Roles

What role are you playing in life?  If your life were a sitcom or heaven forbid, a drama, what would your part be?

Are you the dutiful, but wisecracking wife?

Are you the struggling parent trying to keep it all together?

Or are you the one who has the perfect life with a daily dose of humor?

The biggest problem with the roles we play is sometimes it's just that:  we're playing them.  Acting the part, instead of feeling whatever it is we're supposed to be feeling.  Our identity becomes so wrapped up in the role that you lose the part of you that is real.

You following me?

Sometimes we get so stuck in the role we're playing, constantly in character, and we forget the world is going to change, grow, and move on without us.

Motherhood (or one could say parenthood) is the biggest role in many of our lives.  And please don't misunderstand me... that role is the most important role you will ever have.  However, it is all consuming and as the kids get older, the role changes drastically.  That is the space I'm in right now.  I'm still a mom, and will ALWAYS love being a mom, but the role isn't 24/7 like it used to be.  Ten years ago was a lot different than it is now, and I'll admit I was a little unprepared for how quickly it all changed.  I think I loved the role ten years ago because I didn't have to think too much about the rest of life.  It was just all about the kids and what they needed.  

Sure, I found myself resentful sometimes... okay a lot of the time, but I took a lot of pride in it also.  

So I come back to this:  We are not the roles we are playing.  Those roles are a part of us, they they shouldn't define us.  The things that define us are the things that will always be a part of our lives no matter what else changes.  

The hobbies.

The likes and dislikes.

The things we do when no one is around.

Sports.

If you're wandering around wondering what to do, start digging in to see what interests you.  Check out the people in your life who inspire you and find out what they are doing.  Take a class.  Join a club.  Become involved in a cause you believe in.  Volunteer.

You never know what new role will fit till you try it out.  Will it be easy?  Absolutely not.  It will be hard and challenge you, but that is when you figure out who you really are.  

Life is good.

And you are worth the effort.

Happy Tuesday :)