Sometimes we all have "one of those days". You know, where everything is in a jumble and nothing is going right and all you want is to cry, yell, or go back to bed. (Or, perhaps, all three. At the same time.)
Yeah, I have those too. Like yesterday for example. (Our rhythm was fine, the day was just off for other reasons.)
I suspect we all have them from time to time. Sometimes the angst and drama around us is real and tangible, and sometimes we are suffering from our thoughts alone – the magical power of worry and "what if". (The latter is more frequent around here.) But still, it feels pretty lousy doesn't it?
And then I thought, hm. There are oodles of you visiting here everyday. And we all feel like that from time to time. So let's do an experiment. Together. (Yes, even you quiet ones. I know you're out there.)
Are you ready? Here goes.
Say something nice.
That's it. Pretty simple, right? But it'll be magical. I'd love you to leave it here in the comments on this post. Or you can say it to your partner when they come home tonight. Say it to the man who speaks kindly to your child. Or that mama struggling with a cranky toddler at the grocery. Type it, write it down, or say it outloud to yourself. Say it for you, for me, for your father, or for the world.
Becuase we all need to remember what is good in the world (or in our partner, or in ourselves, or in eachother) from time to time.
So bring it on.
Say something nice. I think it would do us all some good.
YES! What a good reminder. I will do this at home (I forgot to be nice last night at dinner and was short with everyone before I realized I needed to rein myself back in).
And to you too…thank you for putting clean, responsible health care products out there so they are available as an option. Thank you for the great blog updates, starting a Simplicity Parenting conversation, for keeping it real, for revealing beauty where you see it.
May you get many “nice” comments back, but may this post inspire many more nice words in the real world.
thank you for putting this blog out there day after day (it’s hard…I flounder for MONTHS b/w posts at mine!)…I visit you and soulemama daily and it provides such inspiration for me to head into the day (or sleep- depending on which end of the day I get around to it)…so, thank you. it’s going to be a beautiful day:)
lady…you are amazing..if I had a hero-ess, you would be her. I love you and your kiddos (oh, heck, pete too) and the way you can help organize this amazing community to focus on something outside of all of us. We all have those moments where we need the beauty of others around us and you, sweet one, have magic all around you…
My sweet girls and I completely lost our rhythm yesterday and were not in the best of moods by the time my husband got home in the evening. Today, we are more calm, relaxed and enjoying a restful day. Some of my nice words will go to my dear husband who calmed us all when we needed it, but I’ll also make a point to say something nice to someone as we go about our day.
Thank you for always providing such sweet words to remind me of the little things that I forget to focus on during the day. Sending lots of love and thoughts to you and yours as you pass nice words to others as well 🙂
My first nice thing…i want to tell you that i re-read your post from the summer of what becoming a mother has meant to you. A friend is stuggling with her brand new high needs baby and i sent her the link. i too had a high needs baby, who is now a wonderfully sweet and amazing toddler, and i know my friend i both benefitted from reading your words. she benefitted by seeing that others too have struggled and made it through. i benefitted by remembering how it all felt and how grateful i am for that time, because it made me the mother i am now.
The second nice thing goes out to my mom. My 2.5 year old daughter said yesterday, “I love Grandma so much. She’s my best friend!” i meant to tell my mom about it later, but i forgot. i’m going to make a point to tell her today…she’ll love it!
Great reminder. I have been thinking about how lucky I am to have the husband I have. He is flawed, to be sure, but he is a great guy! We have been married for almost 29 years and we got married at 18. Who would’ve thought that would work out? And yet it did and I am thankful for it and for the life he works so hard to provide us with.
I am a more recent follower of your blog but I wanted to say thanks for the constant inspiration you put out there to all your readers. thanks!
just seeing “will you join me,” and “one of those days..” struck me, in a great way. These old blue door pictures fill up my need for visual beauty, thank you.
What a great post. It’s easy to forget the impact a few nice words can have on someone’s day. Thanks for the reminder 🙂
We are empty nesters now… our son is 19 going on 20, in the Navy and lives in San Diego. We miss him so much! We are very proud of him!
Anyway, for many year’s it’s been our habit (mine, our son and our pets) to greet hubby when he comes home from work. We always make an issue of it. (I work full-time, but get to work from home) I think it’s quite a nice thing to come home to a family that’s happy to have you there! Even though our son is gone, me and the pets still do it.
We all have “those days” but I always try to remind myself to think positive because I like the way it feels as opposed to gloom and doom. 😉
I’m glad I found your blog. I enjoy your posts. Thank you for taking the time to write them. You may not realize just how many people’s days are brightened by them.
HUGS to you!
“One of those days”…so true that we all have them. Pausing to be grateful and share a kind word is a beautiful and restorative act. Thank you for your inspiring post. (I’m one of the quiet ones!)
Thanks for the reminder to stop and count our blessings! It’s a beautiful day in MN, the sun is shining (yes it only does that a few times a week in the winter!) and the snow is melting into puddles outside. I’m thankful for today, for family, for friends and for a house that is filled with love (despite my 3 year old twins yelling at each other at this very moment!).
I am going to make a fuss of hellos and goodbyes – thank you Dana! Everybody needs to know they are special and that is the moment to show it.
I love this blog! I really do. Thank you for all the time you put into it. Your generosity and creativity – you do inspire.
I had a good friend tell me she was jealous today and now we are closer. I am proud and grateful she could be so open and honest to me.
Oh our words mean everything don’t they. I am constantly reminding my children to practice kindness, especially kind words… I have to remind myself too – thank you.
Thank you for the reminder to bring some gratitude and kindness to our days. Words are so very powerful. And most of them time, when nice words are spoken they are returned right back to you.
There is a lot of good in our world, we just need to take the time to notice and then share 🙂
Thank you for this. Truly.. I have been having one of those months and this is just what I needed. Here is my something nice for you Rachel…
I love blogging Mamas who help me feel connected and not weird or out of place or crazy. You are amazing, and I grow in wisdom everyday because of you.
xxoo
So very kind. Thank you…
I love reading your blog, Rachel. Thanks for keeping us all connected to our families and our lives by the thoughtful insights we find here. (I’m a quiet one, too).
I love your blog too… I’m one of the quiet followers, but I read your posts each time you update here. We all have those days, and I think your way of getting around that is most inspirational!
BTW – any more updates on decluttering? or are you busy getting your home on the market?
As many others have already expressed, your blog is out of this world!! Your pictures elicit peacefulness, your words are filled with inspiration and to top it all off you are so very REAL. You share life as is -warts and all! Makes a first time momma like me relax and know everything will be ok.
When you shared you were cutting back on your computer time I sighed and almost shed a tiny tear – how will I start my morning without a fresh post! LOL! In your realness about computer time I too started looking at my own habits and am unplugging more. My toddler thanks you too for that! 🙂
Hi Rachel,
I’m a quiet one, but I come here all the time, to check on your wanderings and your wonderings. I’m at home right now with three boys 5 and under, and don’t have much time for blog reading, but I always come to you. I admire your honesty and spirit of inquiry, and everytime I used the little blue jar of booty balm on my baby, I think of you, and feel glad that a little part of you is in this house. And, so you’ll know there’s one more person on the nice continuum, I have been consciously trying to say more nice things to pretty much everyone, because change for the good can be palpable, and because we really do make our own realities, and I want to make the most of mine and the people I love. Thank you very much for your blog, I’m very grateful to tune in here as much as I do.
Carol
How kind. Thank you Carol.