Hello ♡,
I am coming to you fresh off one of the hardest days I have had in a while. Everything is fine, but you know when the wheels just kind of fall off and you look around and wonder, “what is happening here??” It was that kind of day. You ever had a day like that?
I have been thinking a lot about the little messages we keep in our hearts and minds, and the important reminders we return to when we are stressed - I had to pull on a few yesterday.
Every day I make my youngest daughter’s lunch, and every day I put a little note in it.
I found a huge value pack on Amazon, and I pick one each day and write a personal note to her on the back. The thing about lunchbox notes is they are distilled truths. They are boiled down to the most important short note, there’s just not room for more. And they are a loving connection in the middle of the day.
Often the notes say, “I love you.” And very often the notes include something we had just been talking about - a worry of hers, a big day at school, a fear, a hope, an affirmation from her mommy about how wonderful she is.
And this little girl keeps them - ALL. They’re everywhere now. On her desk at home, piled in the bottom of her lunchbox, in her backpack. She keeps them, and she rereads her favorites - the ones that made it to her desk in her room.
And as I wrangled my way through my hard day where I oscillated between shame, stick-to-it-ness, hard conversations, some not stellar parenting and then some much better parenting - I thought about these little notes. And I thought about the little reminders I needed to return to as I wrestled through a hard day, and notes I find that are often helpful for so many of us.
So here is your list of lunchbox notes, or reminders for your soul, written to you from me. We all need a lunchbox note sometimes.
Please take what is useful, leave the rest, and add your own.
You’re doing better than you think.
You are human, it’s ok to mess up and try again.
You’re not the only one who feels like this.
I believe in you.
You don’t have to be perfect to be loved.
Keep going, and rest as you need.
You’re not alone.
You are more than your bad day.
It’s ok to quit something that isn’t for you.
I wish you could see yourself from my perspective.
It’s ok to say no when you need to, you’re not a superhero.
You’re going to be ok.
This feeling won’t last forever.
You deserve gentleness too.
You can forgive yourself and start again.
You are loved.
Now, what else do you need reminding of today? Lunchbox notes are short and to the point - what does your soul need to hear today?
Love and gratitude,
Monica
Also…
The Still Becoming Podcast will be taking a break for Advent - I look forward to bringing you some wonderful episodes in the New Year!
Things to Share…
I have an article out on news stands in Mantra Magazine - all about how it’s never too late and you’re not too old. I usually find the magazine at the grocery store! Here’s a link to their site too.
So powerful and helpful!!
We all need lunchbox notes👍👏
This is so heartfelt and so meaningful to me. I hope your day improved. Mine, with your lunchbox notes, certainly has.
My note to you:
YES, YOU CAN, AND YOU WILL! AND YOU ARE FINE!
Sending hugs.