Oct 12, 2018 | Enough |
The harder I try it seems
the more I fail.
I will be the first to admit that it is
no fun,
this messed up cycle of
trying too hard
and failing.
Kathi Lipp and Cheri Gregory’s book,
You Don’t Have To Try So Hard:
Ditch Expectations and
Live Your Own Best Life,
is a great encouragement to
this mom’s heart.
In fact this book helped me
give myself permission to take a
bath at 8:30 am
because I was so sore.
When you are trying hard –
a morning bath
makes zero sense.
But.
It was what I needed.
I love that this book released me
from unnecessary pressure and at the same time
educated me on how to actually live in
a way that makes sense for me.
They reminded me that
I am made in a unique way
and they addressed how I
might then go about and
hustle less and
live more.
They use fun quizzes to help
you understand how you operate.
This book is all about standing up
to the bullies of
perfectionism, performancism,
people-pleasing, and procrastination.
They’ve got to go!
I feel more empowered to
pursue what is best for me
and my family without feeling
pressure to be something we aren’t.
What is the expectation you would like to
get rid of forever?
What expectation holds you back
instead of propelling you forward?
You Don’t Have To Try So Hard
because guess what?
You don’t.
Participate in the giveaway for this book on my Facebook page!
Share in the comments on this post on my Facebook page and tag a friend who needs permission to take a bath at 8:30 am and I will enter both of your names in the drawing for You Don’t Have To Try So Hard. I will draw a name on Tuesday, Oct 16. Winner will be announced on Wed, Oct 17. The book will be delivered to the winner and may take 3-4 weeks to arrive.
Jul 27, 2018 | Encouragement, Enough |
I am new to wearing out-there earrings.
Statement earrings that say:
“Look at me!”
I had stuck with the same pair of earrings for years and years
due to sensitive ears.
At least that was my reasoning.
But now at 40 I can’t help but wonder
if it was more than that.
If there was a bit of hiding going on.
Please, don’t look at me.
I want to be seen…
but not fully.
And now?
I now own some bold earrings
and they each have a story.
Connection with others makes me brave
and that is what these earrings represent.
People, stories, and reminders.
When I wear these earrings I walk a little taller.
Fringe earrings are what started it all.
I got these on a birthday trip from my hubby
with three of my biggest encouragers.
These earrings remind me that its okay to be fierce.
One pair of earrings is from my husband
and one pair I made.
The hoops make me think of love and the
jade globes remind me to give voice to my creativity.
One pair reminds me of the shop owner who said,
“You are a great momma.”
The copper teardrop pair are from a friend who sees the best in me.
The macrame ones my sister also owns
because we both fell in love with them. #Sisters
I wear them and think of her and
remember to be authentically myself.
And to maybe give her a call.
It’s such a small thing.
But we all need reminders.
To be strong,
be brave
to be creative
and to be our most authentic selves.
Which earrings shall I wear today?
Which reminder do I need?
Searching For Kindling.
What reminds you of who you truly are?
What helps you remember to be brave?
What are the stories that remind you to be authentic?
Share in the comments!
Jun 22, 2018 | Community, Enough |
Go ahead and feel it all.
There’s a lot on your plate.
The world won’t come crashing down
if you go ahead and feel it.
I know it might seem like it might.
To allow yourself to sink into all that
is in your heart is
asking for an enormous wave to
crush you, flip you,
disorient and scare you.
How’s a heart supposed to hold it all?
The regular daily stuff, the big daily stuff,
a friend who is sick,
families torn apart by policy, by
systemic racism, by bitterness,
by trial after trial.
If you feel it all –
if you let the wave take you for a ride
you will feel unmoored,
undone and unsure.
That’s what waves do.
But they also move you.
Move you to where you are
supposed to be.
The wave will put you back on land
in a place that you probably will not recognize.
Your lungs will gasp for air.
Your legs will be tentative.
Your hands will reach for the
texture of solid ground.
Your heart will feel first
and will direct your steps.
What do you see first?
What are the needs?
Big waves have a way of
redirecting, re-centering,
a way of mooring us to what actually matters –
and what our part is in it.
So let the wave of all that is in your heart move you,
its okay to be tentative, but be confident
in the knowledge that you were placed
exactly where you are –
on this shore, this exact span of sand,
to walk towards the needs of your world.
May your steps be propelled by love,
may your hands be open,
your passion burning
and your gifts and talents engaged.
May 8, 2018 | Enough, Motherhood |
Sometimes I don’t know what you need.
And even if I did know
I am not sure that I could be it.
You are tall and long
with big emotions
and you have a lot of words.
You push my buttons.
And I suppose I probably push yours.
And there are times that I wish
I could snuggle you and make it all okay
like I did when you were so much smaller.
It is harder to know
how to make it okay
and sometimes there isn’t really
a way to even do that.
Sometimes my heart is overwhelmed
with my love for you and my frustration with you
and how I want to be able to help you
and still be what you need
every now and then.
And then tonight happened.
You said,
“Come and lay down with me, Mommy”.
And my heart, mind and mouth said,
“Yes”.
You lifted your spiderman blanket
so I could snuggle into
the little furnace you created.
We talked a little bit about your
test tomorrow and
I prayed for you.
Then you rolled to your tummy,
flung your arm over my tummy
and laid your head on my chest.
And then you fell asleep.
And in that moment my heart
was reminded that sometimes
you need small things from me
my patient presence,
my tickle monster,
my silly jokes,
my dance with me,
my arms to hold you while you sleep.
Thanks, baby boy for the reminder
that while I can’t be everything
you need (and I shouldn’t be)
there are some instances
where I am enough.
Searching For Kindling
Name five small things that you do to love your children well. Think of some small moments with your kids that have filled your mama tank.
Mar 10, 2018 | Community, Encouragement, Enough |
I am strong as steel.
I will surprise you.
I can make dinner, unload the dishwasher,
brainstorm for an article and help my child study for a test all at the same time.
I am a soft place to land.
I have stretch marks and an untoned tummy –
I am my own beautiful.
I am not wonder woman… I am me
and that is enough.
I will fight for those I love.
I am multidimensional.
I am a partner.
I am becoming.
I am passionate.
I am made in the image of God.
I will write my own story.
Women before me have led the way
to where we are now
and I join hands with those I walk with
today to make
tomorrow better
for our daughters and sons.
I am woman.
Jul 13, 2017 | Encouragement, Enough |
Sometimes I am surprised when God presents truth to me in ways I don’t expect. For example, last week at the beach my son drew a tennis court in the sand; I enjoyed watching him create his masterpiece but I didn’t expect it to be a carrier of truth. I just didn’t see it coming.
He loves tennis. I thought he was drawing a geometric pattern of some sort but my husband knew exactly what it was. The beach wasn’t busy which was good as the tennis court was large. He was so focused on his work and could not be distracted by the waves or by what his brother and sister were choosing to do. He drew the base and service lines. He drew a net and then started building it up a bit as well. As I watched him create I watched people walk around his court, taking a bit of a detour from the direction they were walking. No one was bothered that they had to walk a few steps out of their way as they saw a boy creating, working with his hands, his mind working and enjoying the beach and tennis at the same time. (He’s brilliant!) He was undeterred by the people walking by, he just kept doing what he was doing.
I took a few pictures of his sand court and as I did I heard, in my heart, “He’s not afraid to take up that big space. Why are you afraid to take up a big space?”
BAM. On the beach. Truth hitting so hard I about ate sand.
Bethany, why are you afraid to take up space? Why do you worry about what others will think about the stances you take? Why do you curb your creativity? Why do you try to live small so that things don’t get scary and big?
Bethany, why do you hesitate to fill in the frame God has given you?
I know why. Once I take my focus off of God, I start doubting. I start paying more attention to what people think, what if someone thinks I am in the way or saying more than I should? I start censoring – “That’s too strong” or “That’s being too much” and soon the excuses are piling up like the sand in the minivan. The truth is – living large isn’t about me, it is about fulfilling what God has purposed me to do. It is the living small that is all about me, safe, ruffling no feathers and comfy – and diametrically opposed to what God would want for me.
Where do I get permission to live large, unafraid of opinions or consequences? It’s me. I stand in my way. At the foundational level it is an issue of trust. Do I trust God enough to go ahead and be brave, make no apologies and live large? Do you?
Search for kindling: Is there an area of your life where you are making excuses so you can live small?
