All You Need Is Love

I got feedback today asking me if I really actually like staying at home, or if I was just trying to make it seem like I do, putting on a brave face. And how do I know if I like it when I haven't worked out of the house in four years.

I will answer that here.

I am a firm believer in you have to love what you do. Whether you are a teacher, a real estate agent, a lawyer or a plumber, I really feel that in order to be fulfilled with what you do, you need to love it.

I love staying home with my kids, I love caring for my family, and I really do love keeping our home. That last one is new. I used to hate it. And I was always honest about the fact.

And I will be honest again, I don't love housework. I still hate it. There is nothing nice about toilets, kitty litter, dishes or dust bunnies.

What I love is the fact that I am creating a space for my family that is positive, calm and free of dust tumbleweed.

So no, I don't like housework, but I have developed an indifference to it. No point is griping about something I can't change.

I really do love what I do. I know there are some people that cannot feel fulfilled staying at home with the kids and taking care of the family, but I can truly and honestly say that I feel totally fulfilled.

And I do have work outside of the house as well. Three times a month I have to leave my home and supervise students who are out on field placement through our local college. These outings only prove to me even more that I love being at home with my family.

And who wouldn't want to see this every day!

The Waiting Game

I think a lot of society gets caught up in the waiting game.

We wait to do things until other things fall in to place.

We keep clothes because we are going to lose weight some day and hope to fit in to them again.

We don't clean the car because there is one more weekend trip to take that is going to mess it up again anyway.

We wait to start learning a new skill because we don't have the money for lessons.

We put off doing things we love because there just isn't enough time in the day.

We postpone spending quality time with our significant others because the kids are still too young, they need us to much.

We don't go to the gym because we need to lost weight first to feel comfortable there.

That one is mine, and one of my personal favourites. Seriously, you can't beat that mentality.

Since the start of this year long adventure I have noticed a switch in my mind set.

I'm no longer waiting for things to happen before I allow my life to change. I don't set the standard of only being able to do things if everything else is perfect.

Life is never going to be perfect.

There are always going to be obstacles of one kind or another.

There are always going to be kids waking me up at night, meals that need to be cooked, toilets that need to be scrubbed and rolls of flubber that don't fit in to jeans from my 20s.

At least in my life there are.

Especially the jeans bit. Good golly these babies have taken a toll on my mid section!

Regardless of what your obstacles are, I encourage you to look at them and see what you are missing in your life.

What are you holding on to that is actually holding you back?

I have a challenge for you:

This week, do something that you have been putting off because the conditions just weren't right.

Start learning a new skill, even if you just scrape the top. At least you took steps toward learning it.

Do something you love doing, even if it is just for a few minutes.

In the wise words of Nike,

Just do it.

Swoosh.

Cheers!

Marina

PS, don't forget to come back here and share what you have done this week! I'd love to know what everyone is doing...

Quick Thanksgiving

I know it is early to be talking about Thanksgiving already, especially for my U.S. readers (remember, our Thanksgiving is in October), but my little man has been listening to Christmas music since April, so bear with me.

I have four popular Canadian magazines sitting in front of me.

All are October issues and all have Thanksgiving as their main topic on the cover.

All discuss the length it takes to cook Thanksgiving dinner.

All talk about how no one has the time to cook meals like these anymore.

All give short cut, fast and easy recipes for food that supposedly tastes the same as traditional turkey day feasts, but in a fraction of the time.

And all of these magazine leave me feeling that the general population is losing touch with the joy of creating a meal for your family.

Of putting food together to create a blend of flavours, textures, and scents that can only be created through time and patience.

Now I totally understand the rush of a meal during the week. I stay at home with my kids and I still feel a rush to get dinner on the table for 5pm. I can only imagine how parents feel when they work until 5, don't get home until 6 and then have to figure out what to make for dinner, create it, serve it, clean up after and then start on other family things.

It must feel totally overwhelming.

But Thanksgiving is a holiday.

A day where you should have time to relax.

A day where you have time to put the turkey in the oven at lunch, surround it with yummy root vegetables, season with herbs and spices and allow it to fill your home with the most delectable aroma.

I can almost smell it now...

What gets me is roasting is so much easier than the quick recipes they put in these magazines. What other total meal do you prepare for 20 minutes and then leave it in the oven to cook for over two hours? Two hours that you aren't needed in the kitchen.

I know that during the week, quick meals for many are a necessity.

But Thanksgiving?

I encourage you to slow down the pace of life for one day. Just one. And take the time to really enjoy cooking a meal for your family. And while it is cooking in the oven, take that time to enjoy the company of one another.

And that smell. MMMMM. Enjoy the smell.

Enjoy it all.

Cheers!

Marina