Around this time last year, my boys and I created what we called our “walls of importance” (looking back, I designed my wall and then helped them figure out what to place on their walls too because I am a control freak).
I’ve seen others refer to these masterpieces as vision boards.
No matter what you call them, the idea is to find quotes, sayings, photos, and anything else that inspires you to remind you what is important in your life. You then cut these inspirations out and paste them on something tangible to display.
I recently completed my 2013 wall of importance and I’m pretty pumped about the finished product.
vision, reality
I decided to hang it next to the piece shown below in my work space. My husband, upon learning what I did, gently informed me that means I’m officially that weird coworker.
Heidi’s happiness mantra
Truth is…I don’t care if others think I’m different. That’s sort of my goal.
When I looked back at my February 2012 wall, I saw I included a picture of “Mom Blogging for Dummies” and had to laugh. I had been blogging for three years at the point I read that book, but I was ready to take the leap and brand myself on my own site.
And I did. Maternalmedia was born that very same month.
Will my vision affect my reality this year? I can’t wait to find out.
I’ve read various renditions of blogs written by someone older to someone younger. Some are written by parents to their children, while others are written by adults to their younger selves if only they could go back in time and instill advice to avoid the pitfalls of growing up. All give insightful glimpses into lessons learned.
I mainly blog at night, once my three kids are settled down to bed and my mind is freed up to think.
Tonight, I won’t promise to solve all their problems. I’ll simply offer up these words of wisdom.
To my daughter:
1. I wish for you the kind of love that Rapunzel finds with Eugene Fitzherbert in Tangled. But, even more than that, I wish for you to know the feeling of loving life.
2. Don’t waste a single breath complaining about your body. The boys and friends who only pay attention to you for it, and not your heart and mind, aren’t worth impressing. I know that is so much easier to preach than to practice. Mom needs a reminder herself every now and then.
3. Learn to love your crazy hair. Consider it an outward symbol of all the wild, rebellious ideas you’ve got floating around in that head of yours.
4. If wearing a dress and matching hair bows is what makes you happy, I’ll do my best to help out. Just know that your mom sucks at fashion and has a hard time understanding why people care so much about what covers their bodies. (On a related note: bras are dumb but you must wear one.)
5. Know that I love telling you that you are my favorite daughter and hearing you say that I am your favorite mom. I realize these words will undoubtedly run away during your hormonal years, but I have faith they will inevitably return.
To my sons:
1. Never underestimate the power of prayer…or deodorant.
2. You have no idea how lucky you are to share a bedroom together. I know it causes you much stress and angst now, but there will be a day when you look up and realize that your loud, obnoxious brother isn’t there. And the silence will be deafening.
3. Don’t fall for the girl who tells or shows you why you should like her. You are both smart. The best things in life are those you have to work for, including the attention of a female.
4. Know that you can remain within boundaries while helping to define them. You will face multiple paths in life. Do what feels right with the knowledge that you won’t choose right every time. Don’t be afraid to fail or you may never fully realize how far you can go.
choose your path wisely
5. When you screw up, seek out your father. When you are lauded for your accomplishments, thank your mom. Kidding…I’ve got your back no matter what.
Boy, it’s been way too long since we last connected.
Not only have I not written here as much as I would have liked, I am behind on following favorite bloggers like One Thousand Single Days, 365til30, Contemplative Fitness, and others. Sorry, random strangers that I now consider lifelong friends, I will try to catch up soon.
I recently stumbled upon something interesting about forcing yourself to suffer for 15 minutes each day on a process that feels seemingly insurmountable. The point of this advice was that people will inevitably procrastinate on doing things that they dislike or that consider impossible to achieve.
But if you manage to devote a minimal amount of uninterrupted time each day to the activity you want to conquer, you will amaze yourself with positive results.
Here’s my dilemma: I am currently overwhelmed with a boatload of activities that I thoroughly enjoy. (Don’t you feel so sorry for me?)
Speaking of those kids, I have these three amazing people looking up to me for love and support.
my proudest accomplishments
I’m training for my third half marathon, partially for the physical benefits I’ll reap, but more so for the chance to beat my equally competitive cousin.
And, GET THIS, I started freelance writing for a new client and recently got contacted by another interested party. If I’m not genetically wired or young enough to be a collegiate sand volleyball player, at least I get to spend my free time doing what I really enjoy: expressing myself through words.
So I guess my biggest hurdle is that my free time is slowing slipping away.
It’s a pretty spectacular dilemma to have. Facebook can wait.
maternalmedia 