It replays over and over in my mind tonight.
Don't let anyone steal your dream. It's your dream, not theirs. ~Dan Zadra
There is so much pressure.
There are so many opportunities, yes, there are those too.
Maybe the world has always been this way and I've been blind to it all.
Seems if one looks around, at home, school, work, government,
whatever is happening according to the "world" it is not good enough.
There is so much pressure to perform from a young age, that it scares me.
We tell each other that it is okay.
We tell each other that no matter what happens as long as you (or your kids) do their best that is what matters.
We say it,
but we don't believe it.
We know the "world" doesn't see it that way
and we feel the fear attached to not living up to this elusive undefined standard.
As Kadence's birthday comes and goes.
I want to celebrate not just her 8 wonderful years of life,
but celebrate every little spunky fiber of her being.
She demands attention.
I call her my "watch me" kid.
In her defense there are days that has probably been her only way to be
seen.
heard.
felt.
loved.
I hate that.
I call her my "watch me" kid.
In her defense there are days that has probably been her only way to be
seen.
heard.
felt.
loved.
I hate that.
So many life lessons to teach,
and there is no guide book for the ones I value most.
How do you teach someone to keep dreaming?
How do help someone find their purpose? Their drive? Their passion?
How do you help someone become a dreamer and a do-er?
On the eve of her birthday
I have a lot of questions
and some idea of things I need to focus on for her.
in her.
with her.
As she grows, I grow.
I am trying really hard to trust the process.
For your birthday my dear I want to commit to this as your gift:
Make the Ordinary come alive
Do not ask your children to strive for extraordinary lives.
Such striving may seem admirable
but it is a way of foolishness.
Help them instead to find the wonder
and the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting tomatoes, apples and pears.
Show them how to cry when pets and people die.
Show them the infinite pleasure in the touch of a hand.
And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself.
I have no idea where it came from.
I've had a picture of it on my phone for a couple years as a reminder.
Sometimes I need the reminder.
Sometimes I need to do better.
and there is no guide book for the ones I value most.
How do you teach someone to keep dreaming?
How do help someone find their purpose? Their drive? Their passion?
How do you help someone become a dreamer and a do-er?
On the eve of her birthday
I have a lot of questions
and some idea of things I need to focus on for her.
in her.
with her.
As she grows, I grow.
I am trying really hard to trust the process.
For your birthday my dear I want to commit to this as your gift:
Make the Ordinary come alive
Do not ask your children to strive for extraordinary lives.
Such striving may seem admirable
but it is a way of foolishness.
Help them instead to find the wonder
and the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting tomatoes, apples and pears.
Show them how to cry when pets and people die.
Show them the infinite pleasure in the touch of a hand.
And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself.
I have no idea where it came from.
I've had a picture of it on my phone for a couple years as a reminder.
Sometimes I need the reminder.
Sometimes I need to do better.
As she blows out her candles tomorrow morning
she will be wishing for something wonderful I am sure....
but I will be wishing for a way ~ for her~ a girl in the world today
~full of messages of not good enough, pressures, standards, and hurt~
to bottle up those characteristics that define her today so she can rise above "the world"
and continue to believe inside that she is "good enough."
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
I brought you into this world and will do my best to help you "fight" the good "fight" my dear.
It is a big task in front of us...finding the way in this world
Yes, there is a lot of hurt in the world today,
but I can't help believe with every fiber of my being
that it is still a wonderful place
and life is full of happiness,
sometimes you just have to be willing to see it first.
Yes I must teach her that.
I have some streamers to go hang now...
and birthday treats for school to pack up...
because tomorrow is an ordinary day,
and we plan to celebrate!
It is a big task in front of us...finding the way in this world
Yes, there is a lot of hurt in the world today,
but I can't help believe with every fiber of my being
that it is still a wonderful place
and life is full of happiness,
sometimes you just have to be willing to see it first.
Yes I must teach her that.
I have some streamers to go hang now...
and birthday treats for school to pack up...
because tomorrow is an ordinary day,
and we plan to celebrate!
Happy birthday
