Advice to Myself: Appreciate What You Have
Monday, April 23, 2012 at 7:00AM 
I have been saying this to myself all week. It's been a tough one. I have a restless soul, I like change and I am always seeking the next thing. This drive brought me to the US from Canada, it gives me the ability to take risks and it had me constantly rearranging my room when I was a kid. It's something that I am proud of and that makes me who I am, but sometimes it overwhelms me and I have a difficult time appreciating what is right here in front of me, now, in this moment. I have to remind myself to be content, to be grateful for the way things are now and to appreciate what I have.
I sometimes get so caught up in thinking about the future that I spiral into a place where I am unhappy that things are not where I want them to be yet. It's the ugly side of setting life goals and having an idea of how you want your life to be. I don't feel content; I want a house with more space for my family, I want to have a successful career, I want the pressure of parenting to ease a little. If I focus on those things too much though, I forget that the little house we have is pretty sweet, I can take time to relax and read a book, and my children are at that beautiful, perfect age when life is a wonder and ice cream is the best thing in the whole world.
Do you take time to look around and really appreciate what you do have? How do you balance feeling content with your life and also wanting it to grow?
======
This week's type is drawn from a 1921 version of Narcissus by Walter Tiemann. It's an ornamental typeface that was drawn by Tiemann for the Klingspor type foundry based on inline capitals first cut by Simon Pierre Fournier in about 1745. A modern version is available at Linotype.
The photograph was taken in my parent's backyard last year while my whole family had a bubble blowing frenzy. My family can be crazy fun like that. I love the metaphor of the bubbles, that they are fleeting and will soon be gone. Live in the moment my friends. Enjoy every second, even if things are not exactly how you want them, and maybe especially because of that. Camera Equipment: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon EF 24-70mm L lens. Camera Settings: 1/800 sec at f/3.5, ISO 100.
Advice, Appreciation, Bubbles, Gratitude, Series, Sky, Type, blue in Advice to Myself, Illustration, Inspiration, Photography, Typography
Reader Comments (3)
That is a tough balance - being motivated and dreaming the big dreams while also being in the moment and appreciating what you have.
The man and I were talking on similar lines last night - we just moved back here after 10 years out east and were at dinner with friends who have lived her all their lives. I envy the deep roots of being in one place yet I wouldn't trade all of my adventures and travel and the moves for anything. And we were even then talking about whether we want another adventure - perhaps overseas for a few years!
I can do change. I like change. I like the new. Like you, I was also rearranging my bedroom as a kid. But it is a good reminder to be in the moment and appreciate the now. Especially with kids.
"How do you balance feeling content with your life and also wanting it to grow?"
One thing I try to do is stop comparing myself to others. (I'm terrible about this.) It's hard to do that when the people around you have what you want or seem ready for things you're not ready for. I try to be ok with me and where I'm at in life. Now, I struggle more with making room for the new.
I rearranged my bedroom all the time, too, and my family rotated bedrooms about once a year--even my parents (we had three small bedrooms in a ranch house). My husband thinks it's the goofiest thing, and I have to admit I don't know anyone else whose parents switched bedrooms all the time, but maybe it helped me be OK with moving a lot as an adult and not getting too settled in to one place.
Thanks for the fantastic comments ladies!
Sandra - I hear you about the deep roots. I don't have any either!
Roobacca - you are totally right. Comparing myself to others never helps anything. That's so cool about your family switching rooms! I would make my sister switch with me, she didn't always want to but I was very persuasive (basically I would bug her about it until she said yes!) It's amazing she still loves me.