I see smiles, LOTS of smiles. I see things we have never seen before. I see us, our family together experiencing something new and fun. Why has it taken me three months to reflect? Well, as soon as we got back, it was time to jump back into work and I never scheduled for myself to have down time. I wanted to off load all my memories and create video and book. I just never made the time. Don’t get me wrong, there is always time, it whether or not we choose to make it or not.

What if when we had holidays or vacations or trips we scheduled a day to celebrate and reflect? What if we perhaps journaled or maybe wrote thank you cards to our loved ones with our favorite take aways? WHAT IF WE ACTUALLY PRINTED ALL THE PHOTOS WE TOOK? What if, before we all left the dinner table today and everyday we all shared our favorite food we just ate and why? What if we just FORGOT about what was happening tomorrow and just focused on what is happening right now? Or remembered what has happened in the last few months? I believe we wouldn’t be so hard on ourselves. I believe the other term for this is called, BREATHING. I look back at my photos on my phone and I think, “WOW.” Mary, you have done a lot, I think its okay to take a break and remember it and to breathe.

At least, I am going to give it a go. Starting with sharing some photos from our family vacation. I just placed an order for our little book to flip through and I wanted to share some of my favorite memories with you as I wait for them to upload!

Happiest Thanksgiving to you and yours!

xoxoxo,

Mary