Today, I’m coming at you with a short Confession. It’s about a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote that comes up often in our family:

“What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.” 

Most of us know this as: Actions speak louder than words, right? We often hear ourselves saying this to the kids when they’re saying one thing, but doing something entirely different. But the kids aren’t the only ones who do this. Now, when the quote comes up with one of the little people, I try to also bring it back to myself. What are my actions saying? And do those actions align with what’s coming out of my can?

I find the phrase, ‘I love you’ to be the perfect go-to idiom for my words versus actions alignment test. I say, “I love you,” every day, but am I being loving to my family? With how I talk to them, treat them, listen to them? 

I think at this time of year especially, I like to check in with my edges. They can get a little sharp when lists get longer, and I get emotionally and physically drained. Softening my edges with others also means softening them with myself. And hey, if I want to be the kind of person who practices what I preach, my only choice is to take crap off those lists to make time for some quiet and restoration. It’s all in the name of protecting the children.

Team, can you believe it’s already the end of the month? That means that next month I’m going to be coming at you with some traditional holiday Confessions, like “All I Want for Christmas” and “Fend for Yourself Day” reminders! Be sure to tune in for all the holiday fun and excitement, but until then, thanks so much for listening Team!