Earlier today, I was reading the latest issue of Oprah magazine, and glancing at an article posing a question to contributing writers of the magazine: What would be the title of your life story, and why? The answers ranged in response from the amusingly self-explanatory ("Put on your big girl panties and get moving") to the introspective ("Time to go home"). My own answer popped into my head: "Next stop, Wonderland". Amusing AND introspective. These days, my life is getting "curiouser and curiouser" the farther I go along. The house of cards is constantly on the move. Borrowing a quote from the White Rabbit, I find myself digging into my purse for my cell phone and muttering, "I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!" During down time, I try to plan menus for myself and my family, and remain (mostly) healthy, but get tempted by the baddies- the fast fix of junk food and snacks that tempt, "Eat me" and "Drink me". The battle between a wholesome lifestyle, and giving in to the easily available, comfort foods (and drinks). Some days I feel as though I have shrunk into a person whose stature is as small as a toddler, staring up at the world around me and feeling overwhelmed and not in control of anything. Other days, I feel that I have rocketed into a giant, disrupting my own trajectory, looking down and all around and towering over my environment, thinking thoughts too big for their world. Not fitting in anywhere. And there is the Mad Hatter- my sweet, nonstop son, leading the way to the next adventure, giggling and shrieking his way through life, teaching me to be fleet of foot and not to plan too far in advance.
More lessons learned from Life in Wonderland: The importance of tea time; idle conversation yields interesting truths; there is never enough time in the day, so time management is of the utmost importance; and never stop asking questions.
What is the title of your life story? Why? These are questions that make us pause to reflect on where we are, and hopefully where we are going.
Wishing all of you some introspection, a little light-heartedness through your busy days, extra time to savor the moments, and good luck along the way :)
