Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Stories.

...Watching a story is not the same as actually living a story. When you are watching a story you can watch a character struggle and enjoy it. But when you are that character, when you're actually living inside the story, it's not so fun. 
---Donald Miller in A Million Miles In A Thousand Years.
I've been spending time reading Donald Miller this summer. And although I hate to admit this to anyone, I realize that I am not enjoying my story. Whose fault is that?
I think I can fake a pretty good story most days, or at least an entertaining one. 
But I'm realizing that I'm not whole heartedly living that story. Am I grateful for it? Do I enjoy it?
I mean who among us can turn a repetitive Tuesday into a good story? Wake up early, get breakfast for the kids, clean up the dishes, clean up the kids, do some laundry, repeat with lunch, repeat with snack, repeat with dinner, fall into bed.
Photo by Talia.
The ambitions we have will become the stories we live. 
-Donald Miller

Ambitions?! Most of my ambitions are to make it through each day and exhale once my children are asleep. There are seasons for that, but when you've been living that story longer than you can remember, you realize that you need some new ambitions.  
Photo by Talia, lick courtesy of Ella.

This last week I made some decisions about my story. I am creating new ambitions, and I am ready to live them no matter how uncomfortable they make me.  It's time to live the best story I am able to live. That probably means I won't be here as often, but I'll still be around. Maybe even more so. 

18 comments:

  1. Wow. Tears. Probably because I can relate. My story is similar to the examples you share...and my human need to "look good"....house, laundry, do-it-all. I think it distracts others from seeing the not-so-good chapters of my story. Thanks for your thought provoking post. I may have to add that book to my summer reading list.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow...from the "stories" shared over the last days, I think many of us are on the same page. Blessings to you as you find additional ambition! I can't wait to hear about it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Exactly how I am feeling and exactly what I needed to hear!

    ReplyDelete
  4. good luck on your journey!

    ReplyDelete
  5. i miss you.
    i think we need a visit.
    i'll bring the coffee, you bring the cheesecake.
    and remember, i'm always, always, always, just a phone call away!
    love you more than ice cream.
    xoxoxoxoxxxoo

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think I want to get that book. Thanks for the posting! Lots of love to you from Florida! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've been meaning to read that book. I love how good literature can inspire my life. We all need reminders that our lives are for living, not just getting through the days.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kimberlee, I miss you already ... I'm re-evaluating my story as well & finding it uncomfortable as well ... I look forward to hearing you share you journey ... enjoy my friend! :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'd like to respectfully submit my application for cheerleader. I can't fit in the uniform anymore but I absolutely have the lungs!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow, you put into words so eloquently (or you and Donald Miller I guess)what I have been feeling for quite some time now but just haven't been able to verbalize that well. I could relate so much to this post. Especially this week. For some reason, I have been very (maybe overly) reflective about my 'story' even to the point of considering a trip back to my hometown to revisit some of it and hopefully to gain some more understanding and perspective. Maybe a mid-life crisis, maybe it's the heat effecting me but we'll see. Thanks for sharing and best of luck with yours!

    ReplyDelete
  11. please please fit blogging in if you are able. I love following your story.

    ReplyDelete
  12. loved that book.
    and still looking forward to yours..."life/work/wife/mom-hood: so much more than what i wore"? :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I hate to admit it too, but I'm not enjoying my story either. There's so much I force myself to do, appointments, therapy, work that there isn't much of anything left for ME. Which leaves me resentful and snappy. I'll be getting a copy of this book soon!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have been reading your Blog for quite some time, but have never left a comment. HOWEVER, this message spoke to me in so many ways, I had to! I think so many people are in the same boat but it's nice to hear that I'm not the only one living the same story day in and day out. I think I might just get Donald Miller's book and change my ambitions, too! THANKS!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh, friend.
    I relate.
    Sometimes when we're so close to our own story, it's hard to see the beauty in those mundane Tuesdays.
    I'm working on my new ambitions, too.
    You and your story are lovely.
    Miss you.

    -keri

    ReplyDelete
  16. wow! i haven't been around for a while either. Just got so tied up in blog land and repetitive tuesdays that i needed a break.
    I miss you, hope your new ambitions are working out. take care :) will hopefully get to meet you one day at craft weekend x

    ReplyDelete
  17. I hope your ambitions and life story are going smoothly; however, I miss your blogs. carry on.

    ReplyDelete
  18. How did I miss this post? I never thought I would feel this way about my life either but even before I read this post (and your post today) I had started to think these thoughts. Some nights after everyone has gotten up from the table and I'm standing in the kitchen alone contemplating what's ahead of me I just get sad. This is NOT what I had planned. But honestly I don't know what "IT" is, just that it's not THIS. I love my family more than life itself but I think I always saw things differently. I think I saw myself differently. It's not enough for me to just get through each day. I also need to rethink my life. Rewrite my story. Stop being so afraid to do what I want. Thanks for being so real. We all appreciate these moments of brilliance from an unassuming friend or virtual stranger. :) God bless.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts with Thumbnails