What if...

Balance is such a funny thing. I've felt balanced and blissful this week, and then had moments of anxiety when I've needed time and space to be alone, to organise various work deadlines and things I have to do, to find my clarity, then just sit and be.

In those moments I'm often reminded first of my imperfections. I've felt uncoordinated, like I'm not doing a great job of anything and a tad overwhelmed too.

But if I flipped that, if I put my judgements of myself aside, perhaps I would see it as: someone working through her stresses and emotions, maybe I would see strength and commitment, perhaps I would see someone who is supportive and gives her all...

In my little girls' eyes, perhaps I would see a mother who gives an abundance of love, tries her best and brings kindness to each day...

I read this today: "If I could give you one thing in life, I would give you the ability to see yourself through my eyes, only then would you realise how special you are to me..."

And perhaps I skipped over the true point, because yes I see that it's about a parent and child and I so want my girls to clearly see their strengths and what makes them wonderful and unique... but my thoughts kept drifting to what if we all stopped for a few moments to view ourselves through the eyes of someone who loves us... what if we stopped to do that right now?

I did just that. And it changed my mindset in an instant. I'm hoping you'll give it a go too?

xx

{Image above of me and my girls taken by the talented Laura @ Perla Photography.}

{I'm not sure where that quote originally comes from or who it's by - if you know, love you to let me know so I can credit it please. Elisa x}

What I saw

I saw a woman walking {aimlessly} through the shopping centre, stopping at every shop window, never going in.

I saw a couple {tightly} holding hands as they sipped their lattes, eyes locked {almost in tears} and speaking in whispers.

I saw young girls giggling at bright-coloured jeans, jackets and jumpers {and smirking at the girl wearing them}, while they sorted through racks of clothes.

I saw children climbing {pushing and shoving} on a play gym, and talking in screams.

I saw my reflection in a shop front. There I was pushing a pram, brushing hair off my face and singing lullabies to a sleepy baby while squeezing soy sauce on a toddler's sushi.

Did anyone see me? And what did they see?

A mother rushing from baby to toddler, trying {desperately} to weave from one shop to the next?

A woman in a flowing black cardigan, clueless to the child's sticker {pressed with love} on to her top?

A mother listening to {and loving} her toddler's story about a baby doll that needs cuddles to go to sleep?

A woman with darting eyes watching a runaway toddler while cuddling a blanket to her sleeping baby and {struggling} counting coins at the check-out?

I wonder when we look, do we really see? Do we ever really get it right? I say, we see what we want to. And that's ok. Providing some part of us sees there's more to what we see than what we see.

Elisa xx

{Meditating on assumptions and impressions today. Some days I'm not fussed what you see, but on other days I'd be lying if I said I didn't care.}

What did you see today? Anything that made you smile?