Saturday Success: Small Things Are Often Big Wins

I'm going to make a blanket judgement that most of your family Saturdays include chores, obligatory events like sports or parties and then squeezing in some fun recreational event by choice because it's Saturday. Or perhaps a date night! 

So, this Saturday for us was multifaceted success and it's only 6:30 as I type. Why? We successfully got to Horseback Riding lessons, despite a tantrum had an amazing lesson and then did a great separate together thing. Let me elaborate.

This week was rough for my husband and I. You all know those weeks. Where things are functional but not fine. And today was a great example of our ability to overcome. After Horseback Riding lessons I had scheduled myself a first and last massage of 2019. Massage is something I LOVE but rarely indulge. And today was the epitome of TREAT YO SELF. My husband took my dad and daughter to his old restaurant, which while I respect where that restaurant brought us, it's not my personal favorite.

So it was a win, win. Because he got to go to a place that was not my favorite, and I got to go seriously spoil myself with no repercussions. Then we all met at home and he brought me my absolutely favorite sub from a different restaurant but in the same plaza and we all did a few chores before meeting all the friends at the brewery.

The Safety Harbor brewery is one of my favorite social spots because it allows for kids to play outdoors while you socialize and drink local beer. All the best in one spot. So we met with kids and parents and friends alike and had some beer and wine. And then we came home with an impending fire pit situation, glorious leftovers and my husband promising cookies, decent bed times, sleeping in and breakfast. Happy lady over here right now.

After spending time with my visiting dad and also some insanely wonderful friends this week, I felt better and okay with being kinder to myself and maybe more gentle even. I just felt more okay with being vocal about what I wanted, and what I needed and it seemed to be received well.

Don't get me wrong. I like to think of myself as quite a glorious mess, but one worthy of shock and awe, and definitely friendship. Small successes like a seemingly effortless day are huge in my world. Much like my dad giving me a real bathroom door that opens and closes and gives me privacy being the greatest thing about 2019 so far! YES, A DOOR!

I realized that in 2018 I worked so hard on myself. I worked on why I was upset, what made me upset and what was I losing and gaining with all these feelings? How could I better approach a situation? Is it worth the upset and the tears? Does my reaction change anything or would it be better to change my reaction? All of these parallels I wrestled with and inched myself into a better position of peace. 

I try to offer my learned lessons to people struggling when I feel they are ready to hear some of it but often find it not well received. And I was in the presence of the person who inadvertently taught me these lessons in the kindest of ways and just felt overwhelmingly grateful. I'm grateful for my journey. 

This journey, no matter how frustrating or uncomfortable, got me to today's successes of time for myself, time with friends, time with family, fire pits,  favorite leftovers and feverishly posting this blog so I can pig out on cookies. Saturday successes rock!