Signs of Life

Our family has had the privilege of spending time with extended family while we have been work-from-home and school-from-home. What a gift it has been to have a change of scenery, spend time with loved ones, and experience life outside of the city. 

As we prepare to return to our home and our life, I cannot help but notice something. As we go about tidying up, picking up small items, returning books to the library, popping lingering birthday balloons, the house is slowly returning to its former state. As the “mess” goes, our “footprint” goes.

It’s a small but powerful reminder to me. We are often looking to perfect our lives, tidy them up. We look forward to the day when things slow down, are less messy and feel easier. But, I’m aware now that the “mess” is a visual reminder of the beauty in my life: my spouse, my children, my dog. Of a life well-lived.

The day that there is no more dog hair on the floor will be the day that our beloved Stella is no longer with us. The day that there are no more Legos loitering about will mean my children have grown up. The day that I’m not woken by my husband’s sounds and movement might be the day that he’s not around. The day that my to-do list becomes manageable will be the day when I’m the only one around. I do not long for those days.

So, I’m going to try my best to remember that all the things that can feel overwhelming and just too much are all the things that I hold dear to my heart. They are signs of life. A life that I am ever so grateful for. A life that I wouldn’t trade for the world. A life that I wanted. A life that I love. 

None of this means I don’t need cleanliness and order, calm and quiet. It just means that living involves a little friction, a little mess, a little chaos. Maybe we don’t need perfect – maybe we just need good enough. 

Enjoy the stage of life you are in. Hang on to all the signs of life around you. You might just notice that perfect is all about perspective.