So I think that one of the worst feelings in the world is that what you are doing is not enough. That's my feeling tonight. I truly wonder if all of this social media is helpful to our emotional health. But it's not just social media, it's the way we compare our worst selves to everyone else's best selves. So if any of you ever feel the same way, here's to reality. It was a good day. A very typical Sunday at our house. What does that look like without being edited for blogging? Well here goes:
- I really didn't want to go to church today. But ended up feeling the spiritually uplifted and learned a thing or two.
- After dinner I played the piano and violin for an hour while dinner sat on the table, still waiting for the boys to take care of it.
- Then I went and made cards for Relief Society while dinner still sat there. I guess I need to do better at teaching my kids to listen.
- Tonight I visited at my grandma's house because it's one of my favorite parts of the week. But I didn't get the kids to bed at the reasonable 8 pm bedtime.
- I didn't go around tonight and pick up the house so that I can start the day fresh, honestly, as much as I wish that this was a regular routine for me, it's just not.
- I've been thinking about a visiting teaching sister who's birthday was today for 3 days now. Then forgot to take her a little gift and wish her happy birthday today. Now it's too late.
- I put off asking people to do things for the RS birthday party this week until today. How kind is that to throw at people last minute?
- I can't even count the number of times my kids have argued with me or talked back to me today.
Like I said, it was a good day!! I'm not being sarcastic. I'm just letting any of you that feel like you're never going to get it all right and all done know that you're NORMAL!
Here is a few thoughts from the fabulous Elder Uchtdorf that does much to encourage:
First, forget not to be patient with yourself.
I want to tell you something that I hope you will take in the right way: God is fully aware that you and I are not perfect.
Let me add: God is also fully aware that the people you think are perfect are not.
And yet we spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to others—usually comparing our weaknesses to their strengths. This drives us to create expectations for ourselves that are impossible to meet. As a result, we never celebrate our good efforts because they seem to be less than what someone else does.
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses.
It’s wonderful that you have strengths.
And it is part of your mortal experience that you do have weaknesses.
God wants to help us to eventually turn all of our weaknesses into strengths,1 but He knows that this is a long-term goal. He wants us to become perfect,2 and if we stay on the path of discipleship, one day we will. It’s OK that you’re not quite there yet. Keep working on it, but stop punishing yourself.
If you want to read/listen to the whole talk, here it is:
http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-relief-society-meeting/2011/09/forget-me-not?lang=eng&query=compare
