After a whirlwind of cleaning up and organizing, I am as done as I can be. Every major closet is organized, months of bill statements have finally been organized, kitchen is in tip top shape, even the garage is cleaned up and organized. That is some serious !!!
But bigger than that is what the organizing and purging has done for my soul. For the last couple of years, my summers have been consumed by the needs of others, leaving little time for my own needs, let alone wants.
Three summers ago, I had a newborn. Although we did some traveling with our newly expanded family of three, caring for three small kids left me drained of any energy to tackle things such as closets and unfiled bills. I was barely surviving.
Two summers ago, my sister had a newborn. And was pregnant. So we tackled everything that needed tackling, together, with four kids.
Last summer, my mother's failing health forced whatever plans I had to the back burner. My sister now had two babies, 13 months apart. Together, with our now five children, we put my mother's affairs in order, and set on unchartered territory: caring for an elderly parent with a degenerative condition.
This summer, I reclaimed my freedom. In the midst of all that cleaning and organizing, I seemed to remember and find my way back to who I used to be and who I am trying to become.
And so this week, the French celebrated Bastille Day, commemorating the beginning of the French Revolution that eventually dismantled the Monarchy.
Twenty one years ago, on Bastille Day, a sixteen year old Cuban girl FINALLY got her driver's license. And with it, she opened a whole new world for herself. Major !!!
And now, twenty one years later, I am learning to fly by the seat of my pants, charter into new territories and relearn how to have fun. Case in point, a day trip to Sanibel Island to see my husband's aunt and uncle from Atlanta and their grown children and young grandchildren. Totally spur of the moment, total !!! to see the next generation of cousins play and have fun! Plus beach time is always worthy of !!!
Continued success with the potty training!!! A clean AC condensation line thanks to my wonderful main man!!! A sisters only movie night to see Eclipse!!! No children with us at the movie theater and swooning over Jacob's abs; double !!!
That being said, sometimes the greatest !!! comes from standing outside our comfort zone, confronting our fears and looking them dead in the eye and realizing that they hold no longer hold power over you.
Sometimes, those lessons take a very long time to be learned and understood. But once they are learned, they are your license to happiness...
...from standing outside our comfort zone and confronting our fears...yes, yes, yes Maria. And you know what I pull from those moments? That I am more than I even imagine myself to be. That I can surprise myself. But also, that I can be comfortable with who I am--that woman outside the world of her own mind.
ReplyDeleteI love your !!! and am totally and absolutely envious of your home organization. Darn if this place doesn't need some TLC. And a giant dumpster out back to rid myself of half this STUFF would be nice, too.
:)
Reclaiming yourself is definitely !!! Still jealous about the potty training success...:)
ReplyDeleteIt's always a little breathtaking when we think of where we were, a year ago, two years ago, during a certain time period, and how what once seemed so hard is now actually long gone. I'm glad that's how it's been for you, Maria, and glad you could put those exlaimation points where they belong!
ReplyDelete"But once they are learned, they are your license to happiness..."
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post. I love what you do with !!! You make me smile, and think and aspire to get things done.