I’m continuing my series of posts revealing what I’ll be focusing on in this blog for 2018. The year of Es already includes Entertaining and Exploring and Endure. Lots of fun and special possibilities there, but I think today’s reveal is perhaps less flashy but more of a source for some of my best blogging content:

Doesn’t get much more everyday than stickers decorating my leggings… doesn’t get much more emblematic of the joys amid the chaos of raising a toddler either…

E is for Everyday. Not to be confused with every day. See, “every day” describes when something is done, specifically when you do something daily- or if you want to be a grammar nerd, you might call it an adverbial phrase, whereas “everyday” is an adjective that tells describes that something you are talking about. Everyday joys, everyday clothes… these little aspects of everyday life that might be overlooked but that sometimes hit me like a lightening bolt are what I’m looking forward to reflecting on and writing about in 2018.
This past year has taught me about how many everyday moments I was missing in years past due to an overcrowded schedule and being caught up in the rush of trying to do it all and impress people. It wasn’t until I started believing in my inherent value and worth that I started to see the everyday blessings. I think, perhaps, the best way to explain why I love this focus so much is with a little excerpt from my favorite play- Our Town (some of you may be surprised it’s not Shakespeare- many of his plays are a close second) The character of Emily is looking at her life and realizing all the precious things that she missed because they were so commonplace and everyday:

Emily: But, just for a moment now we’re all together. Mama, just for a moment we’re happy. Let’s really look at one another!…It goes so fast. We don’t have time to look at one another. I didn’t realize. So all that was going on and we never noticed…. Oh, earth,you are too wonderful for anybody to realize you. Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it–every,every minute?
Stage Manager: No. (pause) The saints and poets, maybe they do some.

This picture is from the production of Our Town I was in at Pepperdine. It’s not a scene related to the passage I quoted, but it always makes me smile to see me as the smallest person on the stage, but projecting just as much love as my taller costars…

Full disclosure- I cut out pieces of Emily’s speech. She has a whole part where she lists of beautiful but everyday things- sunflowers, coffee, hot baths, clocks ticking… but the idea of slowing down, of really seeing the people around us, and of living like a saint or poet (or both) is something that has resonated with me since I first did the play in undergrad. And it’s a core thought that draws me back to writing again and again so hopefully it will provide some good blogging material!

The final E will be revealed in the new year (full disclosure, I haven’t completely decided on it… but part of that is because I think I’ll be bringing back monthly themes next year so some of the words I’m deciding between may end up as monthly themes 🙂 I hope everyone has a fun and safe end to 2017. Part of me can’t believe we made it! Here’s to a happy new year. LOVE. Love. love. 🙂