Welcome to summer! What a gorgeous May we just lived through. It’s so nice to see everything green and full of life again. As I sit here pregnant and as moody as ever I can’t help but be a little jealous of all the fun everyone is having. Don’t get me wrong, this miracle of life is very much worth it and I am so excited to meet our little bundle of joy but pregnancy doesn’t always come with “fun” blinders and constant warm fuzzy feelings. I see people hiking to the mountaintops, fishing, camping, slurping slushies (can’t do that with gestational diabetes), jumping off docks and all the fun stuff that comes with warm weather and summer. I am not as mobile these days to do most of those activities and being the intense person that I am, modifying these activities is sometimes hard for me to find enjoyment in. Whether it be pregnancy or some other life event or journey, learning moderation and balance is very valuable but usually not that fun. In my particular case pregnancy has taught me patients both with other people and myself. It’s helped enhance my coping skills and personal judgment, and yes, I am learning all about moderation, adjustment and forgiveness. Going through a new journey in life is scary and for me, it took some of my self-confidence away and I am sure it will again and again! But through this journey I have seen growth in myself which I am grateful for. One of the hardest yet rewarding things I’ve done is ask for help and guidance. It’s difficult to admit when I need it but is worth it in the end because I attain or get closer to the solution or goal I am looking to achieve. I am so used to being able to handle everything on my own or come up with a solution, or lose sleep on my behalf so others don’t have to, but at this time in my life I have to shift a little bit. My goals are mostly the same but the way I go about achieving them are a little different and are taking a little getting used to. Nobody is perfect (even though I try to be) and through this experience I’ve learned to forgive myself of failures and instead of engaging in self pity, I am trying to learn from them and move forward. Failure whether it’s small or large is a very hard thing for me to deal with but as life becomes more unpredictable and the responsibility of a wee one arises, failure or imperfection will probably come more frequently. So please, whatever your personal journey or struggle in life may be, good on you, keep putting one foot in front of the other and please don’t give up. I’ll spare you the millions of inspirational quotes I’ve heard but please reach out, ask for help when you need it and keep living life.
Anna Hoke is the graphic designer and owner of Southeast Living Magazine. She can be reached at anna@seakliving.com.
