“Life can be pretty tough sometimes, right?” my friend Ava texted me last week.
“Definitely,” I replied, feeling the weight of our shared frustrations. We were trying to coordinate a get-together for the upcoming weekend, but family commitments, travel, and various obligations were making it challenging.
I miss Ava, and she feels the same. It’s disappointing when life interferes with friendships.
This morning, I woke up to a series of household mishaps—a leaking sink, a shower door that decided to unhinge, and my dog made a mess on my son Ethan’s piano book. To top it off, the other dog (or maybe it was the same one?) had an unfortunate incident all over the living room and kitchen. The morning was a chaotic rush to drop the kids off at school, leaving me with a lingering sense of frustration and sadness. Some days just feel heavy.
“Parenting is exhausting,” my friend Sarah texted me later in the day. “It’s like I’ve jumped off a cliff without a safety net!”
“That’s exactly how I feel most days,” I replied, resonating with her sentiment.
The questions can be overwhelming: Are the kids getting enough sleep? Are we spending sufficient time reading together? How old is too old for a beloved blankie and thumb-sucking? Should I allow my son to play football? Are they involved in too many activities, or not enough? Each new phase brings fresh anxieties, making me feel like I’m plummeting without a parachute. Parenting is challenging.
Life is filled with difficulties—parenting, friendships, relationships, work. Sometimes it all feels like a heavy burden. Acknowledging that life can be hard is a precarious admission. It’s not always easy to speak about struggles in the present tense; we often prefer to discuss them after we’ve emerged from the darkness, when we’re able to celebrate “Hallelujah moments” of triumph.
But what about those times when we’re still in the thick of it? When we’re grappling with our challenges and feeling lost? Where are the stories that say, “Me too,” during those moments?
I’ve realized that when life gets tough, it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that I’m alone in my struggles. The truth is that many beautiful aspects of life come with their own set of challenges. Parenting, marriage, and friendships can all be demanding, especially when juggling the responsibilities of daily life. Adulting itself is often a tough road to navigate.
It’s essential to recognize that the beautiful facets of life—parenting, relationships, and friendship—also come with their challenges. Acknowledging the grittiness doesn’t diminish their value; instead, it enriches our understanding. Life’s complexities do not take away from its beauty, and it’s perfectly fine to admit, “Sometimes it’s so hard.”
Every day, I’m reminded of how precious life is, even on the rough days. I express gratitude for my children, despite the chaos of parenting. I appreciate my husband, family, and friends, even when life gets busy and our expressions of love don’t always translate perfectly.
Tonight, Ava and I were discussing plans to meet up. With a distance of about a thousand miles between us and the usual hustle and bustle of life, getting together can be tough. We agreed that, yes, life can be very challenging. We don’t always want to admit it when we’re in the midst of it. We began planning for a girls’ weekend soon.
“Noodle salad!” I texted, referencing our favorite movie quote from As Good as It Gets. Jack Nicholson’s character remarked, “Some of us have great stories, pretty stories that take place at lakes with boats and friends and noodle salad. Just no one in this car.”
We had watched that film together nearly two decades ago at my grandparents’ lake house. There were boats, friends, and of course, noodle salad—good memories.
The reality is that sometimes life is hard. Sometimes it feels overwhelmingly difficult. Yet, there are also moments filled with joy—sunny days, laughter, and good times shared over noodle salad. Most of life is a blend of both.
Perhaps the key lies in discovering ways to create joyful moments even when feeling as though we’re stepping off a cliff. Maybe we should savor those noodle salad moments—even if the mayo is heavy and the kids are arguing for pizza instead. And by “noodle salad,” perhaps I mean indulging in cookie dough while sipping wine and messaging a friend about how tough it all feels.
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In summary, life can be a blend of beautiful and tough moments, and it’s okay to acknowledge both sides. Finding joy amidst the challenges can lead to richer experiences and deeper connections.