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January 1, 2012

2012 = AWARE

I came across this Henry Miller quote years ago, and it immediately struck me as something very profound.

The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.

At the time, I was working in North Carolina, very focused on my job and my career. I tried to challenge myself not to get so caught up in the rat race (albeit a very invigorating race), such that I wasn’t really living.

At the time, I remember thinking about driving to work each day…my mind was always running far ahead of me, such that I rarely noticed anything on my drive. Not only was that physically dangerous, but it was kinda sad…even in my short commute, there were beautiful trees, a small river, and so many sights and sounds that I took virtually no note of.

As I think about inspiration for 2012, I want to revisit this quote.

I think I do a pretty good job of being aware of my girls. Heaven knows I take enough pictures and write enough journal entries…but still, there’s more.

It’s cliché, I know, but I think becoming a parent adds a new dimension to the space-time continuum. Time seems to be flying faster than ever before.

In 2012, I want to continue to strive for awareness, and for appreciation. I want to challenge myself to continuing to be purposeful in my actions…yet allow myself to appreciate and enjoy the carefree days of the girls’ early childhood.

My bigger challenge for 2012 is to be more aware of my other roles…those of wife, household CEO, and friend.

There’s no doubt in my mind that my Mommy role comes first, but I sometimes seem to run out of steam in the other areas. I know part of that is just a function of having two rambunctious babes, and I’ve come to be OK with that.

But sometimes that leaves me feeling like I’ve driven to work (or, in this case, made breakfast, lunch, and dinner, done laundry, read 53 books, orchestrated a craft project and taken the girls for a walk, documenting much of it in words and pictures) without looking up.

Where I think I can do a better job is in keeping a calendar on a daily basis. I want to write down some of my daily tasks, like pay bills, or mend blanket, so that I can have a bit of a roadmap for the day, and – at the end – a written sense of what I’ve done.

I also want to write down things that can sometimes otherwise get lost in the fray, like send birthday card to X, email Y, clean out junk drawer. It’s those little things that don’t necessarily have to happen…but I know will make me feel more rounded out if I can accomplish them on a more regular basis.

So, for 2012, across my many roles:

I aim to be more aware…to be more purposeful…so that I may enjoy my life more joyously… drunkenly…serenely…divinely…fully.

My word for 2012 = aware.

(Thank you to my sweet friend Marcia for the amazing inspiration on so many levels, including the idea of a word for the year. Visit Marcia to see how she and others are embracing the new year.)

6 comments:

Marcia (123 blog) said...

I love your word - it speaks so much of living with intention :)

And I agree - a well-balanced person is definitely a happier person.

Thanks for linking up!

Anonymous said...

wow. that's perfect. i really get the part about losing steam, too. it seems like everything else can survive without so much attention...but then really seems to suffer (friendships, the pantry, the linen closet, etc).

i'm still trying to think of a word, but this has given me something else to think about, too. :)

Jeremi said...

i like this a lot!! i find myself jumping ahead in my thoughts all the time and it drives me nuts.

happy new year : )

Unknown said...

Great post and reminder! Its definitely hard to balance it all - some days i feel like I give it all to my job and have little left for my kids - let alone friends and hubby. Other days i feel like I'm just going through the motions at work but am a Super Mom!

I definitely need to make more effort towards being a good wife and friend. I feel there are many times where its just routine with hubby...and rarely do I even make time for friends anymore.

I took time for myself more this past year with exercise and such but I really hope to give myself to others more this year!

MultipleMum said...

Such a fantastic and thoughtful start to the year Mandy! I love your word. I am struggling this year to focus on anything in particular. It might be a goal-free year for me? Happy new year :-) x

championm2000 said...

I love this word! So important (and so hard).

Hey--we have anoter thing in common...I have often driven through NC and totally missed the scenery, too :-)