#32: Romanticizing Your Real Life

Ashley explores how to enjoy and appreciate your everyday life by shifting perspective, practicing gratitude, and making intentional choices. She emphasizes the importance of slowing down, owning your life, and trusting in God's presence in the ordinary moments.

In This Episode: 

• The importance of romanticizing everyday life
• Practicing deep gratitude in daily routines
• Ownership and responsibility in shaping your life
• The role of faith and God's presence in ordinary moments
• Practical ways to slow down and enjoy the present

Chapters:
00:00
Romanticizing Real Life

05:00
Ownership and Change

06:59
Living Authentically

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome to the Let Me Help Podcast, a lifestyle podcast packed with simple life hacks, organizational tips, real talk on faith and marriage, homeschooling insights, parenting encouragement, health and wellness conversations, and so much more. Whether you're busy juggling life, consumed in the chaos, or just craving some clarity, it's my intention to help make your life a little smoother. One episode at a time.

SPEAKER_00 0:26

Okay, coming off of last week's conversation, we talked about creating a life you don't need a vacation from. And I've been thinking about that a lot. Because if that's true, then I think the next layer of that is this. How do we actually start enjoying the life we already have? Not someday, not when things calm down, not when everything feels easier, but right now, in the middle of it. And I think one of the ways we do that is by learning how to romanticize our real life, not in a fake way, not in an everything is perfect kind of way, but in a grounded, intentional, this is my life and I'm going to show up for it kind of way. I think a lot of us don't even realize how much we're waiting, waiting for the next trip, waiting for the next season, the next version of life that feels lighter and easier. And in the meantime, our actual life, our everyday life, just starts to feel like something we're pushing through. But life doesn't suddenly become enjoyable. We have to learn how to see it differently. And for me, that shift really comes back to gratitude, not the quick surface level kind, but the kind that slows you down enough to recognize that God is here too, in the ordinary moments, in the routines, even in the hard, stretched seasons. His goodness isn't reserved for the highlights of our life. It's built into today, into the everyday moments. And that starts to change how you move through your day. It's little things like opening the windows in the morning, right? Even if it's still a little chilly here in Minnesota, just let that fresh air in. It's not reaching for your phone right away and scrolling and looking at someone else's life, but stepping outside, even briefly, and just being present for the beautiful morning that the Lord has given us again. Looks like slowing down in the kitchen and realizing that making meals isn't just another task to rush through or check off your list. It's how you're caring for your family. It's sitting together at the table and choosing connection over distraction, turning off the TV, listening to one another. Here's something I've been thinking about a lot lately. We have more ownership over our lives than sometimes we want to admit. Because if we're in control and we have the ownership, then we're also responsible when it's not going well, when it's not working the way we wanted it to. But one of the best parts of being an adult is that we get to choose. We get to choose the rhythm of our days. We get to choose how our home feels, the way we speak to each other, the environment that we're creating in our homes. I've been talking with Ellery about this a lot lately, about how growing up isn't just about responsibility. It's actually about freedom, getting to build a life that reflects what matters most to you. And homeschooling is such a clear example of that for us, because a lot of people hear that we homeschool and they say something like, That's just not an option for us. But the truth is, most things are options. They just come with trade-offs. And I think it's important to say that out loud because every choice will cost you something. Public school might cost you time and flexibility. Homeschool might cost you financial comfort. We're feeling that in a real way right now because this season has been heavy in the sense of living on one income. My husband's been laid off through the winter. We're stepping into this next chapter of life. Like there's real pressure there. And I've been feeling it. But even in that, I still come back to this deep sense of gratitude for the life we've built and are continuing to build. Because the freedom, the time together, the ability to shape our days, that matters to me more than the things we've had to give up. And I think that's the heart of this conversation. Romanticizing your life doesn't mean pretending it's perfect. Okay? We're not living in denial here. It means choosing to see the value in it, anyways. It means deciding this life, as it is, is worth being present for. And if it's not, you need to switch some things up. So if something feels off in your life right now, pay attention to that. Not with shame, but with ownership, because you're not as stuck as you think you are. You might need to make some changes. You might need to sacrifice something, but you do have the ability to shift the direction of your life. And when you start to slow down and really see your life, you'll start to notice something beautiful. God didn't just design the big moments to matter. He filled your everyday life with purpose too. So today, I want you to slow down a little bit. Open up the windows, put your phone down, sit a little longer at the table, let those conversations go a little deeper. And remind yourself that this is your life and it's worth showing up for. If things aren't going the way that you had planned, that's okay. That's okay. We all get to places in our life where we think, huh, made a mistake here, not really sure how we ended up here. The difference is change it. Take ownership and change it. Figure out some different opportunities. Strategize with your partner, with your kids. Talk it out. Dream. Dream big. Think about, okay, yeah, let's talk about moving away if that's really what we're thinking about doing. Let's really talk about it. Let's weigh the pros, let's weigh the cons. Let's figure this out together. What would it look like if we stayed? What would it look like to start a different business? What would it look like to change jobs? What would it look like to sign up for something new? What would it look like to reopen something that once was closed that brought you joy at one point in time? Maybe you just need to breathe. Maybe this season doesn't need any big moves. Maybe you just need to ground yourself and calm down and spend a little time in nature, outside, with the Lord, with your loved ones. I don't know what it is for you. And the truth is, it's not the same thing for any of us. And I think that's where we get so messed up. Because in today's world with reels and posts and highlights from everybody else in the world, we see things that look fun. But for us, it might be torture. One person's best day could be the next person's prison. Don't get stuck in the trap of comparing yourself to somebody else. You only get one life to live, and the Lord has completely given it to you. He trusts you. You need to trust and rely on him for guidance, and you need to listen to your inner voice that tells you what makes you happy, what lights you up, what makes you feel like you're living on purpose, what makes you feel like you're using your God-given gifts to create a better world around you. This is your life, and it is worth showing up for.

SPEAKER_01 7:15

Thanks for listening. I hope there was something that blessed you in today's episode. If you enjoyed it, would you take a second to subscribe to the show or leave a quick review? It helps so much. And if you know someone who could use a little boost, please share this episode with them. Until next time, take care and thanks for letting me help.