I just want to "Be"

Well my friends, my journey with the pants has come to an end after a month of ups and downs. I kept trying to look for the magic in the pants, but needed to remember that the pants are here to teach us something that we don't necessarily know we need to learn. So here goes...I learned that I need to do a better job of just being... I truly think we all struggle as wives, mothers, and friends with the balancing acting of caring for others while making sure our own needs are met. Personally, I am such a doer I have a really hard time just being in the moment. This month has been such a learning experience and as I think back on other life lessons it came to me that when I finished my internship at Children's Hospital (13 yrs ago) I asked my supervisor for an honest piece of constructive criticism, something I could take with me that would impact my work. Her words of wisdom were, "Liz, you need to slow down, stop and smell the roses. I often feel that you are so goal driven, you miss the little pieces along the way. It isn't enough to be detailed oriented, because you lose the process piece and put all of your energies into the content. Just take a deep breath, slow down, and live in the moment."
Flash ahead to 2007, in the car, talking with my 7 yr old about her plans for the summer. After all I'm working, Rick is working, we need to make sure we have coverage for Hannah. Don't want her to be bored and under foot. As we talked about last summer's plans (drama camp, art camp, science/math camp, reading camp, tumbles camp, etc etc etc), she looked at me and said, "Mom, this summer I just want to be"..."I don't want to go all over the place, I want to wake up and play with friends if they ask, go to lunch with you during your breaks, hang out with dad when he has time, can't I just be?"
For goodness gracious, can someone just knock me over the head a bit harder?!? So, my lesson for this month is to take the heartfelt advice offered up 13 yrs ago my wonderful supervisor and reiterated by my 7 yr old daughter... I just need to slow down...and Be...