My niece is getting into the babysitting business and charges $5 per hour. Seeing her joy as I paid her $25 for being a mother's helper a few weeks ago got me thinking about my own journey in money making.
I used to run the same gig as her - helping my aunt with my cousins - and I'll never forget the day she bumped me up to $7 per hour. Two whole more dollars for every hour I was there! I'd made it, y'all. I laughed thinking about what I would have done a few years ago, at - say - age 27, if one of the families I babysat for had handed me $28 for four hours of work.
It got me thinking about how, as we receive more in life, we begin to expect more.
$14 for two hours of work, which used to excite me, wouldn't even be worth doing the job now.
But, it's not just with money.
Last week, I found myself a little sad because I hadn't seen my family much at all. We were sleep training Mac, which meant I was spending most days home alone while he slept. This is important to his development and I was so thankful for how he was rocking out in his crib. But, as Chris had a busy work week and I did everything I could think of around the house, I was tempted to get a little grumpy that I couldn't see my parents or siblings.
All of the sudden a little voice reminded me that I used to regularly go months without seeing my mom, dad or sister when we lived in Atlanta. I was lucky if I ever saw them twice in one month! Here I am, sad I have to go seven days without seeing them.
The truth hit me then: the more we have, the more we expect from life.
I'm not saying this is a bad thing. It's natural to continue to strive for more. The key, though, is to have more gratitude than longing.
It's totally OK if I want to see my mom often - we spent 13 years in a long-distance relationship. We should maximize our time together when we live just 25 minutes apart! But, at the same time, my gratitude for living so close to her must outweigh my longing for more.
Whether it be joining a fancier gym, losing weight or making more money, let us see in the abundance in our lives more than the lacking. Whether it be owning a nicer home, traveling often or having more babies. Whether it be making more friends - or better friends.