The past few weeks have been a good reminder as to what really makes us happy in life. It all started out with going to a greenhouse with one of my best friends. It was great to wander around, smell the flowers, see beauty and share that with someone you are close with. We went back to her place and potted some house plants that we bought for our homes. We were out on her porch with no cell phones ringing, no radio blasting, no texting to interrupt; just us and nature. Also on the porch; a hummingbird feeder. The birds were hungry this day and there were about 5 of them circling around us the whole time. It was nice to listen to the squeaks and chirps of those birds while we were out there with them. I love the outdoors and all of God's creations(except spiders...we are just acquaintances). It was then and there that reminded me that our lives can be so much more simple if we choose to let them be that way. We all know there are things that we might not be able to control, like rent, bills and work. There are things we can control like our time, our thoughts, how we treat others, what is important to us, and how we use our time. I was seriously over-scheduled all growing up due large in part to my own fault. It seemed to me that life was a competition and the more I did, the better, well rounded, prepared for the real world I was. It has taken some time for me to recognize that some of the happiest people I know, aren't doing everything that is available to them. They do what is important to them.
The Mister and I went to dinner at a family members house and while there, no TV was turned on, no movie was played. Just family spending time together talking, laughing and learning. It is so great to see my little sister and my uncle talking to each other like friends. Grandma and visitors chatting like roommates, in-laws and blood relatives sharing stories. My sister pulled out her personality-typing-book and we all had fun seeing the commonalities most of us all shared. My uncle starting a story by "Whats great about your mom is this..." and telling me of how my mother is great at making friends in unexpected places. I am full of gratitude to have the opportunity to get to know my relatives in deeper ways. I am also grateful to have so many friends that trust me to be apart of their lives, no matter how small or large. I am grateful that my SIL is one of my closest friends and I am excited to know that we are going to be better friends the older we get.
It seems silly that as smart adults, we have to keep reminding ourselves to relax and enjoy our lives, our surrounding, and our families. I never want to think about all the wasted hours I could have been doing something of importance, when instead I did something "expected".
