I’ve realised over the past few months that I’ve got myself into a bit of a bind. With a steady stream of ‘”go large or go home” success stories coming at me via my Facebook feed, I’ve fallen into the trap of forgetting how important small is.
I’ve decided to be small.
Small is manageable, small is considered, small is carefully curated. Small means you start things.
I appreciate that some people are very good at being big, but I find big quite overwhelming. I think that (and this is rather silly, but nonetheless true) because I’m a big person with a big personality, perhaps I thought that I had to have a big life too. But living big is not the same thing as being big.
I see living big as requiring a certain ambition and recognition of achievement that I just don’t think is for me after all. All my life I craved praise from others and it has only been recently that I’ve begun to realise that it’s not recognition that motivates me, it’s helping others. That perhaps I am not a striver, but a seeker.
I don’t need to be first. I don’t need to be the best. I don’t even need to be in the running.
A small life, with time for others and time for me. It feels like a small life might be a life that cuts through the noise and simply chooses what is truly important. Achievable and satisfying, and doesn’t that sound lovely?
Every now and then I write something that compels someone to write me back to thank me for making a difference in her life. I write back immediately to say, “You’re my person today. You’re the reason I wrote what I wrote.”
Small is soooo good! I feel very similar to you. As a large person I feel that I take up space and so assume that I need BIG ambitions and success but small and simple is what really floats my boat.
Snap! I’m glad to hear you say the same thing about being big and feeling like you should live big, Bron. I thought it seemed a bit of a reach… but it feels true. Or maybe it’s a Bron thing? 🙂
How do you always get into my head and know exactly what I’m thinking, generally before I even do? It’s witchcraft!
Yes to starting Small, and No to being overwhelmed at Big. Small can grow into Big in small steps, but not if it doesn’t start in the first place.
xx
You know I can see inside your brain, right?
Small steps are essential for any kind of living. I’ve starting making small steps to up my self care at the moment, if I tackled it as a whole, I would be feeling far to guilty to do so, taking it step by small step makes is manageable. Small steps make for a big whole. Lovely post xx
I wish so much that you didn’t feel guilty about taking care of your own wellbeing, Nic. If I could eradicate that from every mum’s thinking than I would. Taking care of yourself is the best thing you could ever do for your family.
Love this Bron! Ive decided to be small too!
It’s nice in here.
I’m totally with you on this. I’ve purposefully shrunk my world in the last year. My workload, my circle of friends, the stuff I give my time and energy to. I want to give more to less x x
I’m so glad, Mim. I think it is needed by so many of us. I didn’t purposely arrive at this decision, but I did have a realisation that I have always lived small, but haven’t thought small – does that make sense? I seem to have always known that this is what I really wanted.
It does make sense – and it’s so very positive. Contentment is underrated:) x
It totally is. x
Well lovely, as it happen, You are my reason today. Thankyou for this x
That makes me all kinds of happy, Magda. Be small to live big, I say. x
You have a big heart!
🙂 That I do. x
Small is so under-rated. Small is the fucking BOMB.
I wish I had paid more attention to it all along, but onward. x
I love this Bron – I’m sorry it has been a while as I haven’t been blogging at all – I’m so glad I read this as it really resonates with me. Small is definitely beautiful and meaningful. X
Nice to see you, Kathy. x
I think it’s that at times in your life, and these can swing about depending on the issue or the moment, you are big and ambitious and best and a striver. At other times you’re small and treading softly and mindful and seeking. I think you’re these two things – not one. I can be striving and seeking at the very same time, sometimes. Sometimes I am helping and directing. You can be big and small, loud and quiet, calm and messy, sometimes all.at.the.same.time.
You can, we are. You always manage to clarify things for me a little more, Katie. x
I couldn’t love this more!
And I couldn’t love you more for saying so. Thank you. x
This resonates with me so much Bron. You have shared your words so perfectly that there’s nothing else to say other than, shalom. xoxo
xxx
So perfectly written Bron – and so true xx
I feel different lately. I feel enough. x
So true. Small helps me be intentional and authentic.
Interesting read Bron! What I’ve learned in past 3+ years is how I am constantly evolving. I remember thinking over & over during that time “why dont I feel like me? Anymore.. Then again realised we are constantly changing & evolving. Sometimes a life event or change in circumstances will drive us to either change due to insight or let in happen. My cancer diagnosis was somewhat a catalyst for change but i’m not on any mission about this. What I knew was I would recover well & use my strengths that had been hiding behind fear for 3 years. That’s my current & confident status and it feels great!
Love this post hard. I enjoy being small, although what might appear small to others are of big importance and value to me.
Yes, yes, yes! Small, simple and slowly are working for me right now. “A small life, with time for others and time for me.” I think that’s everything right there. Thanks Bron xx
Bron, I love this post x