Motherhood and Alchemy
My book club is reading "The Alchemist" this month, and I am so surprised that I've never read this book before. I just finished it yesterday, and I absolutely loved it. I was entranced through the entire book, a feeling that I've had before while reading my favorite book of all time, "The Little Prince." Both of these books present a spiritual and magical view of life, in which every little thing is important and connected and necessary to make life go on. "The Alchemist" really got me thinking about my own life, my "destiny", and my purpose here on earth. Thankfully, I felt reassured that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing.
People learn early in their lives what is their reason for being. (The Alchemist, p24)
As far back as I can remember, I have always loved caring for things. First my dolls and teddy bears, then my pets, my little cousins, and hundreds of children that I either babysat or looked after in a daycare setting. The nurturing role came so easily to me, and it has always felt so natural and comfortable. Before I had my own children, I worked as a caregiver for disabled children. I would bathe them, feed them, give them their medicine, do their physical therapy, even hold them through their constant seizures. It was hard, draining work, but it made me feel so good. I knew I was using my strengths to do something useful that contributed to this world in a special way. Above all, what I had to give was a patient and gentle love that these children felt and responded to. I have always felt that in some way, these strengths of mine could be used to change the world, even in a very small way.
People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they feel that they don't deserve them, or that they'll be unable to achieve them. (p130)
I was lucky (blessed) to marry young and fulfill my dream of becoming a mother. It's been more difficult and challenging than I ever knew it could be, and a thousand times more fulfilling. My children have a way of nudging me in the exact direction I don't want to go, and therefore forcing me to learn and grow as a person every day. Even though I feel like my decision to be a young mother is the right one for me and my family, I sometimes feel judged by the rest of the world. Women have been mothers for millions of years so I'm in good company, but during this feminist and egalitarian day and age, choosing motherhood over a career is rare. Sometimes even looked down upon. A woman is supposed to strive for power and recognition, to prove that we are worthy of the place our fore-mothers achieved for us by fighting for women's rights. I think it is very important for women to continue to strive for equal rights, but I don't think that choosing to mother a child is any less important than choosing to be a doctor, lawyer, or politician. I feel like using my strengths to raise children with values that I think are important, I will be doing my part to influence the world in a positive way.
When you are loved, you can do anything in creation. When you are loved, there's no need at all to understand what's happening, because everything happens within you. (p147)
Feeling misunderstood and judged for my life choices is difficult, but it doesn't change what I know about myself. I am a nurturing, caring, patient person, and those are traits that are sadly missing from too many people I know. I want to give those to my children. I want to teach them that any doctor, lawyer, or politician would do better with these traits. I want to teach them that with love you can change the world. If you approach people with love they can feel it, even if they don't understand it. It impacts them and changes them, sometimes with nothing more than a smile. Even more important, I want to teach my children that if you love yourself, anything is possible.
Every search begins with beginners luck and ends with the victor's being severely tested. (p132)
Becoming a mother was the easy part. But staying true to myself and teaching my children with confidence and consistency will never be simple. Crazy things are thrown in my path all the time that force me to look at myself in new ways. I am faced with choices that will either strengthen me or throw me completely off course. Self-doubt and self-deprecation will always be struggles for me that I must constantly work through. In a world full of selfishness and cruelty, people who fight to be beacons of goodness and light will always have to overcome many hurdles, and I think mothers are the brightest beacons there are.
Listen to your heart. It knows all things, because it came from the Soul of the World, and it will one day return there. (p127)
I am grateful that I have had trust in myself to do what I think is right. By following my heart, I have found myself in the most wonderful of places. I am happy, I am fulfilled, I am growing, and I am teaching. I am using my strengths to be a positive force in this world, and I truly believe that good things will happen because of that. They already have.
The boy and his heart had become friends, and neither was capable now of betraying the other. (p134)
People learn early in their lives what is their reason for being. (The Alchemist, p24)
As far back as I can remember, I have always loved caring for things. First my dolls and teddy bears, then my pets, my little cousins, and hundreds of children that I either babysat or looked after in a daycare setting. The nurturing role came so easily to me, and it has always felt so natural and comfortable. Before I had my own children, I worked as a caregiver for disabled children. I would bathe them, feed them, give them their medicine, do their physical therapy, even hold them through their constant seizures. It was hard, draining work, but it made me feel so good. I knew I was using my strengths to do something useful that contributed to this world in a special way. Above all, what I had to give was a patient and gentle love that these children felt and responded to. I have always felt that in some way, these strengths of mine could be used to change the world, even in a very small way.
People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they feel that they don't deserve them, or that they'll be unable to achieve them. (p130)
I was lucky (blessed) to marry young and fulfill my dream of becoming a mother. It's been more difficult and challenging than I ever knew it could be, and a thousand times more fulfilling. My children have a way of nudging me in the exact direction I don't want to go, and therefore forcing me to learn and grow as a person every day. Even though I feel like my decision to be a young mother is the right one for me and my family, I sometimes feel judged by the rest of the world. Women have been mothers for millions of years so I'm in good company, but during this feminist and egalitarian day and age, choosing motherhood over a career is rare. Sometimes even looked down upon. A woman is supposed to strive for power and recognition, to prove that we are worthy of the place our fore-mothers achieved for us by fighting for women's rights. I think it is very important for women to continue to strive for equal rights, but I don't think that choosing to mother a child is any less important than choosing to be a doctor, lawyer, or politician. I feel like using my strengths to raise children with values that I think are important, I will be doing my part to influence the world in a positive way.
When you are loved, you can do anything in creation. When you are loved, there's no need at all to understand what's happening, because everything happens within you. (p147)
Feeling misunderstood and judged for my life choices is difficult, but it doesn't change what I know about myself. I am a nurturing, caring, patient person, and those are traits that are sadly missing from too many people I know. I want to give those to my children. I want to teach them that any doctor, lawyer, or politician would do better with these traits. I want to teach them that with love you can change the world. If you approach people with love they can feel it, even if they don't understand it. It impacts them and changes them, sometimes with nothing more than a smile. Even more important, I want to teach my children that if you love yourself, anything is possible.
Every search begins with beginners luck and ends with the victor's being severely tested. (p132)
Becoming a mother was the easy part. But staying true to myself and teaching my children with confidence and consistency will never be simple. Crazy things are thrown in my path all the time that force me to look at myself in new ways. I am faced with choices that will either strengthen me or throw me completely off course. Self-doubt and self-deprecation will always be struggles for me that I must constantly work through. In a world full of selfishness and cruelty, people who fight to be beacons of goodness and light will always have to overcome many hurdles, and I think mothers are the brightest beacons there are.
Listen to your heart. It knows all things, because it came from the Soul of the World, and it will one day return there. (p127)
I am grateful that I have had trust in myself to do what I think is right. By following my heart, I have found myself in the most wonderful of places. I am happy, I am fulfilled, I am growing, and I am teaching. I am using my strengths to be a positive force in this world, and I truly believe that good things will happen because of that. They already have.
The boy and his heart had become friends, and neither was capable now of betraying the other. (p134)
December 27, 2005