Love, Auntie Blog
  • HOME SWEET HOME
  • About
  • Blog
  • CATEGORIES
  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE
  • ADULTING & ENCOURAGEMENT
  • ADULTING & ANXIETY
  • ADULTING & CHILDREN
  • ADULTING & STYLE
  • HOME SWEET HOME
  • About
  • Blog
  • CATEGORIES
  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE
  • ADULTING & ENCOURAGEMENT
  • ADULTING & ANXIETY
  • ADULTING & CHILDREN
  • ADULTING & STYLE
Picture

Aging: Don't Settle (Even On The Little Things) When You Don't Have To...

9/18/2019

25 Comments

 
Picture
I remember one week our living room was three different paint colors. I was a teenager at the time. We had just gotten a new couch, and my Mom, being extremely artistic, wanted to get the right match that would harmonize the look of our family area. When the newest coat of paint went up, my Mom declared it was not “right.” So, she proceeded to buy more paint and give it another go, because that’s how my Mom is. She taught me the importance of going back and getting what I want and making it right, no matter how seemingly insignificant “it” is. (Obviously, within reason. We clearly have restraints on our time and resources.)

Her desire is to be proactive, even about the details. Even if it involves retracing my steps and doing something again.

I’d come home tired from a full day of clothing shopping (which any gal knows can be challenging and discouraging) only to realize I should have gotten those black pants that were on sale. Without hesitating, my Mom would help me plan a trip back to the store, even getting up early with me so we could get to the doors right as they opened.

Walls and pants are minor, but my Mom even carried this attitude with the more important things in life. When she said something she regretted, she didn’t just chalk it up as over and done. She would make a point to sit down with me and explain why she said what she said, and what she should have said instead. You can’t erase what you say, but you can try, and my Mom was determined to do so.

Her attitude grew into me as I grew older. With age comes more knowledge and therefore more ability to have a “do over.” I think that it’s beneficial that as we get older, we don’t stay passive, but recognize that when we have the power to change even the little things, we should. Because our life is made up of the little things, is it not?
​
And as my Mom demonstrated to me, our life is worth it. 
Picture
What about you?
​Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.
I love hearing from you!
25 Comments
Laurie
9/20/2019 09:14:02 am

Love this, Gina!

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
9/20/2019 10:20:53 am

Thanks so much!

Reply
daphne link
9/20/2019 02:18:21 pm

loved this post! it really puts some things into perspective for me...and I truly agree that as we get older and realize we can't undo things we can definitely improve them..and age shouldn't be a problem for that! loved it!

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
9/22/2019 02:13:01 am

Thanks so much! Yes - It's all about improvement! :D

Reply
Lene Andersen link
9/20/2019 05:36:07 pm

Your mom sounds like an awesome person. In many ways, like my mother. I learned a lot about living from her. And I love this post — because you and your mom are right. There’s no need to settle at all.

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
9/22/2019 02:14:56 am

Thanks! And yes, we can learn so much from Moms - and anyone we live with!

Reply
Betsy Carter link
9/21/2019 05:42:46 am

Gina, I can totally relate to the three paint colors in the living room. So me! I agree we all have the power to change, even if it's just one tiny thing. It can make a big difference.

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
9/22/2019 02:15:46 am

Aw :) Thanks for your comment! Colors are super important ;)

Reply
Despite Pain link
9/21/2019 08:01:28 am

What a great attitude. Your Mum was correct, we shouldn't just settle with something if we can do something about it. And very often we can.

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
9/22/2019 02:16:33 am

Yes! And I have to remind myself of this. I think it's easy to forget the possibilities we have before us!

Reply
Alexandra link
9/21/2019 03:20:47 pm

It seems that your mom has a lot of wisdom. Taking time to explain things is important to do with kids from trauma as well. That way they know why something happened the way it did and that they will be safe. We also do something called do-overs, which I need to do more. When they keep making a mistake we ask them what they should have done instead and then have them do it again the right way.

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
9/22/2019 02:17:10 am

"Do-overs"! Love THAT!

Reply
Kelly Martin
9/22/2019 03:12:52 am

Your mum is definitely right. I don’t think we should settle for second best if we have the ability to change things.

Reply
Lyanna Soria link
9/22/2019 05:30:21 am

I love the mindset your mom has. If we have the chance to change things why not go for it instead of letting it be? It's great that she takes time to explain why she did what she did.

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
9/22/2019 08:54:17 am

Yes! I'm so glad too. Thanks for your comment!

Reply
Carol link
9/22/2019 08:03:22 am

What a great lesson to learn and a great reminder. It’s so easy to let things go.

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
9/22/2019 08:55:41 am

Yes! Thanks for your comment! And you are right - it's easy to settle!

Reply
Sonia Seivwright link
9/22/2019 01:01:52 pm

We learn new things from our parents everyday, especially our mothers. My mum is 49. but dont let aging stops her from living her life. I'm just trying to learn from her.

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
9/26/2019 05:11:27 am

That's fantastic! Thanks for sharing about your mum!

Reply
Live Learn Better link
9/22/2019 06:11:16 pm

Life is what you make out of it and sometimes stepping out of our comfort zone brings out the best out of us. Your mum is a great woman!

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
9/26/2019 05:12:08 am

It's so true - stepping out of our comfort zone can be a good thing. But a hard thing! :D

Reply
Sara Green link
9/23/2019 04:10:08 pm

I find it incredible that you grew up in an environment that fostered creativity and growth. As humans, we are full of failures and mistakes. But, it seems that your mom didn’t grow them as failures but moments to learn, grow, and educate.

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
9/26/2019 05:10:43 am

Thank you - yes! She did model that. Unfortunately I still have lots of room for improvement!

Reply
Erica (The Prepping Wife) link
9/24/2019 07:49:19 am

Life is made up of little things. I love this, because it is so true! Every little thing is put together to make the big things. Your mom sounds like a very wise woman, and obviously so are you. Personally, I have loved aging because of the wisdom I've gained as I go. Thanks for the great reminder.

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
9/26/2019 05:13:03 am

I am so encouraged when people tell me they love aging!! Thanks so much for sharing this!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture

    Author: Gina

    Creator of Love, Auntie.
    Adulting (and aging in general) is hard, but we are in this together!

    More About Love, Auntie

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Pinterest:

    @loveauntieblog

    Archives:

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017

    Categories:

    All
    Adulting & Anxiety
    Adulting & Children
    Adulting & Encouragement
    Adulting & Style

    RSS Feed

About LOVE, AUNTIE
Welcome! My blog is a journal of sorts as I seek what makes "older" worth celebrating in a world that tends to glorify "younger." I hope it's a place you will find encouragement and positive words.   
Read More...
​
​​​HOME SWEET HOME

ABOUT 
BLOG 
BLOG CATEGORIES
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE 

​© 2020 Love Auntie Blog
Proudly powered by Weebly