Normal but not Nice

Last night after getting my kids to bed I decided to turn on a movie while I folded some laundry. I picked an old favorite that I hadn't watched in awhile - A Knight's Tale. This movie has some fantastic lines. . . so funny!

 As I was watching it last night though, something else in the movie, besides the humor, popped out at me. Several of the characters pretended to be someone different than who they actually were. William, a humble thatchers son, pretended to be a noble knight. Prince Edward, heir to the throne, pretended to be a regular knight. A few other characters also pretended to be someone different than who they really were as well. Although their reasons for doing so made sense and the ending turned out to be good for them, William especially, and although it's just a movie, it was still a deception.

 It got me thinking about how common place it is for people in real life, like the characters in A Knight's Tale, to pretend to be someone different than who they really are. . . Sadly, it is common place to deceive. I understand someone wanting to put their "best foot" forward. I understand someone wanting to make a good impression. I understand someone wanting to BECOME that ideal person. However, when a person hides their very basic nature from those around them in an attempt to impress or win others, any connection that is desired will be tainted and will never last. One's true self will always emerge, eventually.

This isn't meant to be a long or drawn out post. . . I was just thinking how important it is to be true to oneself. To be true in every sense, but also, to not be afraid of change or improvement, in order to become the very best self we can be. Perhaps these thoughts occurred to me because my Velveteen Principles book finally arrived in the mail yesterday and I have thoughts of being REAL on the brain.

The long and short of it is. . . true happiness is more likely to be found in our hearts and in our relationships (all kinds) if we are true and sincere in our very basic nature. If you have flaws, and we all do, work to improve yourself, not to hide yourself.

Okay, I am stepping off my soap box now and putting it away. . . but I will definitely be pulling it out another day. . . .So, until then, love who you truly are and then you'll be able to love those around you and they will love you as well.

Time

TIME. . . We all want more of it. . . Some of us wish we could go back in it - do things again. Some of us wish we could speed it up- pass through difficult times more quickly. A frustrating thing about TIME though. . .it is constant. . . The hours in a day, the days in a week. . .and so on and so forth. . . don't change. We all have the same amount given to us. But we certainly don't all use it the same way.


I have been thinking more about TIME the last few days. . . Well, to be honest with you. . .I have been thinking about TIME for a very very long . . . well, TIME. :) I have wished for more TIME, to go back in TIME , and for TIME to speed up.
I struggle a bit with impatience sometimes. Right now, there are some great blessings in my life. . .but there are some great struggles as well. . . We all have them. I am trying to not wish this TIME away. I am trying to notice and appreciate the blessings all around me. I have 5 beautiful children and though it is difficult to be a single mom. .. it would be more difficult to just be single.. . So, though it's a struggle, I am grateful for it. I am grateful for them.


 I decided that my kids needed more of my TIME. . . One-on-one TIME is the best, but that is a tall order for a single working mom of five kids. Well, the other day a thought came to me and I liked it. . . 5 kids. . . 5 nights a week (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) after getting all the other kids to bed, I will let one of the kids stay up for about 30 minutes so we can spend some TIME together. Last night was Adam's Night. . .We played Moods, studied spelling and vocabulary words, talked about making his Pine Wood Derby car. . . and just talked for a bit. He went to bed with a happier smile than I've seen in awhile.
Tonight it was Sarah's Night. We played Moods (my kids love that game) and read a long bedtime story. .She gave me many kisses and hugs before heading off to bed. I am hoping for a happier feeling in my home
 and more favorable interactions among my children.


I also have my own personal TIME. . .I need to use it more wisely. I have many things that I love to do. . . But I don't do them that often. It is TIME to change that. It is TIME to become more creative and productive. I want to leave my mark on the world. I want to do something, in addition to raising my children, that makes a difference. I will come up with something. . . I will take the TIME to think about and plan ways to spend my TIME doing those things that I love and hopefully the things I do, other people will love too.


TIME. . . do some good with it. :)