Sunshine…and rain.
I’m not feeling overly joyous today. I am feeling empty. Drained. Completely and utterly exhausted. It really is my own fault. I cannot say NO (when it comes to myself – I can say no to my kids pretty easily. Too easily sometimes). I’m learning to say no, but I really do suck at it. I am an inherent “people pleaser” and will often say “yes” so as to not disappoint someone else. Even when it comes at the expense of my own health and welfare. And sleep.
The other problem I have is that I am utterly optimistic. To a fault, even. And also? A really hard working person.
That combination may sound good, but it can do some serious damage.
I will think it’s a good idea to cram in a horrific amount of work in the shortest time frame possible. Because just think! More money in less time! And then think of all the free time I’ll have after I’m done!
Except then something else comes up! And I say to Honey, “Just think! More money is less time! And then think of all the free time I’ll have after I’m done!”
Rinse, cycle, repeat.
Now I am finally done. In all senses of the word.
I tried to do some of our home office work yesterday but could not do it. For one, my office was overflowing with paper and all sorts of crap (pics on Flickr). There was no room for me to work. My brain was also a big squishy pile of poop. The mere thought of thinking (if that even makes sense) made me want to curl up in a corner and chant, “I’m in my happy place”.
Jessica over at Kerflop is having a contest to give away a JOYS system. I want to enter because, well, you saw the disaster that is my office. I was not, however, feeling inspired to write a post because I could not sum up a cute or funny idea to write about as my entry. Then I remembered to “write what I know”. Which is exactly what I did above.
I also remembered that when I am feeling like this it is always good for me to reflect on what makes me happy. What brings me joy. Let’s make a list, shall we? Because we all know how much I love lists. You might even say that lists bring me joy.
So here you have my random list of some of the things that bring me joy. I’ll limit it to eleven things (my favourite number).
1. When Matthew makes me laugh. It happens often. Sometimes at my expense…sometimes at his.
2. Emily’s chubby cheeks (and thighs, and fingers, and toes, and arms, and, and, and…)
3. The way Graham’s eyes light up when he smiles.
4. When Nathan nuzzles his face in my neck.
5. Towels, fresh from the dryer.
6. Taking pictures (especially when they turn out).
7. Freshly laundered bed sheets.
8. My first Diet Coke of the day. And the last. And all those in between.
9. The sound of my email dinging when I get a message or a comment.
10. Hanging out with The Girls (this coming Sunday…)
11. Getting all of the kids to bed at the same time and not being too exhausted to have some “me” time that involves more than zoning out in front of the TV (or the laptop). Playing with pretty paper makes for some good “me” time.
That makes eleven, so I’ll call it a wrap. It feels good to focus on the joy. It’s much more uplifting than focusing on the negative, at least in my humble opinion.
What brings you joy (see #9)?
Lunch dates.
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Lemons!
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Oh, when I read your headline, I immediately started doing the cabbage patch. We are the same age, aren’t we?
LOVE the favicon!
What brings me joy?
How my chicks look when they first wake up.
Prenatal ultrasounds.
Dinner at a great steakhouse.
A really fresh Reese’s peanut butter cup.
Puppies.
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saturday mornings
dvr’d shows
Rt’s little dittle dance
Hubs always getting up in the night with Rt.
sleeping in
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Great list! What brings me joy? My kids, my man, my friends, time with God, a good book, being creative, yummy food, music, Project Runway, hot chocolates and sunshine. Just to name a few
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You had me at #8. Be still my heart!
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It really is hard to limit a list of what brings joy once you sit down to start contemplating it, doesn’t it. I think one big one for me is being creative. Playing with pretty paper really does make things good. Oh and virtually any movie with Drew Barrymore or Julia Roberts in it. (not all, but most).
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A sense of peace! And Regular Coke..the first of the morning and the last of the day….and those in between!
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May I ask…do you like the number 11 for a specific reason? I like prime numbers. I don’t know why, I just do. My favorite is 17.
So I guess prime numbers give me joy. Writing with green ink. Laughing with a friend who really gets me. Seeing Annalie accomplish something and being proud of herself because of it. Music. Reading along and coming across a sentence that expresses something beautifully and perfectly within the imperfect confines of language. Cooking delicious things. Taking good pictures. Driving a stick shift. Exploring new cities. Rainy days and thunderstorms. Autumn. John 3:16 AND 17.
My two favourite numbers are 11 and 20. I like the way 11 looks, and the number 20 is prevalent on my life (birthday, wedding day, many others…
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My son, of course. Diet DR. PEPPER baby – all day, every day!!!, being organized, accomplishing a task, taking a photograph that I love!!! and the list could go on….
I know what you mean about the exhaustion. I’m a people pleaser too and everytime someone asks me to do something, I feel like I need to say “yes” and so I end up always being way too busy. I feel guilty when I say no, but its killing me!!
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The weekend I’m having at the moment is giving me joy……I was SO “done” by Friday it wasn’t funny.
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Many of the same things as your list bring me joy. I kind of did the same thing on my site.
And I have that same inability to say “No”. Everyday it seems as though you introduce something else we have in common.
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So many things – Spending time with family/friends. My “baby”…(he’s a dog!) Coming home after a day of work. And for that matter – PAY DAY!
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My hubby, my beautiful daughter, the smell of fresh baking and coffee brewing, clean sheets day, spending time with family and close friends, enjoying a beautiful day outside and so many more! Lists are fun!
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Relaxing family time with Ian and Marin makes me very happy.
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Oh, I could just steal your list! For #1, insert “Noah” where it says “Matthew”. For #2, trade “Liliana” for “Emily”. No 5, 6, 7, & 11 – YUP!!!
And one of my own? Getting ALL the laundry washed, folded and put away – all in ONE day!
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Oh yea, and the inability to say “no”? I get teased mercilessly for it.
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When Eva says a new word. Today she said Bubble! It was so precious.
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Coming home after a week away at the lake!
Home Sweet Home and our bed, did I mention our own bed?
Heaven.
Going to get into it very shortly!
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I love walks in nature, snuggles with my boys, laughs with my hubby and visits with my family
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a great worship time at church
smell of vanilla, lavender and cinammon
reading Hank Zipzer with my kids – when there’s a part that I would uncontrollably laugh (my kids finds that very funny)
eating ethnic Filipino food here on Maui
and like you … comments on my blogs
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dreaming up whacky ideas AND Baby Bug! …not necessarily in that order of course.
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a clean house! (not sure how I missed this the first time around)
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