OH, Everly… is what I think as all these stories of embarrassment, triumph, and humor rush through my head.  After writing my first blog post – EVER – I learned quite a few things about myself. If you have already read the <meet us> post, you know I was hoping to share our story through our journey to find a semblance of sanity in a messy life that includes work and being a parent.  I had always dreamt about writing a book to share my experience to anyone willing to read, but year after year, I left “writing something” an unchecked item on my list of New Year’s Resolutions(among many other things). I gave myself plenty of excuses: There’s not a lot of time.  It will just impact the time I spend with Everly and Justin. How would I even start? No one would read it anyways. I’m a bad writer. I have so much to talk about and nothing to talk about all at the same time.

Lately, something felt different.  I started feeling a wisp of inspiration around me – from my family and friends, and my daughter.  As Everly grows into a little girl, I realized there are so many stories I wish I would have documented and so many that I should in the future.  I began to realize that she was freakin’ hilarious, and that was enough to share and write about so my family and I can hold on to it in the future.  I decided to stop thinking, start writing, and start up a WordPress blog. I sat down with a glass of wine (of course), and started to free-write. Day 3 of this journey, and this is what I learned: 

1. Writing was therapy I didn’t know I needed – It forced me to really think through my thoughts, my experiences, and see how they impacted me and the mark I want to make with others.  It was the self assessment I never have time to do, but is so crucial to my mental health.
   
2. I do have time – Because writing even just 2 posts purged my soul and my mind, I found it has given me time back.  It gives me an opportunity to let things out so I can be more present in the future. It’s almost as if I was trying to read multiple books at once because my mind was processing all things – about my day, about my performance, and what I did or didn’t do, and about what I wanted to say.  It has forced me to dedicate 30 mins a day to release what’s on my mind, which clears my mind to maximize my time with my family
   
3. It forced me to embrace the mom I’ve been thus far (even more so than I have before) – I get to look back and think, reassess what I did wrong, celebrate what I did right, and help me remember I am a good enough mom.  Perfection is overrated! Writing forced me to look back at all I’ve accomplished as a mom, despite the obstacles of mom guilt and working, and it puts it all in perspective for me.  

So moms and dads – find your therapy. You are an important piece to your family. What will be (is your therapy)?

Share or like if writing has been therapeutic for you.

Or comment below with things that you find therapeutic or something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t.

I’d love to hear!