We are not one in the same. We may be similar, but we are uniquely made with unique experiences. So while I do encourage you to create a life you love, please understand that I do not believe it should look like mind. I do; however, strongly believe that we should each examine our lives, our relationships, take risks, make sacrifices and support one another for the betterment of ourselves and every individual we interact with.
Every good idea is not a good idea for you. Do not over-think each decision, but be wary, there is danger in doing something because it has always been done one way. If you can not answer why you are doing something that is an indication for evaluation. You may evaluate a situation and find you are perfectly happy, you may evaluate and find it’s time to pivot, or perhaps you evaluate and find a way to expand about what you already love.
When we allow ourselves to look inward, we are better able to identify who we are, what we value and how we want to show up in life for ourselves and those around us. We all have obstacles to overcome and once we overcome them another will surely follow, but those obstacles are meant to be identified and conquered. You are born to thrive and enjoy life; it is what makes part of the handling the challenges a little more manageable.
An examined life is a life well lived.
Here are a few conclusions my husband and I have come to while examining and considering how we wanted to raise our family:
- We stopped drinking- for us, it did not help us be the people or parents we wanted to be. Unnecessary arguments met with exhaustion was not a good match.
- We went vegan- I never really enjoyed meat and after meeting with healthcare professionals, we determined that a whole food plant-based diet would enhance physical goals while counteracting some genetic predispositions.
- We decided to homeschool- definitely a choice we did not set out to pursue; however, we pulled our daughter from preschool, assuming she could always go back. Although, once we began homeschooling the family dynamic began to flourish, the kids were happy and we found joy in the freedom to explore with our young children.
- An abundance of free play- we were not committing our children to sports or clubs early on. We felt strongly that our children should enjoy unstructured play with their siblings, friends and family members. We wanted to allow the creative mind to flourish and not limit it to adult-led structured activity. We cannot expand the mind to think outside of the box when consistently given a pre boxed activities.
- We left the catholic church-growing up in the same church we didn’t understand the traditions we were starting to repeat. As we asked questions, the church was not able to provide supportive answers; almost foreshadowing our desire to homeschool we began to ask questions.
Whatever you do, remember that you are you. You are entitled to live life your own way, but I encourage you to remember to be kind and open minded to those that are entitled to live life their own way.