When All Else Fails…Do it Again

It started with a statement from a 6-year old boy. He said, “Mom, don’t you love to decorate? Then, why don’t we have up any decorations for Mardi Gras?” He did not understand the magnitude of his words, but I understood immediately.

In the Fall of 2016, the Felicity Bee had a #FallFamilyFun Challenge.  Part of the challenge was to decorate your home with fall decor.  Up to this point, I had not really decorated my home yet.  I had tons of beautiful pictures, but I had zero beautiful spaces…so I took Erika Michelle up on her offer.

I spray painted picture frames and wine bottles.  I spent my spare time on Pinterest looking at photo layouts and home decor arrangements.  My fall consisted of homemade wreaths and rustic mason jars.  My Christmas had bow wrapped cabinet doors and seasonal-colored runners with displays of all the photo cards we received.  I changed out the colors of the ornaments for New Years and Valentines.  Creativity was my outlet…

I usually do not remember when things change.  I cannot always pinpoint what triggers the end of events that used to bring me so much joy, but I remember clearly.  I remember that I ran out of words – when I decided my house was not beautiful enough for social media.  I remember when I gave up…and my home has looked like summer ever since.

We put up the obligatory tree at Christmas, and my husband hung the stockings…but other than that, not one change.  I decided that my results did not dictate the fuss.  I walked away, and I never looked back…that was until I realized that someone was watching.

Someone did not care that my house was not beautiful enough for social media.  Someone did not care that I was all out of words.  Someone just needed a mom who enjoyed spray painting, and taking pictures, and making printables she would never share, and hanging Mardi Gras beads on stair rails…

A little boy told me to do it again.

Sometimes, as adults, when we do not see the results we want from all our efforts, our first line of defense is to accept that we have failed.  We chalk up our losses.  We pick up the towels we threw in.  We walk away, and we never look back.

I stopped making to-do lists because I could never get everything done.  I stopped line item budgeting because I would always run out of money.  I ignored the piles of laundry, unmade beds, and carpets that needed vacuuming.  All of it was too much, and I just could not do it and simultaneously maintain my sanity, but then I heard that dern Voice, “Brittany, do it again.”

Of course, me being who I am, I politely declined, “No thank you.  I’ve taken enough failures for the time being.  I am going to have to pass.  I’ve been down this road before.”

He responded, “Yes, but this time is different.  Trust Me.  Just do it again.”

I rolled my eyes, “Why in the world would this be any different?  I still do not have enough hours in the day.  I still cannot manage calendars or to-do lists.  I cannot make money appear where the money is not.  How?  How is this different?”

He said, “you are different.”  He left it at that, and for the first time I considered His proposal.

I tucked my resolutions in the crevices of my mind in a world that no longer believes in resolutions.  And on January 1, I began to do it again.

He was right per usual.  I am not the same person.  I have learned the power of undone.  I like undone.  I need undone.  You see part of the fun of decorating is that you do not do it all at once.  Big projects only happen over time.  I have to wait for spray paint to dry, for pictures to develop, for sales on specific items I need.  I do not have hours of time to complete DIY crafts from start to finish, so instead there’s a significant amount of time where most of what I need to do is undone…

I learned to do the same with my to-do list, organizing, blogging, teaching, coaching, budgeting and “momming.”  If time runs out, I JUST LEAVE IT UNDONE!!

Someone here needs to hear that.  When life hands you lemons, and you feel like you have failed and you are over it, just keep going.  Someone is watching.  Someone could not care less about your imperfection.  You are different.  You are not the same.

Know that undone is the right place to be.  Thank God for little boys who appreciate your undone…

Appreciate your progress.  Appreciate that you are a work-in-progress.  Appreciate that your ordinary is more than enough.  Then pick up your undone and do it again.

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What are some areas in your life that you feel are undone and you know you need to do it again?  Comment below or connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Snapchat: mrsbonnaffons.

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