Birthday Blues and Expectations

Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you! ~ Dr. Seuss

Today would have been my father's 83rd birthday.  I knew it would be a hard day but as the day has gone on, it has been harder than I thought.

I also celebrated my own birthday a few days ago.  It was a lovely day for I spent it with my husband

and my girls.  Yet, in my heart I had a deep longing for my dad to be here for it.  It is still really hard to come to terms with the fact that he is no longer here on this earth.

I do take some comfort in the fact that my dad and I have always shared the same birthday month.  Actually, my birthday falls right in between both my parents.  Kind of apropos for the baby in the family to be nuzzled in-between her folks.

My dad was never a big birthday celebration person but he recognized the importance of life, our lives.  I miss the simple ways of my dad.  He was driven by family and faith.  Between church and his kids that was all that mattered.

My dad did not worry about the little things.  Did we have food, shelter, clothing and a family that loved us?  The answer was yes and that was all that mattered.

I have been using this simple way of life to help me through some of my own personal struggles with stressing over the little things.

The other day, the girls were supposed to start back up with piano.  One of my girls was adamant that she did not want to continue.  It really made me angry.  The real question was why?  I was putting my own desires and expectations of me on her.  I played piano so you shall, too.  It was creating this stress in our family life that was so silly.  I finally decided that in the end it was just that, not the end. Let the girl enjoy her other activities and move on.  Will our world crumble without more piano lessons? No.  Can she take them up again if she chooses to? Yes.  Am I less stressed and saving a few dollars?  Yes.

The most important question: Do we have food, shelter, clothing and a family that loves us?  Yes.

I miss my dad immensely but his simple life teachings still help me even when he is not here anymore.  I hope he had a great birthday today.  Hopefully he had a nice cup of coffee and a lot of M&M cookies.

Here's to letting go of the little things, of expectations of things we cannot control or just simply should not even try to control.  The less we cling to the little things the more calm this walk of life shall be.  Bring on the simple life indeed.

May the light in my heart honor the light in yours,

Namaste