Is A Mundane Life “Living Life To The Fullest?”
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What You Might Have Missed At Classically Abby…
Quote of the Week:
“The family is the test of freedom; because the family is the only thing that the free man makes for himself and by himself.” – Gilbert K. Chesterton
Classic Style Inspo
Valentine’s Day is coming up, so I shared four modest Valentine’s looks on my Instagram! Wearing a fun pair of shoes, a dash of red or pink, and a cute dress or sweater will give you the perfect bit of femininity you’re looking for. And staying modest helps you retain an air of mystery!
Things I’ve Been Loving: Broom and Dustpan
Don’t get me wrong, I love my vacuum. But having a broom on hand is so nice! My son has been throwing his food off his highchair tray when he’s done eating, so there’s always a mess to clean up. Having a broom for that wet food is so much more effective than using a vacuum. I don’t have this exact broom (mine is from Target), but I think this broom might be even nicer than the one I own!
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Is A Mundane Life “Living Life To The Fullest?”
Hello classic crew and happy Wednesday! Welcome to another edition of my newsletter. I’m currently sitting outside, enjoying the warm weather here in Florida, while my son happily crawls around and makes himself an absolute mess. We recently adjusted his nap schedule, which has made a huge difference since he’s now sleeping through the night. I won’t say that I feel entirely rested (because honestly, who does?), but I’ll definitely take the extra sleep - and I enjoy the peace of mind that comes with putting down my baby at 7:30 PM and knowing I have the rest of my evening and night free.
In other news, I made a delicious meal for Sabbath consisting of interesting Persian and Egyptian dishes! Everyone loved it, and I think I might make the same meal again this coming Sabbath. I started with Beef Koobideh, a tried-and-true favorite of ours. Of course, I had to make Tahdig to go with it, a delicious crispy rice recipe that we love. Then, to add something different to the mix, I made Egyptian Goulash which was a huge hit! I finished off the meal with easy BBQ chicken thighs, a big salad, and honey-roasted carrots. I’ve linked the recipes here, so if you’re interesting in trying a few of them yourself, you can!
As I was out out for a walk the other day, I was listening to Jonathan Haidt’s "The Happiness Hypothesis” for book club. He discussed his existential crisis at the end of high school, when he found himself questioning the meaning of life and, as an atheist, came to the conclusion that he might as well live every day to the fullest since this was all there is. That wasn’t Haidt’s ultimate point, but it did set off a train of thought for me.
I began to think. Was the mundane life I led - cleaning my son’s highchair ten times a day, washing the dishes, cooking dinner, doing laundry, spending Sabbath with family and friends - really living life to the fullest?
I saw other women talking about traveling, seeing the world, getting brunch with their girlfriends, and wearing the latest designer clothes. Was that the true path to purpose? Was simple, unattached fun what it’s all about? We all have to contend with the modern PSYOP (psychological operation) that tells us to take, take, take since there’s no God and no ultimate reason we are all here. According to the Leftist narrative, why not live only for the moment since this is all there is?
It’s so easy to think that momentary fun leads to a lifetime of happiness. Looking at the smiling photos of a woman in Cabo with a drink in her hand certainly looks appealing. But the truth is, I’ve lived that life and I wasn’t happy while I was doing it. Before I met my husband, I traveled. I dated frivolously. I dressed immodestly. I ate brunch with my girlfriends whenever I wanted because I had no baby to take care of, and I exercised on my own schedule. (I say this after three days of trying my best to fit in a workout only to have my efforts thwarted by Mr. Baby.)
So why is it that while I lived that life, I only dreamed of the one I have now, and now, I wondered for a moment if I should long for the life I used to have?
There’s two parts to this equation.
On a fundamental level, I am so joyous. I am married to an amazing man; I have the most wonderful son; I get to stay home with him every day and see him grow; and I create content that I believe is bringing good into the world. I truly feel so blessed and grateful for everything I have. On a day-to-day level, though, there are times that the rhythm of my days can feel mundane. Is that constant? Absolutely not. But every now and then, the chores and the cleaning and the cooking can feel repetitive.
Here’s the thing, though. When I look at the fun yet frivolous activities we are encouraged to take part in, and I imagine it as enjoyable, I am also superimposing my current state of happiness over that lifestyle. Imagine, for example, that I was traveling the world as I used to: alone and for myself. I’d do interesting things, and then return to an empty hotel room. The traveling was fun, sure, but there was a lack of fullness to my life that always waited for me at the end of each day. Now, imagine that I was traveling the world now: going sight-seeing, bringing my husband and baby along, and each night kissing my son and husband before bed. When I imagine a life like the single women who don’t want children and don’t want to settle down, I superimpose my current feelings of life satisfaction over their lifestyle, but it’s entirely inaccurate. The fun activities only bring deep happiness when they’re done in the context of the steady state of happiness I currently enjoy. They only bring happiness when the rest of the things that bring me meaning, fulfillment, and purpose - faith, family, and community - are in order. Without my mundane every day, the deep commitment I have to the things that matter, I couldn’t experience the deeply felt joy that fills my heart. My mundane life is the foundation on which my happiness is built, and yet a change in scenery can add a little extra whimsy to the proceedings.
And that’s the second part of this question. We can and should sprinkle in those fun activities that break up the monotony of life. The truth is, even for those women who look as though they are constantly jetsetting, who are constantly doing something more “exciting” than I am, most of their life is also mundane. They still have to work to afford these trips; they still have to do dishes at the end of the day; if they have a dog, they’re still feeding it, walking it, and cleaning its poop. There’s no escaping the mundane necessities of life. Instead, we must find God in the mundane, while also partaking in fun every now and then to add a little sparkle to our world.
For example, going on a date night once a week can add a little change of scenery to your days. Attending a concert or a comedy show. Planning a trip with your family. These are all wonderful ways to take advantage of life while also balancing out the mundane yet beautiful tasks we all must do. We can’t find whole and complete purpose and fulfillment by only living for today. That would be like your entire diet consisting of cake, to the point of nausea. Instead, drizzle it in every now and then. And you’ll find that, just like dessert, it will be even more enjoyable when you savor it as a treat.
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Your post made me think about 1 Corinthians 7. That chapter ties into your thoughts on being unmarried, the mundane, marriage in principle, and happiness - in that order.