Giving myself grace
Remember when I declared a word of the year? I haven’t been the best about holding myself to that word. (In case you’re new, my word this year is “grace.”)
Tonight I drove to Asheville from work, picked up my son from after school care, and we drove back to Mars Hill for the Christmas tree lighting festivities. It’s a family-friendly event, and I thought he’d enjoy it.
Turns out he enjoyed just being together – just the two of us.
(Not a picture from tonight – those pictures are on my boss’s phone!)
When we got to campus, I had some work to finish up before the event, so I worked a little. And I stressed over a few things. I had my final NaBloPoMo post of the month to write. I had a craft I needed to finish pulling together for tomorrow, write the post, edit the images and submit them for a blog hop that is beginning tomorrow. A blog hop that I was already doubting because ohmyword how am I going to post for 12 more days consecutively? And on time? And with all of the requirements that I was new to?
I realized the stress wasn’t enough. That anyone who is reading isn’t going to miss the posts they didn’t know I was “supposed” to write. So I messaged the person over the series, and I backed out. I gave myself grace to not be the perfect blogger.
(Unrelated, but I love this photo)
Instead I’m going to be a good mom. One that enjoys a work event with her son. Someone who takes time to let him help set up the Christmas tree and decorate it on a Friday night and isn’t worried over the perfect Pinterest image for a blog post due at 5 a.m. the next morning. A mom who plans on enjoying the month of December (because, hello, Christmas! and winter break! and holiday parties!)
I haven’t exercised this past week. It was an unintentional break, and I’m okay with it. I’m not super happy about it because exercise is my JAM, but it’s ok. I’m planning to get back to it tomorrow and work it back into my schedule this next week.
If something is bothering you, give yourself permission to drop it. Say yes to the good things, the things that aren’t going to stress you out.
And this, my friends, concludes NaBloPoMo. We made it!
Woo-hoo! NaBloPoMo ’17 is done and in the books! I think that’s a great word for the year, and you handled yourself wonderfully and over the blog hop situation. I know it’s hard to commit to something that strict; I was part of one that I absolutely loved – and had to leave it because I simply didn’t have time to visit the many participants, which was also a requirement.
I’ll still be visiting, and I hope to also see you around even though NaBloPoMo is over for this year!