There were a lot of tears this morning, my friends. My daughter insisted that she wear her favorite white dress shoes to her Thanksgiving Feast at preschool. Her heart was set on these shoes, only these shoes. But these beloved favorites have become a size too small.
“Does it hurt?” I asked her.
“No it fits, Mommy!” she mustered, clearly in pain, tears streaming down her face, as she tried to wobble down the front walkway.
Honestly, watching her squeeze her little feet into even littler shoes made me think of Cinderella’s poorly misguided step sisters. So determined, they pushed with all of their might into that tiny glass slipper, but no amount of force would take them to the ball.
I get it.
Sometimes all my well-intended plans and ideals don’t fit so well into my reality, or within my timeline, or the limits of a body and mind prone to exhaustion. But so often, I try to make it all fit anyway.
Thanksgiving is tomorrow. I can’t wait – the week ahead will be full. We will get to travel to see family. The season ahead will be so very full. But even in the midst of the merriment, I know, so much wars against peace.
So I’ve decided to make room in my life to breathe. Because if I’m not intentional, I might just forget.
Here are the ways, in no particular order, that I will try to remember to breathe this season:
1. I will hold my plans and ideals loosely. I will be flexible to hold new ways, if need be, to find happiness in my day.
2. I will stay in the moment – not overwhelmed by tomorrow’s unknowns or held back by yesterday’s regrets.
3. I will choose to unplug for a better part of the day. I will put down my phone. Close the laptop. I will put a limit on my “screen” time.
4. I will go to sleep at a reasonable hour.
5. I will choose to have a beautiful attitude above a beautiful, immaculate home.
6. I will eat foods that are healthy and healing. But I will eat pumpkin pie and whipped cream.
7. I will say no to a full schedule. But I will say yes to what is important.
8. I will remember He is God, and I am not… and praise and trust Him for this.
9. I will spend time outdoors.
10. I will remember to encourage someone.
11. I will stay constant in prayer.
12. I will have coffee with a friend.
13. I will not compare myself with others.
14. I will do my Christmas shopping mostly online.
15. I will find moments of quiet and rest, even if it’s in a closet.
16. I will give myself space for honest emotions.
17. I will write.
18. I will remember grace for myself and others.
19. I will hug my kids everyday, especially when they don’t deserve it.
20. I will ask for help when I need it.
21. I will make sure to laugh at myself at times.
22. I will remember my worth in His eyes.
23. I will stay in God’s Word.
24. I will go and see Christmas lights.
25. I will go on a date night with my husband (so long overdue).
26. I will choose to be thankful for every breath.
27. I will refer back to this list when I have forgotten all of these well-intentioned thoughts …
How will you make room to breathe this season?
Once her tears dried, and her feet had enough, she willingly settled for a pair of her comfortable tennis shoes, by the way…
And I thought she sparkled just as much. If not more. 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving!
invited by grace 
Awe. They grow so fast!
I love your resolutions. They are good year-round goals, too 🙂
Mainly, I need to focus more on prayerfully approaching my day and appreciating the people God has
Oops, accidentally posted mid- thought.
I meant to say that I need to be more appreciative of the people God has placed closest to me. Life can become disjointed when I’m not deliberately thankful. Sometimes, it’s easy to become distracted by secondary issues and forget how blessed I really am.
Heather, I agree. Being grateful is a choice, an intentional choice despite what we face with our inner struggles… and likewise for me, I too have been surrounded by such faithful people who love and care for me the best they can. But it is easy to not take the time to appreciate this gift from God. As always, thank you for your thoughts. 🙂 I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I love how this post came together full-circle. I love that to-do list.
Thank you. This to-do list is really my heart’s desire this season. So glad you commented! Hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving!
Umm you read my mind:) love so many phrases in this post ! And I am with you on your list- I could make my own but go honestly, yours is a perfect fit for me:)! I needed to read this as I clean the house and start baking today. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!
I am glad some of the phrases here resonated with you. 🙂 I have already been putting these things in practice! Thank you for your comment! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving with your family!
I will make time to breath by remembering to use my recuse inhaler…no seriously I will because sometimes in the middle of a “spell” I honestly forget all about it! Duh! That and make time to snuggle with dogs and hug my husband everyday! Thanks for another beautiful post.
I really feel for you. I know you deal with so much – yet you have such a positive attitude. I do hope you remember to make use of the inhaler when needed… also I pray that your breathing will start to improve somehow!! My lungs are not truly affected, but I do have major tachycardia (fast heartbeat) at times due to Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia… and boy when it’s bad, I can barely catch my breath. 😦 Not fun! Thank you for your thoughts as always… hope Thanksgiving was wonderful. Go and snuggle with your dogs and husband! 🙂
This is so beautiful, Kim. I too feel like I am guilty of trying to make things work when they simply don’t fit. Don’t we all? I attempt to put my will in front of God’s so many times. But just like your daughter, after a while of trying out my plans, I come back and try a better way. I also loved your list of ways to breathe and let God in more fully this holiday season. I think I will be trying to adopt many of them! Great read and I love the pictures! 🙂
Thank you Marla! I am so glad you enjoyed the post. I wrote this because I know I tend to get overwhelmed…. and what better way than to write it down here to remind myself? So happy that you will try to adopt some of them. 🙂 I do hope that this season will be a time to breathe rather than get lost in the busyness and chaos. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving in your new home!
Love this list. #2, 3, and 25 especially! I’m with you Kim, making time to breathe and be still, thankful, and savoring the moments. Oh, to be mindful of these things in the midst of the busyness. Thanks for the inspiration, friend!
Tiffany, I am so glad to hear I am not alone. It seems the both of us will be trying to have some of the same perspectives this season…. may God strengthen us! Let’s keep each other accountable on #25. 🙂 Thank you for your thoughts… hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving!
Wonderful post and advice, Kim. I remember once very early in my recovery journey being to overly anxious, feeling I wasn’t doing things right. My sponsor told me to breathe–to slow down and trust in the Lord to move me along as He saw fit. We breathe without thinking about it most of the time. Intentional breathing, slowing down, trust–these are necessary for me. Blessings, Peg
Thank you Peg! I love that. Intentional breathing, slowing down, trust … that really does sum it up. These things seem so simple, yet it can be a struggle to do them in the midst of all that I fear and don’t understand. But day by day, hour by hour sometimes, and God will meet us. He has so many times for me! I hope your Thanksgiving was blessed, Peg. I am keeping you in my prayers as I know it has been such a tough season. Thank you so much for your comment. 🙂
Thank you for your prayers, Kim. (((Hugs)))
Kim, I loved this post, AND what you included on your list! 🙂 Getting enough sleep is one of my biggest challenges. But I will choose to join you in that one. And in writing. And in giving myself permission to eat one of my favorite foods over the Christmas season, or at least on Christmas. You shared great wisdom here!
So sorry for the late reply…I am hoping this new year has brought you better sleep. I struggle too with getting enough rest!! It is getting better because I literally am non functional without a good night’s sleep these days. Blessings to you!