This morning I found a blogger that has brought inspiration to my day, and her name is Em (twitter name: emmajames). One link I retweeted.
A second blog I would like to share here. In response to a prompt she received from a site called #reverb10 (the prompt was: what are 11 things your life doesn't need in 2011?), Em says that while getting rid of 11 things was easy enough, getting rid of 11 ideas is, as she put it, a bitch.
Getting rid of things is something I, too, can accomplish. In fact, my kids and I just got through purging over holiday break, and it felt fantastic! Similar to losing weight. Get rid of ideas? My life complaints all have carried the same basic theme over decades. If I had to sum it up in one word, it would be lack. As I reflected with a friend on 2010 and what I want for this new year, what came up for me was that I need my bitch back.
It takes a bitch to get rid of ideas. Someone persistent, demanding and desirous enough to want more for herself. Or less for herself, depending on one's perspective.
So first, I would like to thank Em for her inspiration. Not just for prompting me to come up with my own list, but also for inspiring me to write again. It's been a while, so I have borrowed from her to get me off the starting block. Em had some good ones. I've italicized those words and ideas that came from her. Second, I would like to thank her for using the word bitch as a reminder of sorts.
Em says that while she may look and sound like she's overcome her 11, they are still there,'perched in the secret chambers of her soul,' and she has no idea how to get rid of them. I ditto her sentiment. Yes. While I do get that these ideas, at the intellectual level, are false, they are like persistant nags that creep up when I'm feeling...well... tired (there's a clue). They may not go away, but I believe that they can be conquered. I have managed to overcome other ideas that I thought to be permanently ingrained and prominent (that would be a fun list to make). Perhaps looking into how I overcame those might give me more clues. Here is my list.
1) There is not enough time in a day when I am a single, working mother and want to be available for my children.
2) There are not enough resources when I want all that I want.
3) I am misunderstood by my family of origin because I didn't follow their path.
4) It is expensive to grow something (i.e. a business).
5) If I don't multitask, I won't accomplish much.
6) If I'm having fun, I'm not working hard enough.
7) I am not as valuable as others think I am.
8) I will never find a man who will want to share his life and love with me when I am at my worst (I am not good enough) and at my best (I am a threat), and for whom I feel the same.
9) I can't dance. I will look stupid.
10) I don't have enough energy and/or emotional strength to stay consistent in anything I do.
11) I have no idea what I am talking about.
