Life is difficult. ~ M. Scott Peck #quote
A bazillion years ago I was searching for the meaning of life. What that sentence lacks in originality, I make up for with empathy for seekers. Flailing, suffering and confused at the time, now I can’t remember how the book came into my hands. But I do remember this hyper-clearly; I opened the book to the first page and the opening sentence read, “Life is difficult.” The truth is powerful.
I devoured The Road Less Traveled, Timeless Edition: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth by M. Scott Peck
Fast forward several years and I was reading, On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Zinsser
But let’s take something obviously difficult, like running an Iron Man. Wouldn’t it be foolish to think that one day I could wake up, put on a cute athletic outfit, and complete an Iron Man? Of course it would, although wearing a cute athletic outfit sounds lovely. I know, and our culture knows, that running an Iron Man is crazy hard and takes a ton of training, mental toughness, and a determined focus.
I propose that family life is even more difficult than running an Iron Man or writing, with all due respect for the difficulty of both, and that as individuals and as a culture we completely underestimate what it takes to live family life well. While an Iron Man is a grueling 17 hours, family life starts at birth and gruels along until death. While writing is a tedious and creative discipline, family life contains an infinite number of details, variables, and attacks on discipline. There are days when I feel more up to writing a novel on my iPhone while running an Iron Man than I do to meet the demands of my family life.
When I’m depleted and exhausted I’m convinced that my state has to do with those people called relatives. Those people who love you and who drive you crazy and who want you to wash their socks. Those people who keep promises, break promises, and are confused when you are crying. Those people who build you up, let you down, and are the inspiration for such cheesy truisms as “Families are like fudge, mostly sweet with a few nuts.” Those people who tolerate me being those people to them.
Which gets me to the picture of the pretty yellow daffodils behind the cup of sparkling water with fresh berries. Today was A Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
So I tweeted out , 
, bought myself some sunshiny flowers and berries and chocolate and cheese and artisan bread and I stopped. For a fresh start.
And to remember that I don’t read, write, speak and consult about family life because my family life is easy or that I’m oh so perfect at it. My motivation is quite the opposite. I do these things because family life is difficult. And I hope that truth is, and I am, an encouragement to you.
Love ~~~~~~~~ Angie Mc
Family Love Does More 
Hands raised in the air giving a long Hoosier drawl “Aaaammmmen, Sister!!”
Great post!!
LikeLike
Thanks, sister! I know you know of what I speak!!! And your encouragement means the world to me 🙂 Here’s to a fresh start. Can I have an Amen? 0h….you already gave me one 🙂
LikeLike
Very well said!
LikeLike
Oh, Linda, thank you so much for your encouragement! Sort of explains the White Chocolate Ale, lol.
LikeLike
Haha! Yes, it did put a definite light on the subject.
LikeLike
Beautiful and touching. You are right, family life may be difficult but the tough moments are worthwhile as the nice moments are better and spread light and happiness all around.
Thanks for your comment at Syl´s blog> Hugs to you!!!
Aquileana 😉
LikeLike
Awww thank you, Aquileana. You are so right ❤ And you are wlecome 🙂
LikeLike
Beautifully stated Angie. Family life and life in general can be difficult. Sometimes, we have to stop and breathe, then refresh ourselves for a new start. Thanks for sharing, always.
LikeLike
You’re welcome, Sylvester, and when you the poet say that I stated something beautifully…wow. Thank you, kindly. And as always, your comment is right on 🙂
And for those who missed my reblog of Sylvester’s blog, check it out here https://familyanswersfast.wordpress.com/2014/02/18/to-see-sunshine-everyday/ Thanks!
LikeLike
Thank you Angie. We had a little sunshine here today, so I can send some your way.
LikeLike
Ahhh family…… I love this post. You do such good work Angie. Wow!
Sent from my iPad
>
LikeLike
Ha! You know of those people of whom I speak!!! Thanks for the encouragement, Mom. I’ll need to get you on this blog as a guest soon. What part of “family life is difficult” do you want to tackle? Or should we talk about better things like your home cooking? 🙂
LikeLike
Love the post Angie. I just had one of those weekends where I was down in the dumps and feeling a bit overwhelmed with family/work demands. I let it all take over Sunday and spent my day being grumpy and stressed. I woke up Monday mad at myself for wasting a day of my life being grumpy. We really do have to just step back and breathe! We are so hard on ourselves so often that we miss out on enjoyable moments. I really have to work on this myself! Thank you for sharing.
LikeLike
Kesha, you perfectly describe the vicious cycle that feeds upon itself and can lead to despair. It’s like the curse of hard workers, right? Well, thank Goodness we can cheer each other onto not only hard work victory (like your bathroom remodel), but also self care along the way. We got this ❤
LikeLike
GREAT post, Mom. Your humanity (thank you Zinsser) just drips out talking about this tough topic. Keep going, keep fighting, and keep giving yourself some space to breathe/pretty reminders that life isn’t always difficult. ❤
LikeLike
Thank you, Mrs. Pope 🙂 Coming from you, that means so much. Today…is a new…day!
LikeLike
Oh Angie! *hugs* Whatever it was that made you feel that you needed that fresh start, I hope is all resolved now, or at least contained. 🙂
That’s the thing, isn’t it? Yes, like is difficult, and it’s all about the “cowboy up” aspect of ourselves that often gets us through it. Sometimes I think that’s one of the tricks to relationships – not to make life easy, (although that can be awesome if possible!) but to help one another cowboy up as best they can.
You’re doing great, my friend!
LikeLike
(((Ness))) thanks so much and yes, that storm, while still drizzling, is passing by. Even cowgirls get knocked off their horses sometimes and thank Goodness for those who help get ’em back up on that horse! That made me think of a true old cowboy I knew who told me, “Hold on tight to the bucking bronco and you won’t get hurt.” When that bronco called life is bucking, I’m all in. And friends sure do help ❤
LikeLike
Well…..I am late to this party!! I hear ya’…all the way down here in the south!! And you know what I’m going to say, don’t you?? I LOVE THAT YOU WENT AND GOT SOMETHING PRETTY AND YUMMY for the do-over!!! Daffodils are my favorite flower! Been doing some deep breathing down here, too. Lent came early. God’s will be done! Hugs my friend!
LikeLike
The power of PRETTY & YUMMY! And how nice to know that you love daffodils 🙂 Sending hugs down south just for you, (((Jen)))
LikeLike