Rediscover Yourself This Year!

 

It is the time of year where we all make those ridiculous New Year’s Resolutions. We proclaim to the world that we are going to eat healthier, work out more, and be a better person. I am guilty of declaring “A New Year, A New Me”. There are always some over-achievers who stick with those resolutions. Or so they claim. I am not one of those people. Very seldom do I make resolutions, but I do occasionally challenge myself. In 2019, I committed to a thirty-day yoga challenge. I completed it. I actually did yoga for 365 days straight. This is possibly the one time in my life that I could be considered an over-achiever. My resolution this year is another challenge, but I want my female readers to take this challenge with me.

As wives and mothers, we sacrifice so many things for our families. It is our decision and we do it out of love. We do it with grace. Last year families made more sacrifices than ever. No matter what sacrifice we have made, sometimes we feel unappreciated. The sacrifices made are different for each woman, but there is one we all have in common. We have all lost a part of our identity.

When I got married, I went from being Mary to Lucky’s wife. A few years later, I became Fiona’s mom, and then John’s mom. Often I am known as Mrs. McAteer (to which I politely remind people that is my mother-in-law’s name). Whenever possible, I encourage teens to call me Mary. It feels right to me.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the title of mommy and wife; but sometimes I miss being Mary. Sometimes I forget who I was before I had my family. I forget the things that made me who I was. I left behind things that I enjoyed doing. I set aside some of my dreams, to ensure that others’ dreams could come true. Nobody asked me to do this, it somehow happened. It is what mothers do, even when they do not realize it. If you look within yourself, I am sure you can find a part of yourself that you have lost. Lately, I have realized that these missing pieces aren’t gone. They are waiting for you to rediscover them.

This year I am challenging myself and my readers to rediscover a part of themselves. One that you have hidden away. Reacquaint yourselves with positive aspects of your life pre-mommy life. If you used to draw, pick up a pencil. If the club was your thing, gather the girls and dance the night away. Find a piece of you that has been missing, we all have at least one. Most importantly, I challenge you to realize that it is alright to put yourself first (without feeling guilty). Carving time out for yourself can only strengthen your relationship with your family. We may even discover something new about ourselves.