I am a firm believer that “you reap what you sow.”
Sometimes we can get bogged down in “life.” We feel asleep all the time… like we are just “surviving” and our tank is constantly on empty.
One thing I have learned that helps me to break through the monotony when life is getting me down is giving freely to others.
Sometimes it’s hard.
I know all the sayings about “pouring from an empty cup.”
As a parent, sometimes, we give literally EVERYTHING we have into parenthood, and we have nothing left even for ourselves, much less anyone else.
But there are some things we can do for others that don’t take a big effort.
One very simple gesture I have found is just “paying for someone else’s coffee.”
Once I push through the anxiety of doing it, I have found it is therapeutic.
I am an introvert by nature, so the very first time I did this, it caused me so much anxiety (forcing me out of my comfort zone), it took me half an hour just to muster up the courage to get in line.
But seeing the smile on someone else’s face brightened my own day that much more and lifted my spirits.
It took my focus away from myself and my “problems” and instead, my focus became “helping others.”
And in helping others, my own ‘spirit’ was fed, and it made me feel fulfilled in making someone’s day a little better..
Parenting can be a ton of thankless work at home, but I can make a difference in someone else’s life.
I think in all the hustle and bustle of parenthood, sometimes I just need to be reminded of something…
Even if it doesn’t feel like it…
What I do still matters to others.
[Thanks to Just a minutemy cape is in the dryer for sharing]