Those Crazy Nelsons

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Why you want to be a part of the #ImRich campaign every Monday

Are you rich?

I am. 

No. You're right, I don't own a home.

And that would be a negatory on the trust fund and plush savings account.

And yes, you would be correct in pointing out that I have not recently claimed the powerball millions or connected with my recently deceased, rich Nigerian uncle's inheritance.

At the risk of mounting a cliche mechanical bull and taking us all for a ride through sappy Hallmark card two-liners , and despite all of the above, I do consider myself rich.

It just takes a second for me to look up from my calendar full of alerts, to put down my homeschool planner with empty spaces which "tsk-tsk" today's missed lessons, to kick aside the baskets of dirty laundry and similar baskets of clean, unfolded laundry...wait what was I talking about?

Oh yeah, it just takes a second to look past my day...to remember how rich I am.

My kiddies. 

Rich.

It doesn't always feel that way.

I mean, if I set aside the strategizing and frustrations of the day, all the times I have to work my day around nap times and feeding kids, who by the way, only feel famished when I declare eating time is over; if I try to forget every time I felt like the bad stay-at-home warden while my husband swoops in like Oprah during her Favorite Things episode saying, "Later bedtime? Here's one for you and you and you! Lollipops before bedtime? Look under your seats kids! Lollipops for everyone!!"

I am rich.

seeing the world together.

Ok yeah, I may have to grit my teeth some days whilst declaring this truth, but yes..

I am rich, and so are you. 

even with the engine light on, having a van that works and that's handling the cold wisconsin winter leaves me feeling rich.

So, we're going to dedicate Mondays, which is arguably one of the most dreaded days for some, to grin through clenched teeth or shout from the rooftops--

"I am rich, World." 

Why bother?

Two reasons:

When you live that truth, you help remind others to do the same. 

and

When you live that truth, you leave less room for anxiety and worry. Gratitude has a way of filling up your heart and pushing all that other stuff by the wayside.

On a recent FB post I talked about how I felt lucky to be home with my kids, but how hard it can be. How the day-to-day details are drenched in difficulty and stink of exhaustion, and how sometimes I unplug from the feeling of gratitude.  

To that post, one of my friends replied, 

"You certainly are one of the RICHEST people I know!!!"

Hearing that, jarred me, rattled my perspective and helped me to see my day a bit differently.

i didn't have snow boots when i got to wisconsin. thankful for these walmart boots that keep my toesies from frostbite.

Do you ever stop to connect to that during your week? Today? This morning? To plug into this reality:

You. are. rich.

Let's reclaim that word to mean more than money in our bank accounts.

for the ladies in my life who tell me like it is and make me laugh uncontrollably-- i'm rich.

Let's remind ourselves how rich we are no matter what transpires during our day, no matter what hardships or emotions are pulsing through our very full heads and busy calendars and worn out bodies; there is always something to be thankful for.

Join us in posting pics every Monday on Facebook, Instagam, and Twitter with the hastag #ImRich. 

I'm always up for a little revolution, aren't you?