Lately I've found myself questioning whether I am being enough for enough people in my life. Am I being a good enough wife, daughter, sister, friend? And if I'm not, what more can I do to make sure I am being enough for the people that mean the most to me? We're taught at a young age that sharing is caring. I read a story written by a mom a little while ago that she was nearly shamed out of the park for telling her son he didn't have to share his toys with other children. This really made me start to question, why are we taught at such a young age that we have to share and what lasting effect has this had on us as a society?
Raised as an only child for the majority of my younger years, sharing was not always my best quality. Kyle will tell you that I suffer from only child syndrome and I will admit that I am not generally the first person to let just anyone borrow my things. I've always felt a little embarrassed by this and have really for a long time considered it a flaw. But recently I've started to wonder if this has in some way shape or form helped me as an adult to realize that, hey, it's okay not to share!
Of course we shouldn't teach our children to literally never share, but instead we should teach them they do have the option to choose what they share and who they share it with. I mean aren't these the liberties we're given as adults? Yet so many people I know struggle with this very concept because they were always taught the exact opposite. While the adults I know generally aren't struggling with the idea of sharing their physical materials, they are struggling with giving their time and self, possibly the two most valuable things we have in this world.
When society is telling you to give, give, give, how much could there possibly be left for yourself? We're all tired, overworked, emotionally drained and cannot seem to figure out the reason behind it all. If we took a second to step back and think about it, there is no way you can expect to be your best self when you're constantly giving so much to so many different people. I know at this point you're probably starting to think I'm pretty selfish and do actually suffer from only child syndrome, but I can tell you by prioritizing how I give my time and self I have never been happier.
Each season of life presents us with unique opportunities and challenges and that's what makes this whole thing so absolutely beautiful. By stretching myself too thin in the past I haven't been fair to my family, friends, self or my journey and I know I'm not alone in this. So here I am telling you it's okay to say no to that volunteer opportunity, that extra meeting and even that dinner date to spend a little more time on you.
xo,
Kathryn
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