3 Things Thursday

1. Positive Comments!

Within the past week, I received two heartfelt, positive comments that were just really lovely to hear.

First, at the end of last week, I had sent my boss (on her last day) a “goodbye” message, just wishing her well and thanking her for her time with us, etc. She wrote back appreciatively, commented positively on MY recent work and stated that she had enjoyed working with me. At the end, she closed with, “Plus, you’re just a really nice person!! ☺”

Awwww! For some reason, that comment seemed so much more earnest than a generic comment like “it’s been a pleasure working with you, the end.”

Second, I was out the other day and ran into an acquaintance, who mentioned that I was “truly looking really great!”

Now, I do not know about that being actually true, but it made me feel really good, anyway! Sadly, I can usually find quite a many thing that I do not like about my appearance when I look closely in a mirror. (I can certainly find things I like, too. But unfortunately I feel like TOO MANY of us are conditioned to immediately hone in on what we don’t like about ourselves…especially as the dial turns closer to 40….It’s a hard habit to break.). I bit my tongue from semi-automatically wanting to reply, “What are you talking about? No, I don’t…..” and instead smiled and just said, “Thank you!”

I am a big fan of trying to give earnest compliments when I can (especially if they are maybe unexpected). This was a good reminder that it really can brighten someone’s week!

2. Motivation + Commitment

Yesterday was Asher’s second early 5:30 a.m. swim practice. We had sat down last weekend and looked at the week and sketched out which days he would swim, and which days he wouldn’t. (Based on other activities/ his desires.)

HE chose that he wanted to swim on Wednesday at 5:30, because he said he wanted to take Saturday morning off. He likes a lazy Saturday. Okay! I said that sounded good and we put it on the calendar.

So I set my alarm for 4:45 yesterday, got up, got dressed and then went to wake him a little before 5. I was met with…..RESISTANCE!!! It was dark out, he was warm in his bed, and he suddenly decided, nope. He wanted to keep sleeping. (Duh, everyone always wants to keep sleeping.)

I stood there and pondered the situation for a moment. On the one hand, I have no desire to “force” my kids to do a sport or activity. It’s their activity, and the lead totally needs to come from them. BUT- this seemed like kind of a classic situation of him just wanting to take the path of least resistance.

The fact is, he had committed to going to the early practice. He planned it and picked the time! I woke up early, as a result. We had organized our week around it. So, I wasn’t real keen on him just bailing last minute to keep sleeping because that’s what felt good in the moment.

“Commitment is staying true to what you said you would do long after the mood that you said it in has left.”

I also want him to realize that we all have times that the motivation just isn’t there, but we need to be able to see the bigger picture sometimes. “Delayed Gratification”. (Example: Will you be happy on SATURDAY when you get to sleep in and relax instead? Will you be happy at your MEET next weekend when you swim well, due to putting in the work?)

I insisted, he finally got up, went to practice, and was happy afterwards! A bunch of his friends were there too, so I think he was glad he went. I told him that he certainly does NOT have to go to the 5:30 a.m. practices if he doesn’t want to, but that I’m not okay with him just bailing at the last second on what he clearly intended to do.

3. Chipotle

Ethan had a doctor’s appointment the other day around lunchtime, and we stopped for Chipotle after. YUMMY.

Daily Gratitude:

I am grateful for finding a buyer for Ethan’s old dresser! 1 down, 1 to go.