I’m fond of the odd mantra now and again.
I find a little comfort in the mini pep-talk that a mantra can provide on those days when it feels like we can’t do anything right and we’re completely exhausted and then the toddler does a poo in the bath. Okay that’s quite a specific day, it was yesterday but we all know those days right? All We Have Is Now is a Flaming Lips song and a phrase that I constantly remind myself of when I feel like I’m reaching breaking point on a long lonely day in the trenches of parenthood.
All We Have Is Now
He is tired, he is cranky,
I am tired, I am lonely,
But all we have is now.
The dishes pile up and the washing’s not done,
He says nothing, he’s not much fun,
Remember all we have is now.
When you’re thinking “What is wrong with him?”
Followed by “What is wrong with me?”
Know that all we have is now.
When it’s hard and you want to cry,
When it’s fun and you can make them fly
Never forget that all we have is now.
When will he smile?
When will he laugh?
Stop questioning because now is all we have.
Stop asking ‘when will it be easy?’
When it’s ‘easy’ we’ll be sorry
Because the now that was hard is now the now that we miss
When the day is long
When everything we do is wrong
Remember all we have is now.
When you shout and lose your shit
Forgive yourself just a bit
Because all we have now
Lean in close and breath in deep
Hold this moment yours to keep
All we have is now.
All we have is now.
All we have is now.
