My day began like any other day. I got up, prayed and read my Bible. I did a few minutes on the bicycle, put a load of laundry in the washing machine. I had breakfast, sipped my coffee, and found myself at my familiar station… in front of the kitchen sink with my gloved hands submerged in hot sudsy water.
The predictability of the day grated against my nerves.
I could anticipate that before the dishes were done, my youngest daughter would whine that she’s hungry again and that my oldest daughter would come barrelling down the stairs and demand breakfast.
I knew that after breakfast, we would start homeschooling and that about 10 am we would stop for a snack and smoothie break. I would move the laundry from the washing machine to the dryer, and would resume our homeschooling.
The girls would listen to an audiobook while I fold the day’s laundry. Then I would make lunch, and we would eat together.
I could anticipate that I would remind my girls to eat with their mouths closed and for them to keep their feet under the table.
I knew that after lunch, I would find myself in front of the sink again, washing another load of dishes. I also knew that they would have a rest time with a show while I do some writing. Then, I would ride the exercise bike while reading, clean one of the bathrooms, and start making supper.
Yes, my life is this predictable.
I couldn’t help but wonder, why is my life so boring? Why is it so mundane?
I used to go to concerts, movies, and outings with friends. Now, I’m lucky if I get out of the house once a week for yoga. The boredom of my days is alleviated by trips to the grocery store, or if I’m ambitious, a visit to the library or park.
My life is far from exciting. One day rolls into the next, and then the next. There is seldom a difference other than the occasional birthday celebration or a family outing.
As I pondered this, I suddenly had a thought that shook me to the core.
My mundane… my boring… my everyday life is something that so many people in this world would envy. My mundane means that we are okay.
Yes, my dishwasher is broken, and I have to wash my dishes by hand, but at least I have food to eat.
We have clothing to be washed. We have the freedom to educate at home.
We have a home that needs to be cleaned.
My mundane means that my children are growing up in a peaceful and calm environment.
My mundane means we can walk to the playground and the library with 99% confidence that we will return home, alive.
My mundane means we aren’t plagued by terror.
Terror.
This word has been on the lips of many lately.
Terror.
Unless you live it, you can’t possibly imagine it.
Terror.
Guilt fills me for condemning the mundane. As a Christian, I am to be thankful in all things and all circumstances. (1Thesselonians 5:18) Yet, I forget… I forget to look at my life through the lens of blessing and abundance.
Yes, my mundane is a blessing.
My mundane is a privilege.
My mundane means that we are alive.
I am thankful for the mundane because my mundane means that we are okay.
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Definitely also thankful for the mundane here, as well and thank you for the gentle reminder why I am indeed so very thankful for it, too! Hugs xoxo ;)
Thank you so much my friend! It’s my pleasure to share the thankful spirit.
Just so you know I’ve tried visiting you the past couple of days and keep on getting a 521 error?! I hope it resolves soon. I miss visiting in your neck of the woods. <3
Wishing you a lovely day.
You are absolutely right Jennifer!
My mom used to say when you are tired of doing the laundry or washing the dishes, be grateful you have clothes to wear and food to eat.
Thank you for sharing these lovely thoughts. Hugs!
This epiphany I had was HUGE (and unexpected). I needed this attitude shift. There is MUCH to be thankful for.
Jennifer you completely described my life as well and how I’ve been feeling. The mundane. But thank you for giving me a new perspective on things. I just had a light bulb moment. We sometimes take for granted the lives we have and how privileged we are to live in free, peaceful countries. Thank you for making me more thankful for the mundane.
xoxo
I’m so happy that my shift in attitude is contagious. It was quite the epiphany and I’m so glad I can look at even the little things and be thankful. I’m much happier too!
This is so good friend!! It’s all about attitude and being thankful for life, including the mundane! Thanks for speaking this truth and encouraging us all how good we have it! We are alive and healthy! Praise God for that
I’m so glad you enjoyed this my friend!
We have it so good… I’m saddened that sometimes I forget that but I’m thankful to the Lord that I’m reminded to have a spirit of thankfulness and contentment.
So true. And as I was reading this, I was thinking that if I were one of your daughters, I would love that “boring” daily routine! It definitely feels safe, cozy, and calm. I always loved seeing my mom not far away, doing the dishes or making dinner while I played. Too many children in the world don’t get to have that kind of security. Great post Jennifer <3
You are so very sweet – to say that. I hope they find comfort in my mundane activities.
I completely agree. I think we get caught up in our days sometimes and we forget how lucky we are. What a great reminder this is to be thankful for what we consider a regular and “boring” day!
I’m so glad this resonated with you Colleen. There is much to be thankful for… especially when we look for it.
As we’re heading into Thanksgiving we have so much to be thankful for. While we may envy others we have to sometimes remember that we don’t know what life they’re living. My mundane is someone else’s excitement. Such a lot to take into perspective.
Yes, our mundane could be all someone is yearning for in their life.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this Amanda.
Yes so much. Mundane means no terror. It’s astonishing. I have trouble with the mundane, but I haven’t seen a lot of it lately. Not sure why. I think I’m always working and that’s why! Although I struggle every day around 3-6pm this time of year. The dishes. The dinner. The baths. Ugh. Yes.
I’m glad this post resonated with you… and you’re not the only one who struggles with 3-6, oh my…!
It really is a privilege! You don’t appreciate the mundane until some crisis hits – and maybe they’re not all bad because they help us remember that.
Yes, I hope to enjoy the mundane outside of crisis. It takes intention and reflection.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Jenny!
Oh my goodness. YES, Jennifer! Amen. I will take my mundane any day of the week. Also? These little mundane things are what our children will remember and be thankful for in years to come!
Yes, you’re so right… this mundane is their childhood and that’s something to be treasured.
Jennifer, you spoke right to my heart with this one. Oh how I sometimes despise the mundane. Father, help us to gain a new perspective — that gratitude adjustment that we so badly need. Thank you, my friend. You inspire me. Sending you hugs and a whole lot of sparkle. :-)
I’m teaching myself, with God’s grace, to embrace the mundane because it’s really not mundane after all!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this Marva. I’m delighted that it spoke to you.
Beautiful words, as always.. <3 I was just thinking about something similar to this lately.. you said it like I was thinking it :)
I’m delighted that this resonated with you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the blessing in the mundane.
Yes. This post speaks to me in many ways. We are blessed, lucky and privileged that our normal routine is just that…a routine. Life gets busy in the routine and sometimes we forget how we are completely fortunate. Happy Thanksgiving. xoxo
I’m delighted this resonated with you, Caryn.
Yes, we are so fortunate and the mundane should be welcomed rather than shunned.
I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving, my friend.
Hi Jen, mundane certainly has it’s upside! It’s predictable, which as you pointed out may not be the most exciting life to lead, but at least it’s safe .
Thinking about it I quite like mundane, given the alternative.
xx
Yes, the mundane is so good when we look at the bigger picture – especially at what possible alternatives could be!
Thank you for sharing this. I often think there is so much beauty in the mundane!
I’m glad you enjoyed this. I’m learning to appreciate the mundane more every day.
Beautifully put, Jennifer. You’re right: the mundane can be overlooked as something of a bore, but like you, I’m thankful for it. It forces me to slow down, to take stock of what’s important, and most of all to realize that not everyone is as lucky…to be ok, to be boring. So I’m with you. I’ll continue to live my boring and predictable life (which btw, minus the homeschooling, reads very similar to yours); because at the very least I have something to live for, and that is worth any excitement on my book on any day.
Thank you for sharing :) Hope you’ve had a great week!
I’m glad you enjoyed this Maria – and that you could identify with my thoughts about the mundane. I imagine the older I get, the more content I’ll be with the mundane. Regardless, I’m thankful for what I have.
It’s nice to be reminded about the bigger picture. Thanks for the post and doing that. It’s so easy to complain about not having time for this or wishing you could do that but in the end it’s not what really matters. I too am grateful for the mundane.
I’m glad my perspective was thought-provoking for you. The bigger picture is so important. We often get caught up in wanting “more” but there’s so much we can (and should) be thankful for.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.
Oh my goodness!! Amen, girl! I’ve been struggling with this since I left my job and thinking how “small” my life has become. Part if it is because friends have planted those thoughts in my head…”What do you do all day?” “Aren’t you lonely?” “It must be so strange to be home all the time with nothing to do?” To be fair, my boys are in pre-school but there’s hardly “nothing to do”. Wonderful, wonderful post, Jennifer! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and making me grateful all over again for my small and mundane life. Happy New Year!
I’m so glad this resonated with you Jenna. Sometimes we just need a slight shift in perspective to see just how fortunate we really are.
Happy New Year to you too!
Excellent mundane article Jenny, you keep producing material that will surely help someone with boredom seizures to start counting their blessings.