{best over busy}
I am here. Honestly if for no other reason at all. Today I talk about purpose. The clout behind my exposed words deserves some quality time from me to you. So I've thought about me. And then I've thought about you. Because my words aren't just words. They're one-dimensional representations of my heart. They can be referred back to, categorized and even shared.
Finding a voice worthy of listening to is kinda like a pinball machine. Here in this space my thoughts are efforted for communication and connection if & only if you drop the quarter in to play. The plop-push of that ridged, rimmed George Washington disc energizes the machine for movement. Levers are now available to keep and to propel. A glass marble of thoughts moves from me to you with the investment of time and of purposeful motions.
You want honest? I don't want the ball to go down the drain. I don't want failure. For any of us. I guess that's what gives me the courage to write. To press the keyboard as if these letter tabs can muster up motion for me and for you to keep the ball moving. Forward. Upward. Towards the row of over-illuminated glass bulbs just waiting to administer a dramatic display of "you did it" with their blinkity-blink flashes.
I am learning more about voice. I'm guzzling in writing tips and analytical digestions. I've googled topics like "what makes a good blog" and "how to grow your readership". I need to be honest here. From me to you. The formulas out there are heavy. Strategic. They make my head hurt. I know that growing requires learning curves and intention. I am keeping my medicine cabinet stocked with Tylenol.
And the more I learn about writing, the more I find conviction in the gift of giving flight to thoughts and story. I have that. I adore doing that. I am moved by laughter and by helping. By taking things like high priced fashion and wrecking the idea that it is your source of identity. I love knowing that I have young readers from junior high through college age who are catching a glimpse at what finding your own rhythm is all about. By tackling motherhood with equal parts hallelujah and holy $*#@. {here, here & here.} By holding myself accountable to Christ who lives in me. Mammoth sized, my heart beats to lift up and to live out. Through the flaws. Finding the better. Sending you some a little more when I can.
I write. For all of that. And so I will continue. Finishing words here in this space. Sharing with a hope that my thoughts are worthy of you. But most importantly, indicative of me.
This week I want to challenge you. I've been investing time with the boys on what best looks & feels like. How it moves you. Where you can spot it in yourself and others. We are on week 3 of tackling this idea of best. This world is busy. Schedules are crammed. Days seem to fly by leaving us heavy & sour with the undone on our checklist of life. Quite frankly, busy gets the best of us.
It is my hope to trump busy. In my family, myself and my boys. I am teaching them that there is no perfect. There is only best. I am a recovering perfectionist. Present tense, people. PUH-RESENT tense. To teach this, is to live this. Children are most likely to become what they see. If I continue chasing the white fluffy bunny of perfection in my life, there's a good chance my boys will end up 35 year old basement dwellers in their parent's home wearing the daily uniform of sweat pants as they "work" on their call to be a full-time online gamer due to the burn out that success can't happen unless they're perfect. Or even worse, find themselves broken & beaten inside for the life that was all a lie. Perfect does not exist. Best does.
I will write to you this week. On best. Ours. Theirs. Mine. I want you to join in. Social media is an easy way to spread hope. It can get tricky and all things yucky if you let it. My thoughts on social media? Read'em here. I am living with a forward motion that honesty encouraged with intention can send signals upward.
Above you'll see some snippets of my best this weekend.
From left to right by rows:
- I tackled the grocery for my family. With list in hand on a Friday night alone. We are now stocked with meals for a little over 2 weeks. I am thankful for the opportunity to fill my guys in a home that serves us well. I do not take for granted the privilege of raising a family with healthy habits and good-for-you-foods.
- I prayed for my 2 boys. I thought about their dreams and considered their hearts. I did this early before our home awakened. In the quiet, I gave thanks.
- I shared a weekend with my best friend. We stayed up late. We laughed. Cried. Remembered. I love that with good friends the time apart can pass, but the time when you are together is as if you never left one another's side. She and I shopped Goodwill and local antique stores. Our creativity collaborated for one heckuva home transformation. More on this later. Her place in my life brings me to my best.
- My youngest asked for a bookshelf for his favorite books like his big brother has in his room. I made the purchase. Nothing fancy, but to watch that boy carefully stock his very own reading library filled my eyes with happy tears. He is learning how best feels.
- Homemade chocolate chip cookies. Why not just buy them some Oreos or Tollhouse ready-mades? Because sometimes best looks like spending time on quality ingredients. There's a time for quick. But it will never outweigh the moments I chose to be intentional with my time spent loving on my guys.
- I ran 6 miles in the heat. I remembered that my best began well before my role as wife and mama. I needed this reminder. I ran with conviction. I rapped with every song out loud and boisterous. I played the air drums. I drained three-pointers just like in the good ole days.
- Timer on, I commenced to getting the work done. 3 baskets of laundry folded. It's a weakness of mine. Best looks like improving even when you don't wanna.
- I sat still. Early morning. Before the sun. I listened to my breathes. I filled my mind with possibilities. I snuffed out doubt. Yes, this is an active routine in my life. Moving away from the negative and the angst catapults me that much closer to my best.
Best over busy. I am doing it. I hope you will too. This week I will be posting on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter with captures of what my best over busy looks like. I will use the hashtag: #bestoverbusy. I would love if you joined in. Feel free to tag me with @meghancobble so I can see a little of how your best over busy looks like.
Finishing words in this space. Mammoth-sized with Tylenol bottles aplenty, I write for you and I write for me.
.mac :)
