Finding Joy In Chaos

My 25th wedding anniversary came and went as we were neck deep in projects on our new home build. We did, however, take the time for a date night to celebrate each other. While I appreciate the significance of a day such as our wedding anniversary, I am much more aware of the value of our everyday lives over these past 25 years. I didn’t expect a big vacation or an extravagant gift. We have so much to be grateful for and I love that we live a life that we don’t have to take a vacation just to get away from it all.

Whether the current situation you find yourself in, like me, is one of chaos, it is perfectly okay to let the chaos be what it is and not wish it away. I look at each day as a fresh opportunity to find joy, but in all honesty it can be hard some times. Looking for what can be controlled and letting the rest go is an easy way to relieve stress in your life. I believe that God knows every step before we take it but it’s still up to us to take those steps. Focusing too much on what is out of your control will make you weary and frustrated.

In our 25 years of marriage there have been plenty of moments where it seemed there was nothing within our control and we were living life on autopilot. The best moments and memories were those times of intention where there was a mix of delightful surprises and planned elements. Removing the word chaos from our vocabulary and replacing it with more positive terms can help. I like to use spontaneity and adventure instead.

As much as we tried to plan perfect vacations to “create” special memories, all the planning in the world could never make up for the wonderful memories made during our everyday lives. If you’ve ever planned a vacation to the tiniest detail and expected things to go perfectly according to your plan, then you and I have something in common. But if those well laid plans turned into chaos and disarray, you know all too well how many of my family vacations have gone.

It didn’t matter if my kids were preschool age or high school age, there were circumstances that caused us to question why we thought it was even a remotely good idea to take that trip. But deciding to focus on the good times and let the bad moments go was what made each and every one of our vacations memorable. In real life we find the sweetest “don’t blink” moments. These times cannot be planned or scheduled. You have to look for these special times and remember them well. I find that journaling about everyday life can help preserve those special memories that otherwise can escape the mind. If you’ve not taken time to record written memories, you should give it a try.