Day 7:

This is a big one. If you’re not excited to be alive, then what is this all for? Now I am not saying that if you’re not excited for life, then death is the only option. However, if you’re not excited for life, there’s something going on that needs to be addressed. You might be going through a bout of depression or anxiety – you might need assistance to get out of that, depending on how long you’ve been there. However, if you’re feeling run down or blah, or unexcited about life – not necessarily depressed, but just not feeling good – it could be that you’re simply not doing what makes you happy or what you love. Or not enough of it.

I heard a really great quote: “The weekend isn’t for escaping your life; it’s about creating the life you want.”

The weekend isn’t for escaping your life, it’s about creating the life you want. WOW! That is really powerful!  

Which one are you? An escapist, or a creator?

I’ve been both – and, let me tell you, when I was an escapist, it sucked! It was late 2021 and my anxiety was through the roof – and I’m pretty certain I was suffering from PTSD from some training I had gone through just prior to this – and it’s something I’m still dealing with! But back then, I’d go week to week barely able to make it to the weekend, then on the weekend, I wouldn’t do anything. I didn’t want to do anything. I frequently had migraines, I’d often take naps during the day; I was barely surviving. It sucked. Compare to just this past weekend (that I’m writing this); I had recently decided to do the “Self Love February” but with over 2 weeks lead up time, have decided to expand from just daily posts on IG to include blog posts for whatever “topic” that day being. To help reduce the stress of having to write a blog every day, I’m starting the writing process early and scheduling the blog posts to automatically post on the appropriate day at a specific time. This past weekend, I wrote 6 blog posts while binge watching some animated TV series. To some people, that probably doesn’t sound fun, but I felt happy and accomplished by the end of the weekend. It’s because my “why” for life is to help others – to help women. In the past I felt “if I can’t help myself, how can I help others?”. And yet, when I write out these feelings and do reading and look up stats, the more clarity I get and the better I feel. When I get a comment or message or email from someone that what I said really helped them, it makes me really happy. It makes me know that I’m on the right track.

So what you need to do is sit down and have a look at what really makes you happy. Are you doing the things on your list – and if not, why? Yes, there are plenty of reasons that are completely legitimate, but can you find a way to make it work? Do you have someone in your life that can support you for an hour or so a week for you to do what makes you really happy.

Often children are a big obstacle for mothers. Are you married/with a partner? Why can’t they “solo parent” while you’re doing something that you love? If there’s a course you want to take, ask if there’s a drop in daycare you can take advantage of. Get involved with a local mothers group where you can become friends with someone with a child about the same age as you and get together for play dates, then trade off child-minding while the other takes some “me time”. Is it something you can do with your child? Some programs offer “mommy and me” and even though it may not be exactly what you’re looking for, it could be a start. Or can it be something you do with your child? If you love getting outside, invest in a Bob or some other “off road” stroller. Instill an appreciation for nature early in their lives.

One thing I absolutely LOVE is sitting outside, feeling the warmth of the sun on my face, listening to the birds and the breeze through the leaves of the trees, watching the squirrels and feeding the chipmunks. I even got a hammock so I could do it all the time last summer! Unfortunately, after the derecho and losing all the trees, when the sun is out, it is VERY hot, so I’m limited to either morning or late afternoon – when the mosquitoes are at their worst! However, for this spring/summer, we have a plan to make a patio area in our backyard. I have paving stones and know how we’re going to create a beautiful backyard space. I am ridiculously excited about this, but we still have several months to go before it’s warm enough to do anything. To be able to go out and enjoy the calm and beauty of sunsets is going to be so nice! It’s a reminder that even at the end of a bad day, it can be beautiful.

What makes you happy to be alive?

And how can you create your life to do more of it?