Finally finding the chance to get rid of my stubborn greys, at the salon, I saw a sign similar to the one below:
For some reason it didn’t sit quite right with me, which is odd because when it comes to all the things in my world that take priority; the stuff that keeps me sane and above all, happy, they all consume my daily life.
Or do they?
Leaning back in the hairdresser’s chair, pondering on what I love doing the list looked like this:
- Writing/Blogging
- Running
- Playing piano
- Reading
- Getting my hair done, doing my nails, scheduling in a Thai massage.
Then, the compelling question…do I do all or any of these EVERY day?
Uh, no.
Shit.
And for a minute or two there, I sank into proverbial guilt.
Surely, I could avoid missing out on creating a perfect world for myself, if I just spent some time concentrating on my great loves.
We’re all put on this earth to search for and achieve happiness, right?
Or are we?
I would love to fit in an entire morning of writing every day or take a leisurely 10 click run every afternoon
I want to…
I’d love to…
Alas, I have bills to pay, mouths to feed and little bottoms to wipe.
Life’s hard enough just getting through what we have to.
But I’ve decided there’s an alternative.
How about with each day, we find something to love?
It’s nothing revolutionary, just a switch on focus.
Sometimes, you just gotta ride that wave to get you to the plateau of “This will do for today ” rather than “I gotta reach ultimate euphoria…EVERY DAY”
Serious, unknown illness hit our family these past couple of months. It’s been the “unknown” that’s put our routine out of whack. Yet, it’s also thrown us right back into perspective.
In dark times shrouded with uncertainty, there’s a desperation to return to normalcy, fighting the threat that life might change drastically, dramatically.
I wanted to be able to communicate with my loved ones again, without tension or stress.
I wanted to be able to focus on already those around me who needed my love rather than go in search for something else.
After several challenging weeks filled with visits to specialists, blood tests, MRIs, CT scans and even day surgery, we finally got some answers.
Luckily, it appears to be manageable. Solvable.
We can move forward again.
Maybe I was reading too much into that sign at the hairdresser’s. Maybe its message was more innocent than what I interpreted.
Maybe it was just a reminder to love all that I already have; that doing what I love naturally involves those I love.
Do you get to do what you love every day? Been feeling the love?
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Lydia C Lee says
I think focusing on the beauty around you can make all the difference. Also building in those things you love so you have them to look forward to, makes a difference. (Glad you got some answers too – rough times)
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mamagrace71 says
You are one wise lady x
Renee at Mummy, Wife, Me says
Gosh, that mystery illness doesn’t sound good. I hope everyone is on the road to recovery well and truly. I think at the moment I need to be content with celebrating the little victories. I may not be doing what I love every day, but I need to be content with small things each day that bring me happiness. Some days you just have to look a little harder for it.
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Amy @ handbagmafia says
I try to write something most days but gosh- who has time to do what they love every single day? I’m with you- better to find something to love in each day.
Amy @ handbagmafia recently posted..Grief, like a hole in the heart.
Peachy Keen Mumma - Jess says
Definitely a post to ponder on and think about through out today!
Hope everything turns out OK on the health front. That has a way of making the world turn on it’s head. I’m watching a close friend go through the unknown illness right now, and it’s terribly hard on her.
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Desire Empire says
Sadly no I don’t, but I do try. I’ve decided I love blog writing too and am focusing more on documenting our lives more than chasing any dollars and it has been somewhat liberating.
Carolyn
Desire Empire recently posted..A Beautiful French Home in Greater Paris
EmIly says
Great post, Grace, and brilliant interpretation of the message. (And I’m glad whatever’s happening is manageable.)
Last year I wrote about my goals for the year, and distilled it all down to something like this:
Enjoy most days; endure the rest
And know that I am doing my best
x
EmIly recently posted..I don’t know everything about everything
Ingrid @ fabulous and fun life says
You are so right Grace. Being grateful for and loving what we already have makes for a happier and more satisfying life rather than always striving for something better! We can’t always do what we love.
Ingrid @ fabulous and fun life recently posted..OPI Hawaii: Is Mai Tai Crooked?
Min@WriteoftheMiddle says
I think for me those ‘love what you do, do what you love’ and ‘love what you do every day’ quotes are geared towards your career and how you choose to spend your days. To me they encourage us to not ‘settle’ but to seek to spend our days doing something which we LOVE or have a PASSION for rather than trudging through each day in misery just to earn some money. Having said that – I don’t believe it is possible to LOVE what you do every day. Life is full of challenges and not all days go as smoothly as others. There are ups and downs. I do agree with what you said though – to ‘find something to love each day’ and that is exactly what I did when I did a 365 Grateful Project years ago during a challenging period in my life. It shifts our focus from negative thinking to noticing all the things we love and are grateful for. 🙂 xo
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Kirsty @ My Home Truths says
I try to find the positives in everyday, even in those days that don’t hold much promise. I have been trying to work in exercise into each day and I definitely feel better on those days I can manage it but it’s not always possible. So I try to embrace whatever happens, even those days where exercise is out of my reach. Glad you got some answers and can move forward now – it’s terribly hard when you are in limbo and can only focus on the worst case scenarios….
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Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit says
I love that sign. I think of it as career guidance,
It reminds me to create my career out of the things that bring me joy.
And if work doesn’t bring me joy, then to find a way to bring joy to work.
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit recently posted..Day 2060 – What I’m reading
mamagrace71 says
That makes plenty sense, Leanne. Work has to be more than just work. There needs to be some element of joy in it, especially if you spend a big chunk of your day doing your job.
Bec @ The Plumbette says
I love being a mum but I don’t love every moment because it’s hard and testing and who can say they’ve lived every minute many of changing a pooey nappy? But I love what I’ve got and try to do something small each day that I enjoy like reading a blog or writing one if I can.
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Natalie @ our parallel connection says
Hope you guys are ok Grace… I like to do one thing I love everyday … And that can be cuddling one of my kids .. So much I want to do but can’t for all the reasons you mentioned.. Life can be challenging
Natalie @ our parallel connection recently posted..40 things that put a smile on my face
Lauren - gold coast mum says
Hope everything’s ok.
It can be hard to stop and smell the roses when we’re in the thick of it most of the time. But you’re right, it’s definitely important to take note of those special things/moments x
Kathy says
Sorry to hear your family has been grappling with health issues and hope everything is going to be much better now. I think you are so right that we need to strive to find something to love every day in balance with finding something we love to do every day.
Sammie @ The Annoyed Thyroid says
I’m glad the mystery illness isn’t a mystery anymore and that the mystery is solvable. Solvable is good. I think you’re right it’s all about finding something to love every day – it reminds me of that quote “every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day.”
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Raych aka Mystery Case says
Sorry to hear your family has been having health issues. Glad you managed to get to the bottom of things and it is something you can manage. Thinking of you.
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Vanessa says
I get you on the living with medical uncertainty thing…couple of years hubby’s been in that place & still is. It does sort of normalise but other people are hard to manage. People who question what you do or don’t do to pay the bills. I don’t care much what I do for a day job so long as it covers the bills so I can afford to do the other things I like. Sure, I’d love to pay the bills from passions but I hate that overnight 6 figure scammy $hit that floats around the internet. Some things take time. Some things aren’t commercial. We all just find the balance that works for us.
I’m kind of tired so now I don’t know if that makes sense…
Best of luck learning to manage conditions – I know that type of change is a challenge but with the right medical support team it is totally do-able.
Vanessa recently posted..Puppy Love
Lisa@RandomActsOfZen says
I think not having something absolutely fabulous in every single day, makes me appreciate the wonderful stuff on other days.
But yes, there are surely some beautiful little things to be found in every day……just gotta find the time to look for them 😉
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Emma @ Life, kids and a glass of red says
I don’t think we look after ourselves as much as we should. We always make excuses, or prioritise other stuff. We absolutely need to make time for us so we can keep looking after others. Hope you get some more sunshine and things work out.
Emma @ Life, kids and a glass of red recently posted..5 Reasons Toddlers Will Survive the Zombie Apocolypse
Dani from Sand Has No Home says
Glad to hear that you’ve gotten to the bottom of your health issues, that sounded really scary! I definitely look for things to love in every day, it would be great to do what we love every day, but I guess if you slant your perspective a bit then you can. Thanks for another great post Grace. Take care x
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Haidee says
I wasn’t but now I am. I have found when I drop reading out that it really affects my wellbeing, I think there is something to be said for losing yourself in someone else’s world for awhile at times, it seem to really reset my batteries.
Hope everyone in your household is feeling better soon.
Erika @ Ever-changing Life of a Mum says
Great post. This line is so true – “How about with each day, we find something to love?”. Being grateful for what we have is so important. Also, I think giving yourself just a little bit of time each day to recharge can make a big difference in your mindset.
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Di from Max The Unicorn says
I think someone would be very lucky to get to do something they love every single day! Your idea of finding something to love each day is much easier to achieve, and it still promotes happiness 🙂
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Denyse says
Firstly, I am glad I can read into what you wrote that you and your family have had some answers to the health issues. Phew. I’ve been through my own health journey in past months where I have had to call upon many of my external and internal resources to manage what I did to bring me to a better outcome now. It’s hard. I can only relate to signs I see if they bring meaning to me at the time. I am tending to look up (sky) and around me(nature) to get the fix of contentment I seek more than happiness each day.
Take care, G. Love, D xx
Denyse recently posted..Things I Know About. #TIKA149/365.
Sanch @ Living my Imperfect Life says
I agree that it’s important we find something to love in each day. I’ve been trying to make an effort to consciously do that {and failing miserably at the moment} because my mood has been pretty crap. In the end, it’s about perspective and realising what we have. Hope the mystery illness and stress passes away soon Grace. Take care xx
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sarah@tomfo says
I agree, I’m a fan of doing what you love, sometimes it just doesn’t happen everyday.
But if you are working towards it, then it doesn’t matter if you didn’t “do it” every day.
You are so right, doing what you love involves all those important people around you every day.
A cuddle a day and you’re doing it, I reckon.
Look after you lovely. xx
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Mary Denman says
Wonderfully profound race. Sorry about medical issues…I understand those. Sometimes the hard times can make us have better perspective. Sounds like you definitely had a does of reality that made you appreciate the smaller things in life. That’s a great lesson in my book!
Being thankful for my kids right now and the beauty of my messy life!
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Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me says
I love this so much Grace, Not so much that there’s been health issues, thinking of you but glad to know it’s manageable. And yes I’m grateful I do what I love every day but I also need to love the things I don’t really like to do. FAB post. Have a great weekend. xxx
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MARIA TEDESCHI says
Or there is the other fantastic saying “Be good, or be good at it” :p
Love & stuff
Mrs M
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Pinky Poinker says
Oh yes! Find something you love about every day. I’ve been trying to do that this year. I savour my first coffee of the day and try to enjoy my drive to work but by the time I get there I forget about it. I shall try harder x
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Malinda @mybrownpaperpackages says
It really is the little things that make each day fabulous. Sorry to hear about the bad health 🙁
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Zita says
I haven’t been in the past but am certainly working on it for this year!!! It’s so hard to find the work/life/love balance I think and I’m not sure it’s possible every day! But I’m going to give it a red hot go!!
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Laney@thelaneyfiles says
I loved this post, it grabbed me at the end, especially with the photo of you and your boys. For me, it was the message: Love what’s right in front of you, rather than consume myself with chasing ‘things’ that make me happy. The truth is, for me, happiness can be found in a child’s cuddle, and I get those everyday. But saying that, I also believe that it’s important to have a livelihood that brings happiness, because working without joy is no fun. Thanks for the inspiration, and hope all is well on the health front.x
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Vicki @ Knocked Up and Abroad says
Hmm… I don’t think I’m able to achieve doing something I love every day. I’m not sure that’s entirely realistic for me right now, but I do like to achieve something every day that gives me a sense of satisfaction. That might be as mundane as folding the washing but as long as I feel like I’m winning I’m staying on top. Sorry to hear about the illness and recent tough times. I’m glad there are some answers for you and perhaps a journey to recovery now x
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Fluffy says
Coming to the party late! I love this post – it resonates. This year I committed to ‘doing more of what I love every day’ – simply because it reminds me to stop, refocus on what is important to me and then go at it like it matters… because it does 🙂 Mostly what I love (including what I love doing) are simple things that are nonetheless, profoundly important – because they nourish my spirit x
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