I recently read a friend's post about how her friends got together without her knowing to set up a schedule to help her out over the Thanksgiving break. She is a single working mom and expressed how this time of year can stress her out finding ways to make juggling everything even more difficult. And to her surprise, her amazing friends took care of it for her by organizing who could help out when with her kids so she could enjoy and have a less stressful holiday. Truly amazing.
It seems like daily that I get asked "4 kids? How do you do it?!" And quietly, to myself, I often think, how do YOU do it? How do any of us do it? The answer is always the same, we just do it. Single moms/dads, working moms, stay at home moms, moms of special needs kids, etc., we all do what we have to. BUT, none of us, and I really mean NONE OF US, does it alone. We've all heard the saying it takes a village. Well, after reflecting on my friend, her amazing friends, the constant question of how do you do it, this year I would like to give thanks to My Village.
My Village consists of so many that I'm sure I'll forget more than one, but I hope that everyone understands whether I mention you or not, you are important to me and you are the reason I can do it.
My family
Immediate or extended you give me help and support daily. From Rylan giving me my morning motivation to go workout, Brenden out of the blue with a hug or I love you, Jake getting Miles up and fed in the morning, Chris arranging his schedule to be home so I can coach, my mom and Chris's parents coming to stay when I or Chris need an extra hand, or my brother keeping my kids fully outfitted in Michigan gear, this is what keeps me (relatively) sane day in and day out. Without my amazing and often under appreciated family, I don't know where I would be. Most likely I'd be completely lost and in search of myself.
My friends
Near or far you remind me who I was, who I am, and who I am capable of being. You are the ones that I know I can turn to whenever I need to laugh, cry, scream, vent, or be silly. And more importantly, you know and understand that even if I haven't talked to you for a year that doesn't matter. I know you will be there for me and I will be there for you whenever the moment calls and that's what true friendship is about.
My Diving World
Current or former divers, coaches, and families you have allowed me to follow my passion for the sport that I have been around for over 30 years. And I know that I will continue to be around it for many more to come because of the wonderful people that have pushed, supported, and loved me in the various capacities I have been apart in the diving community.
And all of the other people that come and go - teachers, babysitters, athletes, coworkers, therapists, random acts of kindness people, etc. I may not know you well, or at all, or you may have been around for years, you fill in the gaps. Whether we know it or not, all of us make this work. I know I fill in the gaps for other people when I smile and say thank you or volunteer to help at school or whatever. So even though we may not exist in everyone's everyday life we are all part of other peoples villages whether we know it or not. We have all helped to do this.
So Thank You to My Village, I am truly thankful to you and all you do.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
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