Homemaking - Taking a Break

Nope, not a blogging break.

For the past year I have read blog posts through google reader. While we were on vacation, I stopped reading them. When we got back, I decided that I wouldn't read them until July 1st.

You know what I found?

I NEEDED a break!

I NEEDED a break to find out that I don't like to read blog posts through google reader. Sure, it's convenient. They are all right there for me - the ones I haven't read are bold and it tells me exactly how many posts I need to read in order to cross this off of my to do list.

What?!?

For me, reading blog posts is supposed to:

1. be encouraging
2. make me think
3. help me learn something new

I don't want my life to become one big to do list.

But the evil voice in my head is saying "what if you miss something". So what? Is anyone going to die if I don't read a blog post or two?

The other thing I have found is that I love going to people's blogs. I enjoy seeing the background they chose and any changes that they have made.

Lesson learned:

When something that is supposed to bring joy to your life doesn't anymore, you need to make changes.

One of my BFF's (I think that is hilarious by the way - this friend is a really really good friend, but BFF sounds so immature...hmmm I guess that is fitting for me) anyway...one of my really really good friends (AKA. BFF) stopped emailing me this past year when she got a job.

Should I feel offended? Uhhhh NO! She's picking her family over emailing her friend. I admire her ability to make the right choice. Do I miss her? Immensely. When we got together on our vacation there wasn't any silence - we picked up right where we left off.

So where do I go from here? I haven't quite figured it out yet - possibly add the blogs to my favorites and read them as I want to. Recently I have read a few posts from Consciously Frugal that reminds me of where I once was. I began my frugal journey as a full time working mom of a two year old and a newborn wrapped up in the world.

My Mom passed away November 1998 at the age of 50. After she died, I started thinking differently about life. I read the book Getting a Life and my thought was "if I didn't have to work for a living I would want to stay home to raise my babies." We knew that we couldn't do it unless we made huge life changes. Nine months after reading that book we sold our house in Colorado and moved back to Montana. I've fallen away from the concepts too much.

• Why won't I take time to enjoy petting the dog? Instead, while reading my Bible and drinking coffee, I'll brush the dog so she won't get dog hair all over my house.
• Making dinner has become a nuisance because I "have" to cook every meal.
• I injured my back big time because I was hurrying through my exercise routine so I could check it off of my list.
• etc. etc.

It's funny how this snuck up on me. Of course when you can't bend over to pick something off of the floor and you have to sit on a heating pad for quite a bit of time, you have time to reflect on your life. My life has definitely been more enjoyable the last few weeks.  The biggest bonus has been that I have enjoyed my kids a lot more. I'm don't think that I am accomplishing less, but I definitely have a different attitude.

Want to read more? An in your face, upfront and honest post about well-being vs. achievement.  I thought about this post all day long. I don't usually read blogs like this, but it *really* made me think - my first thought was "I have got to add this blog to my google reader". Slow learner aren't I?

TheEcoCatLady speaks about the art of doing less.