It's been 7 weeks.
7 weeks since I accepted a new teaching position in Special Education with a local district.
How could I have known my outlook on this phase of my life would so drastically change?
This weekend, I did a few things I’ve been wanting to do for awhile but had, for some reason, found excuses to put them off.
It's never too late to live your best life.
I'm not sure why, when you become busier than you've been for awhile, that other things seem to actually 'slow down' and you can see them clearer than you have before.
This is what has come into clear focus for me these last weeks...
Carving out time with my husband has moved to the top of my 'to do' list. He works so hard for our family and I've given him the space to do what he needs to do. Now, I make sure to let him know when I'll be home so we can eat dinner together. I've also started asking him on date nights, even if it's just a meal out during the week, so we can catch up...only the two of us. I've never forgotten why I fell in love with him all those years ago but our relationship deserves extra attention and time. I see that clearly now.
It's never too late to live your best life...
Being a teacher, as well as an advocate for my students, lights a fire in me that I thought had been long ago extinguished. While these past weeks have been some of the most challenging for me professionally, they have shown me that I am where I need to be. The long hours, the college class I am taking, the vast amount of special ed information I need to digest, and everything else that goes along with being an educator these days has solidified it's all going to be worth it in the end if I can give my students what they deserve. I see that clearly now.
It's never too late to live your best life...
Now, back to this weekend.
Our kids have gotten tattoos in the past and all four have one which is the same. It came from the Belobrajdic side of the family. My Grandma, Daisy, would say 'Laku noć' to us when my brother and I were little. Loosely translated it means, 'Good Night' or 'Sweet Dreams.' My Grandma always said it meant both so our families take on this phrase may not be exactly what it means but I don't care. When I say it or when I hear it I see my Grandma's face. My Mom started saying this to us because of Grandma. Two of my favorite women make this phrase special. That's what's important. Bentley has it on her wrist--she asked me to write the phrase. She's had hers since her first year in college. All three of our boys have a capital letter L, which is in my Mom's actual handwriting, incorporated in their tattoos of this phrase. An added tribute is the letter L is in purple to honor Mom's battle with pancreatic cancer. The boys came up with that detail on their own. She would have loved it.
I knew I eventually wanted to get this in Bentley's handwriting so we could each have a piece of each other on our wrists. Besides my Grandma Daisy and my Mom...Beni is the 3rd most important female in my life. It's important to me that she knows this. I see that clearly now.
I got the tattoo.
It's never too late to live your best life.
Yep. I guess you can have an epiphany in 7 weeks time. Life is so short. I've been shown this multiple times over the years of my life but, for some reason, I have felt the need to get moving. NOW.
DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
WHY WAIT?
Besides the ‘laku noć’ tattoo, I got a second tattoo yesterday. On my left foot. One specifically for my daughter.
Now, I have three more to get.
My sons will each be featured in a tattoo before I'm done.
It's never too late to live your best life.
What's important to you? What have you put off, repeatedly, for another day? What ignites a fire deep in your soul?
I love this life.
I'm starting to live it.
It is what it is.
p
