Grateful for the Mess

I looked around myself on Dec 27th and I was surrounded by mess. Total chaos. Toys everywhere, sweetie wrappers lying abandoned in the corners of the room, several kids cups half filled with water on each available surface. My windows and patio door were covered in what only can be described as jammy handprint approximately age 2 sized. In my kitchen there were muddy paw prints all over the floor and a steadily growing freshly washed pile of clothes on the kitchen surface ready to be ironed or folded and put away. There were plates left in the sink from the hubby's dinner the night before that he neglected to put in the dishwasher. You wouldn't believe that on Christmas Eve, a mere 3 days ago, the house was spotlessly clean, tidy and clutter free.

Surprisingly though, as I looked around my house I didn't feel annoyed or resentful as I often do about the state of the place so quickly after I've worked hard to clean it. I realised that I am very lucky and I am very grateful for this mess, this chaos. I am so grateful that I have a house to make a mess in, a husband and children to make the mess, running water to fill our cups with, food to eat, money to buy toys for the kids to play with and clutter up my living room with. I am thankful that we have clothes to wear, that my dog is still with us and healthy enough to go outside and run around in the mud and that we are all healthy and together this Christmas. I know a lot of people who are struggling this Christmas due to losses in one way or another. I also know that these sticky handprints and muddy paws don't last forever so I must treasure them while I have them. I am grateful that I have what I have, even if it is a little messy.

I hope you all had a lovely, messy and chaotic Christmas!

Tragedy

Tragic  

Adjective Causing or characterized by extreme distress or sorrow. Suffering extreme distress or sorrow.

It's been a hell of a year. So many people who should be here that are sadly no longer with us.

You here people saying 'it was so sudden' or 'we knew it was coming, but it's still a shock'. I don't think it matters whether you saw it coming or not, it's still tragic. One thing that has struck me this year is the tragic circumstances surrounding the passing of people in our lives. Within our family and friends there have been 10 deaths this year and 2 losses of grandparents to Alzheimer's. Some haven't left the womb, some have been babies/toddlers, some elderly leaving behind great grandchildren, some parents who have left behind young children, some with their whole lives ahead of them. What they all have in common is the feeling of extreme distress and sorrow their passing has brought.

I know for me personally, all the people who have passed have left behind a living legacy in way of a life lesson. I take these lessons from the way these people have lived their lives as well as the immediacy and harshness of their passing.

Live for the moment,
Cherish the time you have,
Hold your loved ones closer,
Forgive others and yourself for mistakes that are unimportant in the the grand scheme of life,
Take responsibility for your own happiness,
Don't become bogged down in the daily grind,
Take stock of all the riches you have in your life,
Tell and show your loved ones how loved they are,
Don't put things off for next week/month/year - achieve your dreams,
Be the change you want to see in the world,
Treat others the way you would want to be treated,
Give others compassion and don't be judgemental,
Be so very grateful,
Start living now because the reality is that you might be not here next new year to make the same resolutions again.

This post was inspired by Kerry (Multiple Mummy), Kelly and her babies, Mary,babies taken by angels x3, Baby Scott, Darren, Davie,Caden, Dy and Gran Thea,
xox