Micah and Christine

This was a speech given at my former college. I sat on the stage, listening to an unassuming man impart life wisdom on the new graduates. What was so important that has stuck with me for several years?

"Never make a deal, unless it's good for both parties."

Okay, maybe it's not revolutionary. But I have thought about it time and time again... we need to watch out for ourselves, certainly, but isn't it also important to watch out for other people, even people we only see once in our lives?

I think Craigslist is great. We had several baby items that we never used, and others we used and don't want to store until we have our next child. (For example, we never used the crib or bedding we purchased, because Charlotte co-slept, then we used a pack n play for a short time, and now she's in an adult bed.)

I listed several of those items on Craigslist, and just got rid of the last one today. I now have one less thing cluttering my house and $20 in my pocket, and someone who needed it now has bedding for her expected baby.

After selling off the bedding, I smiled the whole way to work. 

What do you think of when you hear that word? I think of excess, wealth, abundance... the first words that come to mind have quite positive meaning. Yet the things overflowing lately in my life have not seemed so rich.

Things like: an overflowing email inbox, overflowing blog reader, dirty dishes overflowing all over our counters. Clean clothes piling up, dirty clothes piling up, my work to-do list growing faster than I can cross things off, bills to pay, too much work, not enough time... you get the picture.

I could easily take a week "off" right now JUST to clean the house. 

It makes me tired. It makes me want to vent and cry and blow off steam. So, even in my exhaustion, I need to take a step back and remind myself of the many OTHER ways that my life is overflowing.

Things like: having three different people love us enough to spend the time and money to fly 600+ miles to come see us; my dear husband who works so hard and gets up with Charlotte more mornings than his share, just so I can sleep in a little; my fascinating, funny, monkey-girl Charlotte who brings me endless joy; a job where I am encouraged when I do well and challenged to do better; the means to pay for all of our needs and quite a few of our wants; health and happiness.

Life is overflowing right now... I choose to focus on the wealth of happiness in my life.