KNOWING YOURSELF
This thought spiraled through my mind after hearing about someone else's outlook on how little it means to know one's self, and 'what does that mean anyway?' I have a different perspective on what it means to know yourself and believe that it means something different to everyone. I'm grateful that I was able to hear someone else's outlook because it really made me think about where I stand with myself.
What it means to me is knowing what my core values are, and putting them into action - things like reading with my daughters', practicing spelling words with them, having alone time with my husband, being a good listener, etc. All of these things are examples of my core values. Some are just the little things (which add up fast) and some are more elaborate.
I also think it's having a sense of peace within yourself and the courage to do the things you really love and feel passionate about. Getting to know myself has meant so many different things to me over the years and I still don't know it all - and I really like that part of me.
I know that I'll never stop learning new things about myself and that I'll continue to evolve as I develop new outlooks, make new connections, or discover new interests/ passions - that I'll be mentally and emotionally flexible enough to acccomodate, and that I'll always be open to new experiences.
I know that I'll always try to work on the things that are not beneficial to my pivotal people (or me), and know that my heart is in the right place even if it doesn't always seem like it. I know I'd rather not be an asshole. I know that there will always be the days where I wish I would've spoken up and the days where I wish I would've SHUT up. Most importantly, I know that I will always live a conscious, reflective life and that I'll teach my children to do the same.