Mission Possible
For several years I’ve been on a self discovery mission. Uncovering the person, I left behind, once I became a wife and mother. I’m not complaining, it’s a role I gladly accepted. In the process, however, I stopped paying attention to what I wanted or dreamed of and focused on everyone else. Making sure their needs were met before any of mine. Isn’t that what Mom’s do?
I didn’t realize it for many years, then one day, in an instant, I hardly recognized the woman staring back at me in the mirror. I knew it was time to start considering my needs. Don’t get me wrong, I loved taking care of my family, but desperately needed to take care of my desires as well. I wasn’t quite sure what that would look like, but I was worth the effort.
I started discovering little things I used to love and new ones as well. I went back to school to finish my degree……albeit difficult. I started traveling without my family, with girlfriends I’d previously let friendships fade away for soccer games, volleyball matches, birthday parties, volunteering; the list goes on and on. Not out of spite, just out of family necessity.
The older my children became, the more independent they were and so was I. They needed me less and I needed me more. I discovered how much I missed me and it propelled me little by little.
Each year I get better at doing things for myself. Not only with self-care, but more importantly, soul-care. I’m pampering the inside as well as my outside and discovering who I was meant to be. This year, I’m committing to doing something special for myself at least one a month. A friend invited me to a Joy conference and since my word of the year is joy, I didn’t have to think twice before I said yes. After all, everyone could use more joy in their day.
Things I learned:
Change your story
Become the person you wanted to be
Celebrate your life
Little shifts make big changes
Live beyond the dream
Use your gifts to impact other’s lives
Be kind to yourself
My journey is far from over as I get excited thinking about uncovering and discovering more of me. If you struggle like I did, start small; find one thing you loved and do something just for you. The dream will become reality if you let it in. Nothing is impossible, rather just the opposite….the mission is possible. Make you a priority, your family will be blessed. You were born to shine.
xoxox…..Sheryl