Good Enough

This post was prompted by me standing in my upstairs bathroom and looking around.

Did you notice that there was some discoloration in some of the paint on the woodwork?  That the sink plumbing is not working correctly?  That my medicine chest is not orderly?  Did you?

I didn't think so.  You probably noticed the lovely blue of the tiles and towels.

see the towels?

Then there was the fact that I had completely misplaced my blackberry case and had to turn it in without the case (which will show up in some bizarre place at some other time), which made me feel like I was sooo disorganized and wasn't I the most disorganized person in the world?

And how come I haven't lost those ten pounds yet?

And then I stopped.  I remembered that I was thankful that I had 2 bathrooms.  I was thankful that I had good health and I could paint the darn bathroom myself if it bothered me so much.  So many people do not have basic sanitation.

I was thankful that in general, I can remember things and I can read and write.  So much of the world is illiterate and misplacing an item is hardly worth fussing about.

I was thankful that I was in good health and decided that my ten pounds are hanging around because they think they will miss me when they're gone.

Today, I am good enough.

There is no one to impress and no one who cares about that paint or that blackberry case or those extra pounds except for me.

The hardest thing in life, I think, is to be content.  And being content begins in your mind.  You can be content under many conditions that others would think are adverse if you can change your reaction to those conditions.

When I was stressed all the time, and unhappy, every little thing could unwind my day, frazzle me beyond all comprehension.  Everything seemed bigger than it was and nothing seemed like it should be.

Over the last six months I have thought long and hard about what it is that has changed in me.

Sure, leaving a stressful job that no longer made me happy has changed me.  Taking more "me time" has changed me.  Writing again has changed me.  But the single thing which has changed me the most is believing that I am good enough.  That my house is good enough.  That my friends are good enough.  That I can be happy with less and that I can be happy with more.  But that happiness isn't the point anyway - that being content and creating a life of joy can only be achieved when we accept ourselves and what is.

We all need the courage to create contentment in our lives.  We, intrinsically, are good enough, but sometimes our circumstances don't support us in that contentment.  Life evolves, people change, jobs that were once fun are less so.  Know that you can create that contentment and know that you DESERVE to create that contentment.

Don't get me wrong: I still love my things.  I still love when I get a new piece of clothing or plant a new plant. But those are things and that moment of contentment will pass and there will always be some new thing or new place or new fad to chase.  Most people don't remember each other's things anyway.  Those things, when I can afford them, are the cherries on the top of the cake now, as opposed to being the cake.  Who is the cake now?  I am.   And it is a pretty homey kind of cake if I do say so myself!

It has been almost 12 months since I started this blog.  I try everyday to write my truth and the world as I am living it.  Probably you wish I would put a coat of varnish on it sometimes!  You have all helped me on this road to acceptance and contentment and just like I am rooting for you when I visit your blogs, I always feel you are rooting for me here!  That is a pretty good thing and something that makes me feel content.

So just for today, remember: you are all awesome, wonderful people.  And you are each enough.  And I am so glad you popped in!

Stay safe out there