The Gift of Time

Recently I have been struggling with the passage of time. When did my preschooler stop calling band-aids “boo boo tape”? How is it that my milky, sleepy baby is now running and jumping? And why is my to-do list running through my head while I play with them?

There have been several moments where I say to myself, “Remember this. Remember the look in his eyes. Remember the way their brown and blond locks blend together as they cuddle.” Remember this moment, this day, this mispronunciation.

I have always, always thought about what comes “next.” With each milestone, with each personal achievement I am already looking two or three steps down the line. I refuse to do this any longer. I will not rush these days, these minutes.

Being a mother is, hands-down, the best thing I’ve ever done. I am so terribly happy and lucky to be able to stay home with my boys. But it can be hard. The days can be long, and I can feel isolated and overwhelmed. It seems like before I can even get a handle on what’s going on now, there are three more things I need to be doing. There’s never going to be a magical time where my house is organized, the dishes are cleanly stacked in the cupboards, the laundry into drawers. I need to be present during the little moments now, not after everything is checked off my list.

Time is a gift. Now is the time that matters. Yes, chores will still be done. Dishes washed, laundry folded, appointments made and kept. But my hope is to contain those tasks to their own moment. I want to allow my other moments to shine. (Maybe even get to the point where I feel the abundance in the mundane tasks as well.)

I’ve been feeling bogged down with all the stuff I should do, must do, will do. I want to “add sparkle to the mundane.” This phrase is from the description of the benefits of the Abundant Mama eCourse offered at Awesomely Awake.

It may sound odd that I am signing up for a course, which takes time, in order to make more time for myself. The ecourse is designed to bring gratitude, and abundance, into your life. To make you think, more deeply, more regularly, about all the things that are wonderful in your day. Because even during sleepless nights, and days where nothing seems to be going right, time is passing. And I want to make the best use of it that I possibly can.

Many friends have told me about the benefits of prioritizing a daily practice of gratitude. I generally try to stay positive, but this course will help me focus on that goal. And, even better, it comes with a built in community of people, all of whom there with positive intentions to make life affirming changes.

I can’t wait to start, and I would love for you to join me. The Abundant Mama Project offers two options:

A: The course, including writing prompts and some activities to get your whole family involved.

B: The course PLUS support, support, support! There is a private Facebook group, weekly discussions, additional writing prompts, and individual support from Shawn, the founder of Awesomely Awake.

As I drink my cup of tea in the morning, I would rather savor two minutes of stillness than frantically think through the next few hours. At the park, I don’t want to think through making dinner. My goal with the Abundant Mama Project is to allow myself to be free. To know what I have to do, but to let in gratitude. Basically, I want to “Write. Love. Play.” (apologies to Elizabeth Gilbert). I am enrolled in the Abundant Mama Project. I would love to connect with you in the forums.

Disclosure: Affiliate links are used in this post.