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Time Warp Tuesday: What I craved

I’m participating in Time Warp Tuesday, the semi-monthly bloghop offered by Kathy at Four of a Kind. This week’s theme is  Comments Please, and our assignment gives us a chance to:

…revisit a an old blog entry that you are proud of and invite others doing the Time Warp to read and give it the attention it deserves..

I chose a post called What I Craved, which was written in response to a  “Crap-I-have-everything-I-ever-wanted-and-still-I’m-not-happy” moment. It got only 3 comments  in 2007 when I’d been a stay-at-home mom with my long-awaited children for more than half a decade. I realized I was not feeling the gratitude that I, an infertile mom, thought I should be feeling. Though I loved my children dearly, I was out of sorts because I was noticing everything I LOST when I became a mom, discounting all that I gained.

So I put it all in perspective by remembering a few different eras of my life, comparing and contrasting what I had and what I craved (1) while single, (2) while married and in the throes of family-building, and finally, (3) after becoming a mom.

And with this new perspective, I was able to turn again toward gratitude. Oh, to be simultaneously able to want what you have and have what you want. My message to myself back then still holds true: Be. Here. Now. Lori.

Click over to Time Warp Tuesday to read more posts that merited more comments, and maybe even to add your own.

8 Responses

  1. I don’t know, Lori…wanting something else/more does not mean you don’t appreciate what you have.

    You know how you find yourself in those wishing situations (first star, all the same numbers on the clock, eyelash, what have you), and there’s always something to wish for? Do you know how weird it is when you can’t think of a thing to wish for? I found myself there recently, and it’s mildly depressing and extremely confusing.

    Wanting and craving give us the drive to keep our lives interesting. So, appreciating the moment is great, but the cravings have their value too.

    1. I really need to visit your blog (again?) soon, as I really enjoy reading your comments that I see here on Lori’s blog and also recall feeling the same way reading what you write on Mel’s posts.

      This is one of those comments that I think is “Grateful Said” worthy! I love when someone (such as you in this case) reads an awesome post that really got me thinking and writes a comment that challenges the post and gets me thinking even more!

      I have a tendency to be really hard on myself (as a perfectionist and people pleaser), as my husband and I were recently discussing. I really appreciate what you say here about “wanting something else/more does not mean you don’t appreciate what you have.” Very good point!

      I see what you mean about “how wanting and craving gives us the drive to keep our lives interesting.” Thank you so much for sharing your perspective on this. Definitely something for me to chew on…

    2. This is a very important aspect of what wanting is and what it isn’t, A. Wanting does not necessarily meant ingratitude. Sometimes it’s just wanting, reaching, moving on to the next thing. And craving often serves to move us forward.

      I would love to read more about what you experienced in the void of wanting. It’s an interesting topic!

  2. I am back from reading the post you chose to revisit today and as I shared on your old post, I LOVED IT! It really resonated with me and where I am at in my life now.

    I have had some “crap-I-have-everything-I-ever-wanted-and-still-I’m-not-happy” moments over the past year or so and reading that I am not alone in feeling that way sometimes is very validating. I agree that trying to be mindful and focus on what we are grateful for helps so much to put and keep everything in perspective. Thank you for this and for doing the Time Warp again with us this week! 🙂

  3. I loved the original post, and also the follow-up. What a wonderfully succinct description of how you figured out how to be grateful.

    “I realized I was not feeling the gratitude that I, an infertile mom, thought I should be feeling. Though I loved my children dearly, I was out of sorts because I was noticing everything I LOST when I became a mom, discounting all that I gained.”

    I struggle with this as well. Being mindful is definitely the best way to keep our minds on what we have.

    I’m so glad you posted this: I needed to read it.

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