For Too Long

I spent the early parts of last evening outside with my boy cleaning up the yard.  It's been a long time coming.  For the biggest part of the last year or so I haven't been around home very often and when I have been there my life has been more chaotic and crazy busy than ever.  Things are slowing down now.  Things are moving at just the right pace these days, and it feels so good to breathe again.  I decided last night that it was time to step outside and breathe more of the fresh fall air in and give our yard some attention.  
My little man was so excited to spend some time working in the yard together.  After pulling several weeds he decided to label our job as a dirty one.  He said we should call Mike Rowe and have him join us in our yard.  It made me laugh out loud for several reasons.  First of all obviously we've been watching a bit too much of the "Dirty Job's" re-runs on Netflix, and second of all my boy is just one funny kid.  I just love his thought process.  He's always coming up with something that keeps a smile on my face, and my smile remained right there throughout our time together last night.  We pulled weeds together filling the wagon, and he pulled the wagon to the garbage can to empty it for me over and over again.  Each time he walked along the sidewalk he would pull one of his funny voices out and announce, "Hello, this is Mike Rowe reporting from our next Dirty Job".  What a fun task he made out of doing the yardwork.  
It's been far too long since I've done this kind of thing with him.  It's been far too long since I have allowed myself to step outside in the yard and attempt to regain control of the evidence that the busyness of my life has left behind.  It's been far too long since I've braved some negative emotions that I have allowed to hold me hostage inside of my house while attempting to tackle the backed up work waiting there, and it's been far too long since I felt peace in my heart in my own space outside my home.  I have been missing out, and I have allowed that to happen.  Last night I made a decision.  Last night I decided I was done missing out on memories like the one that "little Mike Rowe" and I made together, and I decided I was done avoiding some of the things that I really enjoy.  I'm glad I made this decision.  It was therapeutic and it was freeing, and I am grateful that my little buddy helped me take one large step in the right direction.   I will continue heading down this positive path because it's been far too long since I've felt the beauty of an evening like this one.