Enjoy the little things...

The music filled my head as I drove my car along the winding river road on that dark and snowy night.  I had just left my grandpa's wake and was headed home... alone.....  My husband had the stomach flu, we had moved into our new house the day before my grandpa passed, and I was 5 1/2 months pregnant.  The baby boy inside me kicked along with the song, as I cried and listened to the words.

Mama told me when I was young
Come sit beside me, my only son
And listen closely to what I say.
And if you do this
It will help you some sunny day.
Take your time... Don't live too fast,
Troubles will come and they will pass.
Go find a woman and you'll find love,
And don't forget son,
There is someone up above.

I've always found comfort in songs... the words of the artists resonating with me through even my darkest times. Lynyrd Skynyrd's Simple Man is one of those songs that just happens to play on the radio at the precise moment that I need a reminder that I need to slow down, to recharge, to relax.

Forget your lust for the rich man's gold
All that you need is in your soul,
And you can do this if you try.
All that I want for you my son,
Is to be satisfied.

Yesterday, I was asked if I was going to apply for a management position at work. I knew the answer was no, but my boss pressed on. While I did consider the job, I felt that personally this was not the best time for that kind of career move for me.  I did not elaborate. She immediately started in on how I must "Lean In" (a Sheryl Sandberg TED talk) and not let my family life get in the way of my leadership ability. What she didn't (or couldn't) grasp is that while the pay raise would be nice, the responsibility that comes with this particular new role wasn't something that I was interested in at this point in life. People have remarked for years (one even did so yesterday) that they don't know how I do it - full time job, three kids (a set of twins no less!), etc etc.  It's hard not to feel like super mom when I get those comments.  However, what they seem to not understand is that now my life is busier than ever! The kids are in school, which means nights are filled with dinner, homework, reading, soccer practice, book club.... and that's just 1st and 3rd grades!  I've got meetings for twin club and PTO (I sit on the board for both), my pants are too tight because there is no time to run, there are crumbs under the kitchen table because I haven't swept in three days, and no one has any clean socks. At work, I already hop from meeting to meeting, deal with students and staff, as well as coordinate graduation and the commencement ceremony (not to mention all the "other duties as assigned").  Do I really want more?

Today I drove to work on a bright and sunny fall day, watching the sun shine brightly on the leaves in all their color-changing glory,  and my go-to life song played on:

Boy, don't you worry.
You'll find yourself.
Follow your heart,
And nothing else.
You can do this,
If you try.
All that I want for you my son,
Is to be satisfied. 

And that is it. I am satisfied.  My life is overfilling with, well everything at the moment. I don't need to add more. I can be who I am, and I am happy with it. And while I fully support the working mother who strives for more, who wants to be president, I know that's not the life for me. Sometimes I don't have to do it all. I am so completely content with my life, floor crumbs and all.

And be a simple kind of man.
Be something you love and understand.
Baby, be a simple kind of man.