A few weeks ago I kept thinking to myself, “Man, our life is kind of boring. Nothing big or exciting is going on. It is just the two of us. What are we doing? Can we be doing something or living a life that is more exciting and full?”
But… then I realized something.
Growing up, I used to think that life would always be fun and exciting. Right? When you are growing up there are constantly things to be excited about and you are always looking forward to the next exciting stage, the big moments! Life will never be boring!
Well that is somewhat true. As I write this on my 25th birthday, I am realizing and learning that life is sometimes a little… well a little boring. Okay maybe not boring, but there isn’t always a lot going on. You know what I mean.
Life. Life really happens in the mundane, everyday moments. Not necessarily the big ones.
The big moments in life like getting married, having babies, job promotions, times for celebration are memorable. And you live life through those too! They do not happen every day, though.
What are things that happen every day? Small stories, big laughs, conversations, surprises, family, friends. Everyday occurrences.
As I said above, I used to think life would continually grow in excitement and there would be something new to focus on all of the time. Maybe some lives are like that, but currently, not mine.
It is just Brendan and I, and about the most exciting thing that happens is if we go to a new restaurant. No children, no dogs.
…Currently begging my husband for a dog though (haha). It will happen eventually.
You know what I also realized? I think that is one of the best parts of life.
One of the things I love most about my life is laughter. If you know me personally you know that I have a big, loud, contagious laugh. And my husband, Brendan, makes me belly laugh, so hard, every day. I absolutely love it. I mean COME ON! Who doesn’t love to laugh!
We have conversations, laugh really hard, go to the grocery store, drink wine, look at pictures of dogs on the internet; everyday things.
These everyday moments make life so much more fun. The big celebration times come and go so quickly! But living in the ordinary is where it’s at.
One of my favorite moments with Brendan is before we were married. It is the famous “Sauté Pan” story. It goes a little something like this…
It was late on a Friday night and Brendan and I were registering for wedding gifts at Bed, Bath, & Beyond. We were walking around the store, up and down the aisles trying to figure out what kitchen tools, utensils, and pans to get. We kept reading all the signs that listed the items in the kitchen sets. We look over and over again at the pan listed as “Saute pan”. And we kept thinking to ourselves, “What the heck is a saute pan?”
*Now, on the signs there was no little accented dash over the e.
Now, after probably 10-15 minutes of looking around, Brendan turns to me and goes… “Erin! We are idiots! It’s a SAUTÉ pan NOT a ‘SOUGHT’ pan!” And we both busted out laughing.
I probably think about that memory a few times a week. Or every time I use my Saute pan.
So, as I get older I find joy in the mundane, normal, everyday occurrences; to live life joyously in ALL the moments is the absolute best.
So maybe today, if you feel like your life is not the most exciting or adventurous I want you to remember something. Life happens through the everyday, mundane moments.
Thanks for reading,
~Erin
The Short Wife 