Too Much of a Good Thing is Still Too Much

Since I’m very vulnerable and transparent here, I am going to confess something: I can be a know-it-all. Not the kind who argues about facts and ideas and theories and politics. Not even the kind who thinks she is always right–at least not in traditional ways. No, I would describe myself as a person who aspires to grow and change and be my best self while helping inspire others to do the same. Whether they want to or not.

Sometimes, that is helpful. Lots of my friends find my “help” inspiring and encouraging–which, for the record is always my goal. But there are also other people who don’t want to read the books I suggest or the blogs I write or the podcasts I listen to. Some people aren’t interested in my brand of self-improvement. And that is perfectly fine. Just because we don’t work the same way doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.

However, there are others who just really aren’t my people. Also, fine.

Brad told me one time that I can be “too much Mary” for some. I get that. I’ve never tried to be a self-improvement bully, but when something I read or watch or hear impacts me significantly, I want to share it so that others can have similar experiences. Alas, I know now that not everyone can or will or wants all these A-ha moments. So, I’ve been trying to keep my book, blog, and podcast recommendations to a minimum. Except here. This place is fair game for all my blathering.

For a long time, I subscribed to the philosophy of, “Leave the 99 and go after the 1.” That might work in ministry, but in real life, at least in my real life, it’s non-productive, nonsensical and painful. It’s taken me a long, lonnnnggggg, LOOOOOONNNGG time to figure it out, but I’m getting it. I am making a habit of loving, encouraging, and inspiring the people who love me back (the 99) and letting the others go. Not being everyone’s cup of tea doesn’t make me a bad person. People disliking me and trying to convince others that I’m a bad person doesn’t make me a bad person either. It’s tough stuff for a recovering approval junkie to take though.

So, if you’re reading this, I’m making a big assumption that you are one of my people or you care what I have to say or maybe the google brought you here via a keyword search for kookaloo, and I’m going to be really frank with you. I want everyone to be happy. Enormously, outrageously, love-cup-overflowing-ly happy. And sometimes, I feel like I see shortcuts to get there and I want to show them to people. “Look right here, if you just do this…” Sometimes, I feel like the blog or sermon that changed my life might change yours too. And sometimes I’m even right. People tell me all the time that my words or someone else’s words that I shared really DID impact them. I mean The Four Agreements? Seriously?

Still, other people wish I would shut up and stop being so happy and sharing pictures of my annoyingly beautiful kids and sickeningly hot husband who still loves me after 25 years and our obnoxious tattoos eye-roll. They’re not my people. I don’t care what they think. I don’t care if they like me, and I give up trying to win them over. Today’s Ash Wednesday, right? Good. I’m giving it up for Lent.

So, this is self-indulgent, I know. Sometimes I have to get this drivel out of my head to allow me to think clearly. However, I also know that at least one of you reading this relates. Among you are spiritual bullies, and kind-natured know-it-alls and do-gooders who see people not living up to their potential that could benefit from ______. Me too, friends. I’m trying to do better. I’m trying to listen more and advise less. I’m reading more body language (Stuff You Should Know 1-7, ONLY if you’re interested) and recommending fewer books. I’m seeking more to understand and less to be understood.

But…I’m a work in progress. So here’s a link to my kid’s blog. Cause she’s fabulosity personified. Peace out.

Is That a Cat In There?

In the past few months, I’ve become obsessed with podcasts, and one of my current favorites is Gretchen Rubin’s Happier. I love her books, and the podcast is chock full of her simple, commonsense, non-woo-woo-even-though-I-really-like-woo-woo-too suggestions to live happier. Make your bed, for instance, embrace good smells, do simple tasks right now instead of putting them off. Lots of quick easy ways to add a little more happiness to your day.

Yesterday, her suggestion might have changed my life. She said, “Give yourself permission to stop reading books you don’t enjoy.” I was currently slogging through a book that I really didn’t like. But I have a hard time quitting a book. A really hard time. When I finally gave  up on Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking, I had a psychic crisis. How can I hate this book and still consider myself a writer? What is wrong with me that this amazing author doesn’t inspire me? Well … nothing. You don’t click with everyone, and Joan Didion and I didn’t click.

So I stopped pushing myself to embrace something I wasn’t really into and allowed myself to enjoy something that made my heart sing. And that felt amazing.

And that is what this year is about for me. I didn’t make any resolutions because, it’s so much darn pressure and then I get overwhelmed and crawl into my shell with chips and chocolate and darkness surrounds me and … it’s ugly. However, I did set some goals, and one of them was to give more energy to people and activities that bring me joy.

Fortunately, the universe responded by bringing some fabulous, inspiring, loving, wonderful NEW people into my life. Since I was already surrounded by fabulous, inspiring, loving and wonderful people, this seemed like a crazy bonus.

But I have to remind myself to shift my energy all the time … especially lately in terms of my kids growing up. For so long we’re celebrating firsts that before you know it you are clinging to one last after another. Those lasts can be gut-wrenching if you dwell on them.

My kids are never gonna be babies again. Chloe will never twist my hair around her finger and Peyton won’t ask me to take my earrings out so he can rub my ear to fall asleep. Lily still snuggles, but there are no more naps on my shoulder.

Focusing too much energy on those things makes me put the cat in a sling and bounce him around while hot tears splash on his head. Disclaimer: I do carry the cat around in an infinity scarf, but he’s old, and well, I’m not going to try to justify that. I own my eccentricity.

You get it though. It’s sad to think about all that has gone by in a heartbeat. I had to answer a questionnaire about Peyton’s college choices, and even as a tall, lanky teenager stood in front of me, I saw a chubby, curly-haired, dimpled baby snuggled in my lap.

So, I can cry all over the cat or I can shift my focus from what was to what is. And, if I really need to cheer up, what will be. Yes, he was a precious baby, and today he’s a cool, funny kid, and tomorrow who knows.

Lately Brad is gone a lot for work. Sometimes it feels overwhelming. Sometimes I cry myself to sleep on Sunday night because I don’t want our weekend to be over. But instead of dwelling on that, I try to focus on the time he is here and make our weekends mini-vacations when we only do fun things and spend quality time together.

So, I’m looking for more suggestions. I wonder: How do you shift your perspective? What simple things do you do to add a little happy to your day? Do you force yourself to finish books you are hating? And are any of you doing the Daniel Fast this year? I gave myself permission not to, and it’s pretty fabulous I must say.

Oh, and what are your favorite podcasts? I LOVE: This American Life, Magic Lessons, Serial, Dear Sugar, Strangers, Happier, Detective…