New Normal

Hi my lovely readers!!  It has been a long time since I've written and I apologize for that. On October 13, 2015, I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. So I have been adjusting, or trying my best to adjust, to my new life as a mother. And that's what I decided to write about today...

Throughout our lives, we often encounter twists and turns and need to reestablish our footing and identity. This has certainly been the case for me.
         
                                           

I am thrilled to be a mother and am excited to watch my son grow up and become who he's meant to become. But at the same time, I feel a certain sense of loss of myself. At least for now (my son is 5 weeks old), I'm unable to do a lot of what I used to enjoy before this huge life change. I haven't been able to run or work out like I used to. I haven't even been able to take my dogs out on long walks like I enjoy doing on a daily basis. And I certainly haven't been able to write lately.

I have felt feelings similar to this in the past. Feelings that my life is suddenly changed, usually for the better, but still, I have to adjust to a new normal.

This happens when I've gotten a new job, become involved in a new relationship, when I got married, and now most recently, when I had my baby. Each major life change involved a period of adjustment. And I am presently in the biggest life change of my life.

Where will I go from here? What will be the next step? How will my life look once things settle down? I have no idea.

What I am struggling with is figuring out who I am among all this change. A big part of my identity was that of an independent woman. A single independent women...until I got married. Can I still be an independent woman, as a mother? I believe I can. I just have to figure out how.

Other parts of my identity include being a runner, a competitive 5k participant, an animal caregiver, a world traveler, a risk-taker, and a writer. Can I still be all these things? I believe I can...someday...and somehow. Right now? No. Tomorrow? Probably not. But someday soon.

Whether planned or totally unexpected, life changes. It's what keeps things interesting, right? The key to success is to relax and feel your way through these changes. Follow your heart. Your next steps will appear. You'll know what to do and when to do it.

Trust that. Believe it. I do.

The quote below stood out to me. Life as a mother certainly is harder than life as a single person. Whatever your life change is, it may be harder too. Changes usually at least seem harder at first. Until we adjust. Until we become stronger and competent in our new role.

And this takes time. Be patient. Do your best. That's all any of us can do. Just get a little stronger every day.