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Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Does That Little Voice Steal Your Happiness?

Every one had dreams growing up. Maybe it was to be a mom but you didn't realize how hard it would be. Maybe it was to be an astronaut or a famous artist, an actress or a star athlete. I studied for years to be a dancer. My big plan was to go to New York and be on Broadway. Let's just say that life and boys got in the way during my senior year of high school. Fast forward almost 20 years later. I have a hard working husband and four beautiful kids. I've got a positive outlook on life, or at least a more positive one than I've had in a long time and WHAM! I happen along Facebook which shows the people I went to school with on Broadway, writing for large news corporations, talking politics on television and performing all over the world.
That's when that little voice comes in to say, "See, you're just a housewife. Look at all of these successful people living exciting lives and you're living in the suburbs with nothing to show for yourself. Your life is half over and you haven't been anywhere or done anything."

Part of me aches for what could have been when I see all of these awesome adventures that people are taking and then I stop and realize that the grass is always greener on the other side. They may have the lights of Broadway or spend their days meeting important people, they might be a little envious of my family snuggling on the bed for our weekend movie nights. While I loathe doing laundry every day (yes, I have to change that to feeling blessed that we have clothes to wear) they might feel I'm lucky to have little arms to hug me and say 'I love you Mommy'.

So the next time you are investigating Facebook and feeling like you are less than someone else just realize that a lot of people look great on the outside but you never know what they are thinking when they are all alone.

Don't let anyone (including yourself) steal your happiness. Reality is nothing more than perception. Something I have learned:

  • Be thankful for dirty dishes because it means that you have food to eat
  • Be thankful for laundry because it means you have clothes to wear
  • Be thankful you have water and electricity to clean these things
  • Be thankful for the roof over your head(even if it leaks)
  • Be thankful for the money you have and manage it wisely. You should manage your money not let your money manage you.


Happiness is not achieved through things or accomplishments. It's a state of being that we decide to be. So the next time you have a dirty diaper to change or the kids are arguing and you are at your wits end, try saying thank you. In your mind or out loud. Thank you God for this precious baby who is healthy. Thank you God for allowing me to teach these young children how to get along and how to work through their differences. Say it until you feel the peace come over your soul.

I pray that my trial and error and lessons learned the hard way can help another mom out there trying to get out of that hole and the chaos that ensues.