For the last 2 weeks I have been waking up at 5am for a jog and/or walk before my husband has to go to work. I arrive back at the house just before 6am, make a cup of coffee and then sit and write in my journal and read for an hour before I start the morning school routine. This plan has been semi-successful. JJ has been waking up while I am out and that means my husband is awakened. He does not like being awakened before 6am. He does not want to have to attempt to placate JJ while I am out of the house at the crack of dawn.
If JJ stirs as I am leaving and I catch it, our new deal is that I have to take JJ with me in the stroller. That happened this morning. He, of course, falls straight back asleep in the stroller as I do my walk. However, keeping him asleep in the stroller when I return at 6am is another challenge. This morning that wasn’t so successful.
In an attempt to give JJ something to keep him occupied so I could do my journal writing (which I do religiously), I gave him a chocolate egg left over from Easter. I took him up to my journal writing chair and sat him on my lap. I didn’t get a huge amount of journal writing done (it’s ok, I did it later), but I did have an incredible “ah-ha” moment.
There he was sitting on my lap, eating this delicious treat with this look of total contentment on his face. “There,” I thought, “is the look of fulfillment.”
And what were the components of that look of complete and utter fulfillment?
1. Love – he was sitting in his mommy’s lap, in a place of safety and security and warmth. It was the “seat” of love, literally and metaphorically.
2. Enjoyment – he was diggin’ that chocolate egg. Yum, yum!
3. Presence – He was present in that moment. At this stage, there is nothing but the present for him. He goes from moment to moment either loving it or hating it depending on the situation. But, whatever the case, he’s all there. Yesterday and tomorrow don’t register. 3 minutes from now doesn’t even come into the picture.
So, there you have it…
Love + Enjoyment + Presence = FULFILLMENT!
Check yourself now? Are you out of balance in any one of those 3 areas?
Love is the Spirit.
Enjoyement is the Body.
Presence is the Mind.
Mind, Body, Spirit – It’s all connected. And when there is harmony and balance between the 3, you have fulfillment.
Beautifully put! Yes, we as parents need to fill our cups spiritually, physically and mentally! AMEN. I love how you recognized your child’s need for those three essential elements…when my cup is empty I forget my children might need a refilling as well.