Striving for Perfection

I sat in the crowded room with some of my favorite people, who just happen to be bloggers.  We were discussing the opening keynote address by Brene' Brown this morning.  As we munched on our fajita's and mango mousse cake, we talked about how we try so hard to be perfect. 

We try so hard to be everything to everyone.  I sat listening.  I was listening with my head and my heart.  I was realizing I am not alone in this feeling of complete inadequacy.

We are all striving for perfection.  We all want to be perfect, but at what cost?

Some of us stay up all night long just so we can get everything done for the next day.  Some of us feel that if we don't have the clean house, perfect meal on the table, well behaved children, smart well rounded children, if we don't bake our own bread, make our own pasta, eat 100% local and organic, sew ours and our children's clothes, knit all of our socks, volunteer our extra time, AND look like we just walked out of an Anthropologie ad - we aren't enough.

There is an all or nothing idea we have.  If we aren't doing it all, we aren't doing anything.

This isn't true though.  I sat there listening to these women who I so admire, and felt that familiar ache in my heart.  The one I feel when my children are feeling bad about something.  The one I feel when I hear Seth tell me that he isn't good enough for something.

I looked at them and said, "You realize that there was only 1 perfect person to walk the earth, and it isn't us right?"

As I said those words, it was as if God was speaking directly to me at that moment.  The words I needed to hear, to remind me that I am not supposed to be perfect, just to do the very best I can and remember that He will pick up the rest.

After I left lunch, I went and bought Brene' Brown's book, The Gifts of Imperfection.

I want to be imperfect and learn everything I can from that.  I want to rely on God to help me when I can't do it all.

I want my children to realize they don't have to be everything to everyone.  That what they can offer when they try their hardest, is enough.

I want for every one of my children to realize that they are enough.

I am going to continue to strive for perfection, but I am also going to cut myself some slack and remember that I am not perfect, but what I am is enough.

I am enough.  And so are you.

Blissdom '11 and Kleenex...making dreams come true!

I had come to terms with it.  I am not going to Blissdom.  Another year that I really want to go and it just isn't going to happen.  Last year I told myself that I was going to go this year.  I would make it work.  Jeremy would have just gotten his end of year bonus and I would be going.

Well, plans change as we all know.  Lost job, pregnancy, moving, Blissdom being right after we move...I just didn't see how it was going to happen.

I had come to terms with it.  Realized that it just wasn't in the cards and planned to stay home, school my kids, and read everyone elses posts about this amazing conference.

Then...the Conference Fairy showed up in my inbox.

Two Mondays ago, I got an email from Kleenex telling me about their new program, Softness Worth Sharing.  They wanted to send me to Blissdom as one of their Brand Ambassadors.

To say I was shocked is an understatement.  I was floored.  Jeremy and I were able to make it work

Today, I am headed to Nashville for 4 days.  You hear that???  FOUR DAYS with NO CHILDREN!!!!  I am going to Blissdom.  I am going to see so many of my amazing friends, and am going to learn so much.

I am going to get to talk to other Mamas about this thing we call Motherhood and plan on picking their brains about how to be softer in my dealings with my kidlets...especially when homeschooling.

I can't wait and am so grateful to Kleenex for this amazing opportunity!!!

Now, a little nitty gritty about this great new program from Kleenex.  You can go to the Kleenex website and send a box of tissue with a sweet little note to one of your besties. I sent one, but I won't say to who because it is someone I love that reads my blog and I want her to be surprised!!!  It's super easy and fun!

AND, if you're at Blissdom, be sure to stop by the Kleenex booth and send a Share Package to someone you love.


*Thank you so much to Kleenex for sending me to Blissdom and trusting me to represent them well.  While they are sending me, the words and sentiments are all mine!

I Wanna Go Too!

I am a blogger. I want to be a better blogger. I want to blog about things that interest you all, and increase my readership. I want to be better.

There is a way I can do this. The Blissdom Conference for bloggers. This is a fabulous opportunity for bloggers to go to Nashville and learn more about blogging.

For me to go though, I need some help. I am looking for sponsors to send me to Blissdom 09, February 6-9. I fully intend on increasing my readership by going to this conference. So, what I am offering is ad space on my blog! Right now, I have pretty great traffic -- 100 visitors a day. I plan to increase this tenfold by June.

So, if you would like to sponsor me and send me to BLISSDOM, and have some great ad space for 6 months, please contact me! You can invest in me and in yourself at the same time.