Life without Limits

I recently subscribed to Seth Godin’s blog. I know, I know, where I have been. Yes, I knew he was out there. A long, long time ago, in a far away land, I even read one or two of his insightful books. Back in my working days. Where I read things that didn’t have pictures.

Anyway (said like Ellen at the end of her show), one of this recent posts stuck in my head. It would be fair to say that his posts, all of them, are brilliant. I mean seriously, the things this man thinks are about are just amazing. Things that make me stop and go, huh, that’s so simple, why on earth didn’t I think of that.

Anyway…again…the title of this particular post is The Problem with Unlimited. Go ahead, pop over and read it. It will only take a second. I’ll wait.

OK, everyone back? Good.

The part that has been stuck in my head is the following quote:

People enjoy going to the max. But if there is no max, no limit, it’s much easier to satisfy yourself and declare that you’ve done enough.

Seriously, this is brilliant. Brilliant I say! How many times have I struggled to meet someone’s expectations? How many times have I gone to events that I felt obligated to go to? How many times have I simply overloaded myself? All in the name of going to the max. Doing as much as possible in the 24 hours I’m given each day.

Sleep, ha. That’s just another item on my to-do list. One that usually ends up at the bottom. Along with my sanity.

If I really stop to think about it, if I felt no obligation, no pressure, no stress to do everything, I think I would find my limits much sooner. Instead of realizing that I’ve blazed past them, without even looking. Instead of feeling so overwhelmed that the idea of doing one more thing, even if that thing is reading a bedtime story to the kiddo, is enough to send me over the edge.

I’d love to vow that from here on out I’m ignoring the pressure to go to the max. I’d love to promise that from now on, I’ll listen to my head, my heart, and my gut, and that I will learn to trust myself to know when I’ve reached my limits.

I’d love to promise to my son that I will always be with him, 100% of the time. Focused on our time together. Focused on surrounding ourselves ONLY with activities and friends that enrich our lives. So that I’m not an exhausted wreck at the end of each day. So that I can give myself 100% to our time together.

But…I know better than that. I know myself better than that. I’ll try to cut back, to take life slower, to just enjoy our days. The simple beauty of slow mornings. The blazing purple smurf hands after a day of crafting.

But…I get antsy. I know there are other things calling me away. Posts to write. Blogs to read. Friends to visit. Projects to complete. Rooms to clean. Parks to visit. Crafts to create. Bedtime stories to read.And honestly, I like to go, go, go. Until I crash that is.

But…I will try. That’s the best that I can do. I’ll try to focus on my limits rather than the limits I feel coming from the world around me. I’ll try to organize an declutter. I’ll try to go and do and create until I’m satisfied. And I’ll try to push myself, at my own speed, so I continue growing, living, and showing my son how to strive for a healthy and balanced life.

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Do you find that you live better with strict guidelines and limits? Or would you rather be left to your own ways and your own limits?

What about your kids, do you give them limits or do you let them explore and find their own?

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This post is proudly linked up with Bigger Picture Moment. This week it is hosted by Corinne at Trains, Tutus and Teat Time.

Tagged as: bigger picture moments, life without limits, mommy blog, seth godin, stay-at-home mom