Yesterday I came home to some ‘just-because’ flowers.

I started cooking dinner but took a peek outside the window and saw that the sun was setting. So, I left the kitchen a mess, laced up my shoes, walked over to the park, and watched as the sky changed colors in front of me.

So many colors.

  

When I got back home, I turned on the next episode of Happier as I finished chopping up some veggies.

The episode was called “Treat Yourself like a Toddler.” Gretchen Rubin and her sister, Elizabeth Craft, were talking about how people are always hyper-aware when a toddler is fussy or has needs that are not being met (e.g. hungry, sick, needs to poop).

You have to think ahead when you’ve got a toddler with you. About their eating, sleeping, proper clothes, necessary equipment, etc. Because, with a toddler, the consequences can be very unpleasant. In the same way, we, as adults, should be hyper-aware of our needs. Because, though we may have a little more self-control and the ability to communicate more effectively, we also have a tendency to suppress the feelings or feel like the ‘needs’ may not be as important as they actually are.

It was the perfect episode to be listening to in that very moment. After a few weeks of craziness, chaos, and my personal needs not being met, I felt as though I finally took the time to listen to my body and give myself what I needed.

No more fussy toddler.

At least not for now.

But, in the future, when I do become a cranky toddler again (because we all know that it’s going to happen), I’m going to identify what my need is. And make sure I take care of it before I throw a full-blown tantrum.