Mackenzie Carose

When Is It Enough?

By Mackenzie Leave a Comment

They say with age comes wisdom. If you have been around people long enough, you know that for some that isn’t always the case. But for most, when you have spent several decades inhabiting the body that you are in, you realize some things. Profound? Maybe. But I am having a bit of a shift in my thinking and it has me wondering…

When is it enough?

I am referring to the constant self-improvement that I see in the world. Whether it is in advertisements, social media, viral videos, etc… We are consistently being told that something is wrong with us and that we need to improve upon that. But what if you are just fine the way you are?

I am all for improving upon yourself if that’s what you WANT to do. I am here for all the information that you are looking for and hope that it truly helps you. I had to read up on health and nutrition when I wanted to work on improving my quality of life. So yes, self-improvement resources are awesome when that is what you are actually advocating for.

But what I have had enough of is the being told we are not enough as we are and that if you are not improving upon yourself, right this very minute, then something is fundamentally wrong with you.

I know that there are obviously many differences between the time when our grandparents were working and raising families and today’s time when we are doing the same. And I also know that they weren’t subjected to the onslaught of advertising that we are in 2022. But I think of my grandmother and how she lived her life and how she felt she was fine just the way she was.

She didn’t wonder about the “baby weight” after having three children. She just lived her life.

She didn’t think a certain outfit would make her more attractive. She was already beautiful.

She didn’t fill her home with stuff to impress people. She was already who she was and was absolutely fine with that.

I wonder, what exactly do we need to fix? Aren’t we already enough? The beautiful and messy and complex human beings that we have become, isn’t that an incredible thing?

Can we as a society not constantly tell people that something is wrong with them but instead tell them that you are fine just the way you are? Can we let them know all of the molecules that make up you, are amazing and we are so glad you are here?

Wanting to improve upon an aspect of your life is one thing, but feeling you have to improve on that particular aspect is fundamentally something else.

Don’t let society make you feel like you are not enough.

You are absolutely 1000% fine just the way you are.

As The Page Turns: April Edition

By Mackenzie 4 Comments

Another book blog post! Let’s get on with it, shall we? 🙂

The High Five Habit by Mel Robbins

I do not read a whole lot of “self-help” books, but I just love Mel Robbins and her books and her Instagram and just her over all style of communication. She is really great for those who deal with trepidation and really need that proverbial kick-in-the-pants to get going on making decisions; her messages continue to be on point.

Gunpowder Plot by Carola Dunn

This book is a re-read for me, but I adore this series so much 🙂 Gunpowder Plot is part of the Daisy Dalrymple series which follows Daisy solving murder cases inadvertently of course, with her Scotland Yard husband in 1920’s England. I guess this book would fall under the “cozy mysteries” heading so there is no unnecessary gore or cursing thrown in just for shock value. I really do love this series!

Hemlock by Susan Wittig Albert

A “pass-the-time-just-fine” mystery. This book is part of the China Bayles series which follows a former lawyer who now runs a flower shop and solves mysteries. Previous books have been better than this latest entry and I hope the author gets back on course a bit with the next one.

Lightly by Francine Jay

I enjoyed reading this book, but I definitely think it is geared more towards newbies to the whole simple living/minimalist lifestyle. She did however have one tidbit concerning Instagram that I shared in my Insta-stories and think it is worth repeating here:

“In recent years, social media has raised the bar of personal perfection considerably. Our point of comparison is no longer our family, neighbors, and friends, but practically the whole world. And it seems like everyone is baking perfect cakes, wearing perfect ensembles, perfectly parenting their kids, and taking perfect photos to prove it.

What we don’t see in those carefully curated images is the effort that went into staging them or the imperfection surrounding them. Pan out from that perfect souffle’ and see the three collapsed ones behind it. Zoom back from that perfect closet and see the heap of clothes on the floor. Perfection can be styled, but rarely sustained”.

That’s it from me! Did you read anything interesting this month? Let me know in the comments!

Domestic Things

By Mackenzie Leave a Comment

February has been one of those odd months where the shortest month of the year has seemed eternally the longest. Simultaneously feeling tired of winter and longing for Spring whilst also not wanting time to go too fast because moments are fleeting. Trying not to pay too much attention to the outside world lest it bring your feelings of the doldrums a bit too low.

So, my counteraction to the languishing persistence of February has been of the domestic variety: I’ve been in the kitchen.

Making, baking, chopping, dicing, oven mitt in hand, apron tied around my waist. Doing it all and feeling better for it.

I have heard that cooking is the cure for what ails you, and I have to say, whomever said that was not speaking falsely. Seriously, there is something about creating delicious and flavorful food and when your family agrees and comes back for seconds, that is the proverbial icing on the cake that I made.

There is a method to my culinary creating. I get my music going first. Usually 1920’s and 1930’s music, think Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald kind of tunes. Then I put my apron on and I swear this makes all the difference. Tying the apron just puts me into a different zone and ready to create. Also, aprons prevent items from getting all over your clothes. Get tomato juice accidently on your white shirt once and you too will be an apron convert.

And then I get to work.

This month I have made different breads and soups and even made quiche for the first time. As a creative person in my everyday life, it would make sense that being creative in the kitchen would also bring me peace. I enjoy that sense of accomplishment that comes with slicing into something I have made and my girls saying, “Ooooh, Mommy can we have that now?” and them being excited about partaking of what I have made. Sometimes they help me, especially my four-year-old who likes to get the step stool and help me pour ingredients. It makes my mama heart so happy.

There is less than a week left in the month that only holds 28 days. I am looking forward to the calendar page turning. But until then, I’ll be in the kitchen listening to Ella scat-sing, and cooking up a new creation.

All is right in the world.