the task at hand

To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting. ~e.e. cummings, 1955

This weekend I was reminded just how much slowing down and living for today is vital to our existence.

There will always be something to worry about tomorrow.

Something,

someday,

that may or may not happen

that could steal our sleep tonight,

but in the end it will matter more what we did today

than what we worry about tomorrow.

It is so easy to get sucked into a trap that diverts your time and energy away from what matters most.

It is so easy to worry about the things that matter the least.

It takes a constant effort to not be eaten alive by the "should have's"

A good friend reminded me of that again today.

I owe it to my children to continue growing.

Growing as a person

Growing as a mother.

I am not perfect.

I never will be.

Sometimes my parenting is an epic fail,

but that is not what matters.

What matters is that I get up and try it again.

Vowing to do better.

Vowing to grow

Not just for them

but for myself

and it has taken me awhile to come to the realization that is the greatest gift I can give them

because they too will never be perfect.

And if I can teach them to strive for growth

instead of this illusive unobtainable perfection

what an impact it will have on their future lives.

If I can do that,

I have done my ultimate job in this world.

What a large task to be placed in our hands the day we become parents to innocent souls.