April Reflection

I’m continuing the practice of reflection at the end of the month with guidance from Emily P. Freeman. These are her latest reflection questions, and my answers.

What’s something you learned?

While I was at a friend’s house this morning, my husband texted me that he was going to go ahead and mow the yard, because our son wanted to go to the baseball game tonight. I was a little startled, because while I had heard my son repeatedly mention this game as something he wanted to do, I had not managed to put the pieces together in my head and make that into something we were all going to do tonight. It has been a long week, and I’ve been exhausted, taking naps on several days. Today I had to do laundry and start putting my house back into shape. A baseball game was not something I wanted to do.

So I didn’t go.

This was unusual for me, because baseball is one of our family values, and I have actually been looking forward to going to night games on exactly this kind of perfect night. Even if this game had not been something I enjoyed, I normally would have tagged along anyway, just to be with the rest of my family and to get to be a part of their fun.

Instead, I listened to my body and my spirit, both of which were so tired and just wanted a bath and a book. We all went to the grocery, and then they went to the game while I got Chick-fil-A and took the groceries home.

I haven’t regretted it. I watched Friends while I ate, and I did yoga and laundry. I opened the computer and started writing. I answered their texts and lived vicariously through them here. I can’t wait for them to get home to tell me everything, and I’m happy I’m on my couch instead of a hard plastic seat.

I don’t get it right all the time, but I’m learning to listen to what I need, and it feels good.

What was a time you were kind to yourself?

This week has, again, been outrageously busy. We’ve had things to do three out of five nights, and I crashed into weekend so hard that I had to have another nap this afternoon. So this week, I was kind to myself by keeping my to-do list manageable and short, and not letting guilt infiltrate it. I didn’t get everything done, and that’s okay. I saw my grandmothers. I spent time with my parents and sister. I took care of my kids. It was a good week, and they don’t all have to look the same way.

What’s something you’re looking forward to?

This spring is an amazing book launch season. Laura Tremaine’s The Life Council came out at the start of April, and Happy Place by Emily Henry and With My Little Eye by Joshilyn Jackson are out at the end of the month. Sarah Adams and Harrison Scott Key have new books coming soon too. It will surprise absolutely no one, but I am really looking forward to all these new books.

I hope whatever you’re doing, however your April is going, you are able to make some time for reflection too, and that it helps you have some clarity and some joy.