Letting the little things go

“The key to a good life is this: If you're not going to talk about something during the last hour of your life, then don't make it a top priority during your lifetime.”
― Richard Carlson

I love this quote. Why spend all of our valuable time worrying and stressing over silly and often menial things? But we do, don't we? I mean, it is very easy to worry and over analyse over trivial things that are not so important. Especially as parents. 

In living up to my name The Imperfect Housewife, I have recently been experiencing 'panic attacks'. And boy, are those ugly! My body has been reacting to my stress levels (which have been through the roof) as I have been placing too much importance on the 'little things'. A few weeks ago, I decided that I needed to let them go and true to this quote, I am going to spend my time focused on the things that will matter to me in my last hour. And what are they? They are simply two things. Just two! (not the million things that plague me constantly) My relationship with God and my family.

I can almost imagine myself at my deathbed asking myself these questions...
"Did I pray for my children enough?"
"Did I love and honour my husband enough?"
"Did I make the most of the opportunities given to me?"
"Did I honour God with my life?"
 And I don't think these ones will be on my mind...
"Did I serve up vegetables with every meal?"
"Did I let my children watch too much TV?"
"Did I lose my baby weight quickly enough?"
"Did I do the right thing by letting my 7mth old have puree foods and not forcing the 'lumpy food' thing right away?"

So at the moment I am working on letting those little things go... and already the world seems brighter, happier and easier. When I feel that my thoughts are becoming worried or stressed over silly things I try simple breathing techniques to calm down and then shift my focus elsewhere. I've realised that being anxious about the little things just sets me up to fail constantly. Who can get every single tiny thing right all the time? Looking around me at the moment I can see clothes on the floor, cups in the living room, toys everywhere, the dishes aren't done, my hair is a mess... I could go on all day. But I chose to be focused on myself (who hasn't had a panic attack today), my toddler who is playing happily with the dress-up box (who is fed, clothed, has left the house today and has had a sleep) and my baby who just woke up and is happily playing before her dinner. And I am working hard at being a Godly example to my family. And this is what is the most important to me. This is what I will be thinking about during my final hour.

My top priorities are God and my family. What are yours?