.: superhero status :.

what is your definition of a superhero???

someone who can maintain a clean house? someone who makes home cooked meals from scratch every night? someone who keeps themselves in shape and 'manicured'? someone who makes a good living? the best parent? the ideal partner? a combination of all of these?!

i thought of this post yesterday as i was on my hands and knees scrubbing our floors. my last day at UCare was thursday and i start my new job on Monday. i really had intentions to relax most of the day, but after taking another barre class (awesome) followed by a hot yoga class, i got home and couldn't stop cleaning! with pandora rocking, i spent 3 1/2 hours cleaning - it was actually almost embarrassing the things that i cleaned. i legitimately cannot sit still unless the house it put together (drew thinks it's some type of condition).

i find myself trying to do it all from keeping the house clean, to keeping myself healthy and in shape (and i should probably try to look good while doing it), to having a secure, well-paying job and making sure drew and i eat 'whole foods' meals on a regular basis. can it get to be to much??? heck yea!

ok, let's get serious though. there are days when we feel a little under appreciated, right? the feeling when you spend a couple hours cleaning or preparing a meal and you don't get 'enough' acknowledgement for it OR the place is a disaster about an hour after your family gets home? seriously, making my toes curl just thinking about it.

i'll admit, yesterday, there were a few moments of resentment when i thought, 'why should i have to do this on my day off and all alone?!' or 'this place BETTER stay clean for longer than 24 hours!'. then i kept thinking and thought of a book that a friend gave me, 'The Happiness Project' (which i HIGHLY recommend especially to those superhero females trying to do it all, but like you have time to read a book, right?!). well, there is a quote that i think of time and time again when i am feeling overworked and under appreciated:.

'you have to do the work for yourself. if you do it for other people, you end up wanting them to acknowledge it and to be grateful and to give you credit. if you do it for yourself, you don't expect other people to react in a particular way.'

another confession, 9 times out of 10 we put the work on ourselves, right? we pride ourselves in maintaining all of these things so the ones we love don't have to worry about it, right? we also silently hope for acknowledgement, a prize or reward sometimes, right?

so, to all you self proclaimed, self directed superheroes, i notice you! grab a glass of wine, take a deep breath and acknowledge to yourself all of the great things you accomplish in a day. if you can become satisfied with self recognition, you will notice that all those 'chores' will be fulfilling rather than degrading.

onwards and upwards, my friends!

always striving for more,

dee b.


p.s. a great quote from my friend that you have to laugh at -'boys are blind to dirt'. holy s, too true!