Just finished a fun breakfast with an artist friend and we discussed something I thought I'd share here. You get to pick which story you'd like to tell--about yourself, your life, your path. In this age of instagram, Facebook, and all things self-published, we get to choose our narratives. We pick which details to share and not share (hopefully!), and I'm sure, we also lay out the best details of our lives: pictures of celebrations, accomplishments and laugh-worthy moments. When I've made a quick login to facebook, indubitably there's the "Look at this, I've got such a sweet hubby!" photo of flowers and chocolate, the "amaaazing view I have on vacation/in my new apartment/from my new office"and of course, the gorgeous plate of food we had a dinner that you just have to see!
Nothing wrong with those. I just find it interesting that we all have an insta-platform to share and present our best selves, our best life. And when I think about it, if I were to tell the story of {my life right now} in the most laudable terms possible, here's how it would go:
I'm really enjoying the season I'm in right now. I'm able to be at home with my girls while they're little. I've chosen to pull back from a full time career in order to really enjoy and soak up these special moments. I've been able to witness every one of Little Sugar's milestones: first steps, first time saying "sister", first time crawling up onto our Cal King bed solo. I witnessed the way her eyes lit up as she discovered the power in her tiny index finger when getting the lights to turn on or sounding the elevator alarm. And I've watched Big Sugar mature. Yesterday she helped me fold an entire load of laundry--she's superb at folding the pants! I have a blast making a daily visual map of our day together each morning. Yesterday's included the following pictures, in this order: 1) a banana, 2) a bag of clean laundry, 3) a t-shirt, 4) a bookshelf, 5) swings, 6) a house, 7) paint brush and crayons, 8) ... we ate, folded clothes, got dressed, went shopping, to the park/marina, came home, ate, cleaned some more, played some more and rested.
I love having this flexibility in my schedule. I'm discovering new gems I'd never seen--museums, parks, libraries. Each day we wake up is a new adventure. Meanwhile I've got one foot in the professional game as I'm preparing for the BAWP institute this summer. That could lead to nice opportunities all over the region and maybe even world. My colleagues are doing neat things and I know my path is only uphill from here.
And I say all that to show how life is what you make it. I could go on an equally long rant with a negative slant about the same life--pointing out the inconveniences, the questions, the difference between this life and the one I once lived. But why? Why not be happy? Why not share my life from a sugar-drizzled pov? Because at the end of the day, my life *is* sweet...if only I would be open to tasting it.
Nothing wrong with those. I just find it interesting that we all have an insta-platform to share and present our best selves, our best life. And when I think about it, if I were to tell the story of {my life right now} in the most laudable terms possible, here's how it would go:
I'm really enjoying the season I'm in right now. I'm able to be at home with my girls while they're little. I've chosen to pull back from a full time career in order to really enjoy and soak up these special moments. I've been able to witness every one of Little Sugar's milestones: first steps, first time saying "sister", first time crawling up onto our Cal King bed solo. I witnessed the way her eyes lit up as she discovered the power in her tiny index finger when getting the lights to turn on or sounding the elevator alarm. And I've watched Big Sugar mature. Yesterday she helped me fold an entire load of laundry--she's superb at folding the pants! I have a blast making a daily visual map of our day together each morning. Yesterday's included the following pictures, in this order: 1) a banana, 2) a bag of clean laundry, 3) a t-shirt, 4) a bookshelf, 5) swings, 6) a house, 7) paint brush and crayons, 8) ... we ate, folded clothes, got dressed, went shopping, to the park/marina, came home, ate, cleaned some more, played some more and rested.
I love having this flexibility in my schedule. I'm discovering new gems I'd never seen--museums, parks, libraries. Each day we wake up is a new adventure. Meanwhile I've got one foot in the professional game as I'm preparing for the BAWP institute this summer. That could lead to nice opportunities all over the region and maybe even world. My colleagues are doing neat things and I know my path is only uphill from here.
And I say all that to show how life is what you make it. I could go on an equally long rant with a negative slant about the same life--pointing out the inconveniences, the questions, the difference between this life and the one I once lived. But why? Why not be happy? Why not share my life from a sugar-drizzled pov? Because at the end of the day, my life *is* sweet...if only I would be open to tasting it.
No comments:
Post a Comment