“But I don’t wannnaaaa”

“But I don’t wannnnaaa!”

I love my life.

I truly adore the work I am doing with all of you amazing families.

And yet, there are times that “I don’t wannnaaaa.”

I remember sitting in my house before I had to give a talk, and this feeling of, “but I don’t wannnaaa” just hit me. As excited as I was to lead the workshop, I also wanted to just stay put. I wanted to lay on the couch and watch an episode of Arrested Development. (Doesn’t that sound awesome?!)

Instead of blowing off the workshop, I dragged myself off the couch, washed my face, and ended up having a b-l-a-s-t. Of course I did – I was doing my thing, with families, creating more connected relationships. I fought the, “I don’t wannaaa” voices, and it was well worth it.

Which is not to say there’s no validity in the “I don’t wanna…” It’s completely natural for us, as humans, to get tired. To be overstimulated. To use up our resources and feel depleted.

And it’s completely understandable that as parents, you get worn down. You fall into routines and reach levels of exhaustion you never anticipated. And when this happens, life starts to fly by.

In life, there are days and moments and events that make us all revert to being a 3 year old, and we want to cry out, “but I don’t wannnnaaaaa!”

And it’s true, the older we get, the more things we acquire, the more relationships we develop, and the more “stuff” we have to navigate through. I am guilty of more than once avoiding opening my email or looking through my mail because I don’t wannnnaaaa.

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But here’s the thing.

You do want to.

You do want to get up off the couch and live YOUR life.

You do want to engage in the relationships you built.

You do want to deeply connect with the children you chose to bring into this world.

You do want to love yourself, deeply, kindly.

These truths are constant for me, and they serve as incredible reminders when the gremlin voices creep in. I’d like to invite you to give a little more room to the “I do wanna” voices, even write some that are specific to you. Let’s turn toward the voices who support you to take more control of your life. The voices that remind you to slow down, to connect, to notice that life is right now. The voices that show you how much you have every minute of every day.

2015 is coming. I invite you to make it a year of…”I do wanna!”

With much gratitude,

Carrie

 

P.S. Have you ever experienced ‘I don’t wannaaaa’ but then did it and were soooooo glad you did??  I’d love to hear your story. Leave a comment below!