Reverb 14 / Loving What Is (& More)

This month, I’m playing along with Project Reverb and Reverb14. There are different prompts every day; I’ll pick and choose the ones that interest me.

DECEMBER 3 / It’s all too easy to put off loving where we are until everything is perfect. What can you love about where you are now?

Oh, this is such a good question, always. I get carried away by the “grass is greener” thought train from time to time, but there are many excellent things about my current spot in life.

I am healthy. Jose is healthy. Emma is healthy (normal childhood malaises notwithstanding). I love having a family, and I love THIS family. I love Emma as a 2-year-old. It’s my favorite age so far. And while I’m not a perfect mom, I’m a GOOD mom.

I am employed, and for the most part happily so. Despite complaints about level of responsibility, managers, etc, I enjoy my current role. I earn enough to live comfortably. I have ample vacation time and make good use of it. My work schedule is flexible when I need it to be. I realize these are things that many people don’t have, and I am very very thankful for them. My job and its benefits (and ditto for Jose) are what keeps us in Houston. We know we’ve got it good.

I have a full life. More hobbies and interests than I will ever have time for, but I love it that way and prefer it to the opposite. And I love our home. I see bigger, newer houses going up down the street and daydream about buying one, but our house is cozy and inviting and if it’s never totally clean, that just means it is well and truly lived in.

I have talked to several people before about my tendency to fixate on “what’s next.” High school was easy, because there was college. Then college was fine because there was grad school. Then a job. Then marriage. Then a baby. There has always been a “next thing” to focus on, some life milestone to wait for, some achievement or experience with which to compare my life to that of friends and strangers alike.

But right now, I’m good. Things are good.

DECEMBER 7 / What was your biggest accomplishment this year?

No question: finishing my digital media studies master’s degree at long last. (It only took 9 years!)

DECEMBER 7 / Show your Self(ie) — Post your favorite picture of yourself from 2014, self-portrait or otherwise!

I went back over my Instagram feed for the entire year and my favorite selfie was taken way back on January 2 right after I’d gotten a fresh haircut. Nice! Time for a new favorite photo, I think. (Or a new haircut!)