Life before the holidays – super crazy…super fast…super NUTS!  Life in Chicago (I will post about our trip soon!) was relaxing and low-key.  I was completely re-energized!  Then we came back to Minnesota, and I feel completely overwhelmed again!  I need to slow down…

I’ve attended two funerals in the past four days.  Two. Funerals.   I think I did some soul-searching while sitting at each one.   Both were for older women.  Women who brought joy to all who knew them.  Women who had  a great sense of family.   Women who lit up a room with their smile.   Women who seemed to never complain.  Women who seemed to have it all figured out and have it all together.

Then, I think I sit there and beat myself up.  Beat myself up with a laundry list of things that I should be doing or things that need to be done. Things I could be better at.  Things I should be doing more often.  Things I have let go and need to pick up again…lots of things, things, things.

Then, I am completely overwhelmed with myself, life, and everything… and I can’t seem to pick myself up.

This is when I am reminded of my 6th grade teacher, Mrs. Sladky.  My mom and dad went to my parent-teacher conference and was told how well I was doing, but my teacher told them to remind me to “Lighten up!”  Life will go on…so laugh…shrug it off…..and keep going!   Don’t be so down on yourself!

So, I am taking a deep breath…

picking myself up…

moving on…

lightening up…

and doing the best that I can do!

As that is all I can do.