This is how easily my writing can get off the rails. One missed night, then a few other things pop up and suddenly I’m out of the rhythm and my devoted readers (both of them) aren’t getting this golden content. I cannot promise anything, but as previously when I’ve fallen off the pace I will do my best to stick to the daily posting schedule, even when I’m searching for inspiration. Some might argue I’ve never had it!
It’s been one of those weeks here at the Cookson Villa when any and all plans get tossed out the window. A sick kid one day, inclement weather the next that leads to school early dismissal the next, a tree crashing through the backyard fence, etc., etc. Whatever I hoped to cross off the to-do list takes a back seat and it becomes a struggle to get through the day dealing with kids and everything else.
While trying to get through those days that prove to be harder, or more stressful, than I anticipate, I think it’s natural to start looking ahead and thinking “well, just get through this, it will easier soon.” Having those thoughts reminded me of this little bit of motivation from Duke women’s basketball coach Kara Lawson.
If you spend any time on the internet you will can be besieged by well-meaning motivational sayings, speeches, life advice, and cliches. I don’t begrudge anyone who finds comfort or inspiration from them, but there are so many different versions and variations I tend to look at them a little cynically. Yet when this one crossed my social media feed it hit a little close to home and resonated with me.
I think it’s because I suspect that mindset she mentions about looking forward to things getting easier is very, very common. I know it’s something I am susceptible to, and so I try and make the effort to avoid that trap and focus on just doing my best with whatever situation is in front of me. I was talking to Caryn the other day about some various challenge we were tackling with Declan on a given day and I mentioned that I think a big part of my motivation for this Substack (other than also trying to be as entertaining as possible) is to do my best to explain how hard life with Declan (and Rory) can be. For whatever reason, it’s important to me to try and show that however hard it might look from the outside — it’s harder. So that idea of trying to find a way to “handle hard better” really appealed to me when I heard it.
This is also not to say that I don’t recognize everyone is dealing with their own hardships and struggles. Things are generally hard for everyone. Which is why I felt like sharing this particular piece of motivation in the hopes that it speaks to everyone a little bit and can trigger a little bit of tweak in perspective. I certainly can’t claim I have this attitude as often as I should, but I think it also works in concert with the idea I’ve expressed before about just doing the best you can. No one should be expected to conquer hard, but we can face it head on.