My motto for 2012 was "do not let perfect be the enemy of good", 2011's was "do not wear your blessings like burdens". Both of those were things that someone else said, things that I'd heard many times before said in different ways, but when I heard them said this way at the time I heard them, they resonated.
About a month ago my friend Jeanine said, "Jenny, just be where you are".
It's like she spoke directly into my soul. I felt my heart jump when she said it. So I decided today that I've committed my old mottos to my every day life. I like the way it feels to practice those mottos on a daily basis, for them to be life rules for myself.
So I decided my 2013 motto is:
"Just be where you are"
Do I need a motto year after year? No, of course not. I wasn't even looking for one. I could probably take the last two with me for the next 50 years.
But I really want to be where I am.
When I'm at work, I need to be at work, working hard. Not wishing I was somewhere else, wishing something was different. Getting more done, in less hours. I need to mentally be there to do that. When I'm with my kids, they need me to be there, and not just a nodding tired body, but really be there. The same when I'm with Lawrence, or my mom, or a with a friend, or quiet with the Lord. Make eye contact, pay attention. As the electronics of the world make it possible to do everything but. As the racing mind of a mother with more to dos than hours in the day. I want to try, I want to really really try. I know it's the easiest when we are outside. In the snow, in the water, in the park. It's easier to be there outside than it is inside. It's easier to be there when I'm not at home, looking at the things that need to be done. Multitasking my little brain off. I'm kind of a home body, I like my home. But I want to...
Just be where you are.
It's not always possible. Just like I forget to not complain about hard stuff that is really a blessing, hard jobs that I'd never want to not do. Just like I beat myself up for the 1% undone rather than congratulate myself for the 99% accomplished. But it's a worthy goal. It's an easy statement to remember. It resonates.
Because what happens if I miss this?
I just can't!
You can't either. If there is one lofty and worthy goal for all of us to show love and respect to each other and to teach our children to do the same, it's to look into the eyes of the person talking to you, to make them feel like you don't have somewhere else to be, something else to do. It's to plan ahead just enough that looking at your phone during a 15 minute conversation is unnecessary. It's turning everything off when you can, as often as you can.
Be there!
I get excited just thinking about all the things I won't miss out on if I stay true to this one simple and hard to do thing.
Wishing you a fabulous 2013.
