Hey there! I’m Mikala—a family doctor, wife, mother of 5, well-being advocate, and author of the books Ordinary on Purpose and Everything I Wish I Could Tell You About Midlife. Each month my writing reaches millions of women, but I am thrilled to be connecting with YOU. I’m truly grateful to have you here!
All in Life
And life is hard. But that doesn’t mean we’re doing it wrong, it just means we are living.
And I’m pretty sure I have a lot to learn from a girl like that.
We are responsible TO our children for things like food and clothing and shelter and an environment in which they can learn and grow and be themselves. But we are not responsible FOR our children’s choices.
In tiny glimpses, it ALL feels like enough. My life. This hard, broken world. Me, even.
I’ll be grateful I chose fun and love and food and laughter and people and connection and joy. I’ll be grateful I truly LIVED!!!
What if I don't want anything MORE? Or need anything MORE? What if I refuse to STRIVE anymore!?!
Because usually it’s in my pain that I’m reminded of His ridiculous, unending, unfailing love.
I mean, don’t we know what we need to do to take care of ourselves? And our family?? Don’t all those routines and best practices exist for a reason?
This realization is perhaps the best gift I can give my children, really, because it takes the pressure off.
This little cutie-patootie saw the sun yesterday. And frankly, I owe her a few apologies.
Life is complicated and messy and hard. Yet sometimes the beauty of an ordinary moment quite nearly takes my breath away.
It’s kids and car payments and over-flowing piles of laundry and fifty million places to be on Saturday afternoons.
Maybe we knock ourselves out trying to give them everything…but then our kid will remember how we lost our temper or rolled our eyes or apparently ‘always’ forgot to bring soccer treats.
Is there anything more extraordinary than really LIVING your one precious, beautiful, ordinary life?? Being grateful for ALL of it (or at least all you can)?
It may not always be pretty, but it is beautiful all the same. Right here in the middle of this ordinary life.
I realize things are beginning to open up now, and I want to feel excited. But mostly I want to lay down and sleep for a year.
