I’m sharing something I learned from reading Brene Brown years ago and it has always stuck with me. Did I do it every day? No. Do I wish I had? Yes. I hope someone reading this will benefit from it and it’s never too late to start. Many days I come home alone and while some days, I can’t wait to put on my pajamas and relish in the silence, many days I still allow this gray cloud to follow me in and envelope the rest of my evening. This year, my mission is to change that… I’m preaching to the choir here!
Words based from Brene Brown with a little Crazy Girl mixed in:
When you get home to your spouse, your partner, your kids, your dog, anyone on the other side of that door…
before you open the door,
put a smile on your face!
It doesn’t matter how your day went. It doesn’t what you’re doing next. It doesn’t matter if you’re starving. It doesn’t matter if they’re waiting on supper or if you know you’re going to have to step over three piles of laundry as you walk in.
For 30 seconds, at least pretend that you’re elated to see them (it will likely turn into reality in seconds!).
Make them feel like you’ve been looking forward to getting back home.
After all, they’re your favorite person / people / fur baby in the whole world. I hope.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “That seems like a cheesy, tiny thing, man. Hardly an earth-shattering revelation.”
But your attitude sets the tone for the rest of the evening within 15 seconds of walking in the door.
And you know, that applies to those who are even going home alone. Your attitude sets the tone for the rest of the evening.
So really, it’s not tiny at all. It’s a huge deal.
Because you come home every day. And the things you do every day grind on you.
Jordan Peterson says if you can fix 25 little things like “coming home,” you will have an extraordinary life.
Taking your family to Disneyland is insignificant.
Your kid’s expensive birthday party will be forgotten within weeks.
Coming home?
That’s your whole life. It’s the stuff memories are made of. When we’re gone, do you want to be remembered for planning that trip or remembered because, “My Mama always came through that door laughing” or “My Dad would always come through the door and tickle me as soon as he walked in.”
Fix it.
Start today.
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