warning: this blog post may contain raw emotion, and very little relation to fashion.
Something i've been thinking and learning a lot about lately is contentment. When i first launched Adelaide's, I had no idea what to expect. i thought, "it would be so cool if i could just make a couple sales a week and save up some money for (i'll tell you what i'm saving up for in a later post)." then i thought, "oh my, It'd be fun to make 100 sales." 100 came and went, and then I had a goal of 500 which has recently come and gone. I think its great to have goals but I find myself always thinking of the next thing and not enjoying the every day bits of my business. If I am thinking of the next sales number I'm trying to get to, or how many shop hearts I have, or followers on twitter...then i can't see what's right in front of me: the fact that i love taking an item that was rotting somewhere in a warehouse or pushed to the back of a rack at Salvation Army and sending it to Paris the next week (or idaho, for that matter). I love the fact that an otherwise unused and unloved items get a new life. and i can enjoy THAT every single day, whether i'm making sales or getting"hearts" or not.
I am tempted to feel this in my personal life too. before i got married, i thought, "i'll be so much happier when i'm married." and now it can be tempting to think, "maybe we should have (or in my case, adopt) kids, is that the next thing?" Lately Steve and I have slowed down our timeline on kids and decided to enjoy EACH OTHER. We so enjoy spending time together and are continuing to learn how to better communicate and show love to each other. And the stronger our marriage is, the better it will be for our future kids.
I've found that Contentment is less about your circumstances and more about your state of mind, what you put your faith in, and what is important to you.
I want to somehow encourage you to be content and enjoy THIS part of your life, in whatever stage you may be in. there is something wonderful to enjoy about being self-employed, or having a steady job (working for the man :), to be single or married, to be a mom or kidless... just enjoy the ride! (like the lovely lady on the scooter up there:)
what are your thoughts on the subject??
thanks for reading,
m
p.s. the above picture is of a woman who looks greatly content and ready to enjoy life!
I think it's a lovely post, and a good reminder to those of us that never slow down to appreciate what we have right in front of us. If you are habitually too hard on yourself and never satisfied with your achievements like I am most of the time, the anxiety catches up with you and ends up working against you! Thank you for this post, it's very thoughtful.
ReplyDeleteI think in our society everyone is never satisfied compared to if you go to a country where people are truly grateful for the smallest things because they have nothing. We are quite selfish here and have so much opportunity, but we take it for granted.
ReplyDeleteI think it is great that you had a goal to save up for something and a lot of people are not so goal oriented. As for enjoying your marriage, I applaud you. I know of too many people who also think that marriage is going to give them everything and then when it isn't what they expected they think children will make it better. . .so again they are never satisfied. I really enjoy my marriage, and we have two boys, but I think the fact that we have Jesus as the core and center of our marriage is what makes it work. My husband's co-workers think it is crazy how much we love each other, even telling us it isn't normal (it is sad that "normal" means that couples don't care about each other???) but it isn't always easy, it takes a lot of work, and we are willing to be open about our struggles and our joys. We also work hard to raise our boys. In the near ten years that I have been with my husband, I love him more than ever. I also wanted so badly to get married and then to have kids. We didn't have our first son until 2.5 years into our marriage, and I always tell my friends right after they marry, to enjoy each other's company and wait about 2 or 3 years before building on a family! We sometimes miss that alone-time we had. Now that we have kids we can't imagine life at all without them either, but we are happy with what we have and are content.
I think that God blesses us through our contentment at times. Yet I think he blesses us more when we are willing to bless those around us who are not content or need help, etc.
So yeah, those are my thoughts.
+Victoria+
http://tiedemanntribe.blogspot.com
Maria, I now know *for sure* we'd have a lot to talk about over coffee or on a long walk! :)
ReplyDeleteI think being content and living in the moment (are they the same thing? I don't think so, but they are connected) are harder for some people than others, but they are things everyone struggles with. Things that make me discontented pale greatly in comparison to what I already have. It doesn't stop me from occasionally feeling discontented, though! But perspective is usually fairly easy to find again. I am with you--I feel *so* lucky to be able to sell vintage for a living! But the work can be so consuming that it's a big struggle sometimes to stop, put down the laptop, and smell the roses.
Love the photo!
This is an excellent post Maria, you are so right. I have to remind myself every week of just what you have brought up.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. If i ever find myself discontented, I try to remind myself that I am the only person who makes opportunities happen...they don't just appear, you have to take risks to grow. I am the one who opened my shop, who works on it everyday and who is motivating myself every morning to get out to sewing classes and do yoga. I have never felt better about my life! If i ever get nervous about being so committed to a relationship at such a young age, i remind myself that all i'd wanted my whole life was to be in love...now i have that, and i have a partner to share my joy in life with. kids will come in ten years or so, but for now i truly just want to enjoy my man, my business, my self education, and my freedom to travel, love, and live!
ReplyDeletekeep up the good work, babe, and if you ever feel down in the dumps...step outside, get some sunshine, and think about how awesome everything is and how you are the only person who has made everything fall into place!
wow, this is such a great post and I don't even know how I got here to your blog :) but I'm so glad I did...I will be back you can be sure.
ReplyDeleteNow off to enjoy life...just where I am (smile)