Bud, Blossom, & Bloom

Things are starting to bud and blossom and bloom. I love Spring and have always thought of myself as a Spring baby. However, after a decade in the Midwest, I’m beginning to feel like a Winter baby instead! My birthday is at the beginning of March, and only one or two of the last ten birthdays have actually been Spring-like. Still, it’s like a breath of fresh air that first day when the skies are bright, the humidity is nil, and you see bursts of color in the trees and on the ground again. This year on that first day, I found myself humming, “Bud…blossom…bloom…” I also love alliteration, so I felt happy with nature and happy with my brain for coming up with that. Ha!

The joy of life, and raising children, is so much like Spring. Even when we go through seasons that are really hard, it cycles back around where we get to watch little personalities budding, witness our children blossom into young adults, and experience internal blooming and renewal.

This is why I love our annual event to celebrate motherhood, Bloom (next one’s happening in June!). It’s geared towards new and expecting parents, but it’s a call to “bloom where you are planted”. However you begin your motherhood or parenthood journey, embrace it with your everything! Bud, blossom, & bloom in that journey.

If you don’t feel like you’re blooming right now, ask yourself a couple questions:

• Am I getting enough rest?
• Am I giving myself grace?
• Am I making time for myself?
• Am I taking care of my mental health?
• Am I taking care of my OVERALL health?

Taking care of your overall wellness is so, so important. I can’t stress this enough. I’m someone who is prone to extreme anxiety and clinical depression. I struggle to give myself enough grace. I often worry so much about taking care of everyone else that I neglect myself.

My mother-in-law has told me many times over the years some of the best advice she’s ever given me, and now I’ll pass it along to you – “You can’t take care of anyone else unless you first take care of yourself.” If you’re looking for ways you can take care of yourself better, check out LMC’s Health & Wellness Guide. Are you really good for anyone if you’re not your best self? I can tell you from experience that the answer is “no”.

I once wrote a post called The Golden Rule of Motherhood after a friend and I asked each other, “Do you think anyone would really want YOU to live out the Golden Rule?” We both said, “Heck, no!” after we really thought about it.

What would my life be like if I treated myself as I treat others? What are you going to do today to start treating yourself as you treat everybody else? 

So, as we reflect on this beautiful season of Spring, reflect also on the ways you can really be budding, blossoming, and blooming in your own life.