Perspectives

Lately, I feel like shortly after my day begins it is coming to an end. Unfortunately, I am like most people and rush all day, and as I rush from one place to another I tend to push thoughts aside, until I am in the car. I suppose I am just like my toddler who fights sleep until she is in the car because it is not until then that we are unable to avoid the need to rest or acknowledge the thoughts accumulating in our heads.

So here we were again, it was a Saturday afternoon and I looked in my rear-view mirror as my toddler’s eyes became heavy and suddenly closed. We had completed our Saturday morning routine of gymnastics, and swimming, while I attempted to take various fitness classes in hopes they would change my thought process and perhaps my reflection.

I continued to look back at my daughter as I drove and could not help but smile, and that is when I had to allow the voice in my head to speak freely. It reminded me of how awful I had just felt walking through our health club. It reminded me how every Saturday I fear I might see someone while trying to avoid all reflective services. It reminded me how all the mothers I pass look wonderful and leave me wondering what else I can do to not feel so inadequate.

I kept driving thinking how exhausting this is to always want to change yourself, question everything you do, long to be more like other people. I thought about the lengths I have gone to quiet this voice in my head and then I looked in the rear-view mirror. I decided I can continue to try to better myself, but not change myself. I thought about not comparing but accepting, using all the time I compare to accept, to appreciate.

I decided to remind myself to be thankful, and patient because the view in my rear-view mirror is simply perfect and adds a whole new perspective not only on today but everyday.