The Same Heart

I often tell people that my son Evan taught me a lot about communicating emotions. I was always so amazed by his ability to be so honest about whatever it was that he was feeling. It started when he was about 2 or 3. While he often communicated his emotions by throwing fits, he also would just say them out loud. There were times in my life where I would bottle up how I felt and just wish I could be as honest as he was about my feelings. 

His emotions were big. 

“I don't like that.”

“I’m jealous of…”

“I really want that..”

“Don’t do that..”

10 or so years later and he still has not changed. He may not throw himself on the floor and have a tantrum anymore, but he still feels in a very big way.

Last Saturday I decided to take my two big kids out to lunch. We pull into the parking lot of our destination and walk into the restaurant. I glance over at my son and his eyes are glassy. 

“What’s wrong babe?”

“Do you not like this restaurant? We can totally go somewhere else.”

He takes a deep breath - 

“It’s not that mom…I am just upset because..while we were driving up here I was looking out of my window and noticed all of the trash and litter on the road. There was also trash in the parking lots out there. I just…it’s people. I just wish that people cared more about what was given to them. It makes me upset.”

I immediately had flashbacks to when he was just 3 years old yelling across a different parking lot at a stranger who plucked some leaves off of a tree 

“HEY!!! STOP HURTING THAT TREE!!!” The Lorax would be proud.

I reached over and just hugged him.  He felt better and ate well.

It hit me later on that night how Evan and I felt exactly the same, just about different things. 

My heart becomes so heavy when I see the potential in a person and I wish they would just take care of what they were given. 

Now health does not seem as simple as picking up garbage, but it can be.

Let’s pretend for a moment that you were picking up trash and cleaning up your home.

First, the desire to pick it up would have to be there. Have you ever cleaned when you really didn't want to? I have, and it usually just looks like putting a pile of whatever out of sight and out of mind. 

Second, you would not go room to room and pick every single thing up. You would pick it up one thing and go one room at a time.

As you were picking up you would probably assess whether or not something was worth keeping or getting rid of. You would assess its value, reflect on where it came from, maybe even get a little emotional and decide to hold onto it just for a little longer. 

At the end of the cleaning session there is usually an overwhelming feeling of calmness and peace. A feeling of a job well done. A freedom from worry, stress, anxiety. You would probably even light your favorite candle, crash on the couch and let out a huge sigh of relief. (HUGE SHOUT OUT to My2Scents who fills my home with the best smelling candles after a long day of cleaning. My favorites are Cinnamon Chai and the new Bourbon Butterscotch).

Now look at all of that through the lens of health and wellness. 

It starts with a desire to get healthy. You would tackle one habit at a time in one area of your life at a time. While improving your diet you may assess which eating habits you want to keep and which ones you want to get rid of. At the end of each day, each week, each month and each year - if you do all of that consistently you will feel accomplished, calm, and at peace. 

We can admit that some of that is not fun. I personally have never found enjoyment in the cleaning, only in the end result - and that is why I keep on doing it.

Trying to live a healthy life is the same way. It does not always feel good, it is not always fun. It’s work - but the end result is worth it. 

If my boy who is 12 gets it, we all should too.

Let’s start feeling - in a big way.

Let’s be honest about how we feel - out loud.

Let’s take care of what we have - before it’s too late.

Love y’all.

Jess