[Nevertheless] It Is So Much More

What is it to live a fulfilling life? 

I used to think it was to do things I enjoy, that I feel called to do, that feed my soul, and banish from my life all that does otherwise. Looking at others who are living out their dreams and passions, I assumed that's what they were doing. Many of them preach just what I described. 

What living with chronic illness and five children with varying needs has taught me is that it can be that, nevertheless it is so much more. That it's not about me, it's about us. That taking the narrow vision of what constitutes a fulfilling life can exclude the best aspects of getting out of our own way to create a better life for ourselves and for others. 

It is doing things because your child or spouse loves that thing, and getting to experience their joy even if you don't share the same passion yourself. It's being the unschool bus for theater teens and teen girls so they can make it to rehearsals and programs that mean so much to them, knowing how important it is to them, even when you're tired and just want to go home. It's spinning a pokestop dozens of times so your child has enough pokeballs for an event. It's admitting you're too tired to deal with life's mundanity on your own and asking for help on your Costco run. 

It's being open to filling the needs and wants of others while also being open to others helping you meet your needs and wants. It's changing your perspective of the things you don't enjoy to find their worth and their place in helping you live a fulfilling life.

A fulfilling life isn't experiencing the best life all the time. The path to a fulfilling life isn't ever straight-forward. It's putting in the work to create what you envision. It's making mistakes and cleaning up messes. It's doing nothing and doing too much. It's finding balance and being knocked off kilter and finding a new balance. It's dealing with what life throws at you grateful for what you do have and what you can do. It's pruning preconceived notions of what a fulfilling life is in order to create a life that resonates with your soul and feeds your spirit.