Freedom!

It was a cold Friday evening in January. The morning temperature was 26 degrees below zero. School was cancelled because of the wind-chill temps of 45 below.

Brian was out of town for the weekend so it was just 6 year old Brielle and me. What could we do for fun tonight?

The day before we had started a 300 piece Pixar puzzle. So we decided we should finish it. It was a tough puzzle with lots of images, many of which were the same character scattered over the full puzzle many different times in different places.

I found myself getting distracted by my phone. Receiving messages that I wanted to reply to. Brielle said to me, “mom, put your phone down! I’m getting frustrated with you. We’re doing a puzzle right now.”

“You’re right, Brielle. I’m sorry. Thank you for sharing with me that you’re frustrated. I’ll put my phone on the other counter away from me.” I was proud of her for voicing her thoughts. I was proud of myself for owning my actions, apologizing and making it right. I was proud that our past discussions had given us the opportunity to have that moment.

We had about 20 pieces left, when I recognized we were getting tired, frustrated and even short with each other.

“How about we take a dance party break?” I suggested. Brielle looked at me with eyes of skepticism.

I encouraged her a bit, “It’ll be fun! Then when we come back the puzzle will be easier. What song should we pick? How about Dance Monkey?” She had been singing this a few nights prior, so I knew it was one that would get her up and moving. I searched the song on my phone, synced it to my speaker so we could turn it up loud, and we moved our way into the living room.

We shook off our tense muscles. I looked into her glistening, happy eyes and life stopped for a moment. As we really looked at each other – with matched smiles and eyes lit up, truly happy to be alive. Simple times. Important times. We were silly. Trying new moves. I tried to teach her the swing dance move where she would slide her legs under and through my legs. She didn’t grasp the concept though and instead kicked her legs up, almost into my crotch. We laughed and laughed.

The song ended and we moved from the living room back to the kitchen table where our final puzzle pieces were waiting for us to put into place. We had the head of one of the super heroes from “The Incredibles”. And a lime green one eyed monster from “Monsters Inc”. We had the blue hair from the character Joy in “Inside Out”. And baby Jack-Jack’s arm outside the puzzle next to a piece that we knew was the balloons from “Up”.

After the brief dance pause they all fell into place with ease and quickness. Five pieces left, four pieces left; now two. We placed them all, except for one. We’re missing a piece. No! We have to have that last piece. Where is piece 300? 299 is not enough.

We searched the floor. I questioned, “Brielle, you’re hiding it aren’t you?”

“No mom! I’m not. I really don’t have it this time.”

We searched the floor again, the chairs, under the box, inside the box, the drawer we have in our table. No piece 300 found. Oh no! This was a used puzzle given to us. Did they give it to us with one piece missing?

I ran my hand over the 299 pieces for the third time. There it was on top of the other pieces, blending right in so that we couldn’t see it. It took me 3 different times of me running my hand over the locked pieces before I felt that missing piece. There it was! Within the puzzle, but disguised so well until I really felt it.

I handed the piece to Brielle and she locked it in. YAYY! We celebrated with high fives for this completed accomplishment that we did together.

Now it was time to dance again; this time not for a break but to celebrate our win!

We chose some other KIDZ BOP songs that followed the Dance Monkey song on YouTube.

Brielle asked me to pause the song. When I questioned why she said she had to go upstairs to get something.

When she came down she was holding 2 pieces of printer paper. With a smile on her face she handed me one and kept the other for herself. There, on both our pages were 4 simple letters written in pen by her: “OOLA”

I asked her why she wrote that and what it meant.

Her reply was simple and beautiful “It means FREEDOM!” she belted out with joy and conviction. My heart was full. I was changing the legacy of my family right here, right now.

You see, before Oola I was stressed and lacked the energy for these Friday night living room dance parties. By Friday night I was exhausted after a busy week hustling through my day job. I would skip my breaks and lunches to get more done; to show and serve my corporate team. I thought that’s what I wanted. I thought that the success there would bring joy to the rest of my life. But the more successful I was; the more I poured into my work and the less joy I had. It was never enough for me. I was getting praises from my managers, but I never felt I was doing enough. At the end of the work day, I would be a hot mess of tight muscles. Wondering what I was going to feed my family for supper while Brielle was already hungry and wanting my attention. I would pray that the night would go without any major meltdowns. Because I didn’t have the energy to deal with those.

Oola helped me to realize I was out of balance when it came to my Field (career). I was showing up more for my job than my family. And it was putting a toll on all of us. Brian would come home from work and ask how my day was. 9 times out of 10, I didn’t even answer. Instead it was a blank stare. I knew if I answered, it would more than likely bring on tears of overwhelm, anxiety and defeat. I knew I wasn’t happy. But for some reason, this part of my life I didn’t think I had much control over. Oola helped me to be honest with where I was. And more importantly Oola helped me realize where I want to be and how I could get there.

Back to this very moment, in the living room with Brielle. Each of us holding our own homemade Oola flags. Ready to wave them happily and proudly as we belt out the lyrics of another joyful song of praise and excitement for all that life can be. And all that life is.

Then it was off to our bedtime routine. Where I snuggled in bed with her and praised God for this day. Once Brielle was sleeping, I snuck out of the room to jot down some thoughts about my wise six year old’s one word definition of Oola: “Freedom”.

You are so right, my dearest Brielle. Oola is Freedom.

Freedom to have Fun

Freedom from toxic relationships

Freedom to reduce your stress

Freedom to get your Finances right

Freedom to focus on your Faith for what resonates best for you and your family

Freedom from what you think you have to do in life

Freedom to live differently

Oola for me, is as simple as my daughter handing me a sheet of paper with 4 simple letters on it.

Oola is freedom to look into my daughter’s bright eyes while laughing and dancing with her in my living room. The work I’m doing for myself on my Oola journey isn’t always easy. But it is always worth it.

Just like that puzzle we tackled, life is full of an assortment of people and experiences. Each of us have our own pieces that make up our own puzzles. Just remember, you are the hero of your story. Dr. Troy and Dr. Dave from Oola like to say that “where you are is just where you are; it’s not who you are”. Maybe you feel like your puzzle pieces are a jumbled mess right now.

I hope you realize you have the power within you to make change. When you’re ready, I am here to help you find whatever “Freedom” looks like to you.