5 Things That’ll Make You Feel Alive Again — Especially As a Mom
Published on wildlydomesticmama.com
Introduction: The Smile That Woke Me Up
This morning, I was walking our dog while pushing my toddler in the stroller — a totally ordinary moment — when I passed a family that shifted something in me.
A mom had just finished surfing, hair still salty, wetsuit half peeled down, towel wrapped around her. She looked so alive. Beaming.
I said good morning like I always do — usually met with a polite nod or no response — but she lit up and said, “Good morning!” right back, like she meant it.
It hit me: This family was living. They were chasing waves and sunrises before most of us had even poured coffee.
“When did I stop doing the things that make me feel alive?”
So I decided to make a little list. Not a to-do list. A come alive again list. For the next 30 days, I’m committing to doing these five things — just to shake off the fog and remember who I am.
1. Chase a Sunrise/or Sunset
As a photographer, I know how magical golden hour can be. But these days, I usually catch the sunrise accidentallythrough the window while trying to find toddler socks.
Not this time.
We’re loading up the car before dawn. Coffee for me, hot cocoa for the girls, breakfast tacos, and a few fuzzy blankets. We’ll drive to a nearby overlook or beach, and just be there when the sun stretches awake.
Bonus: We'll each share one thing we're grateful for while the sky changes color.
2. Hike the Highest Point Near You
Doesn’t need to be epic — just something that gets your blood pumping and offers a view.
There’s something about being on a peak (even a baby hill) that rewires your brain. You suddenly remember how capable your body is, how powerful you feel when you keep going.
Bring your kids if you're feeling brave. Let them see you climb something hard.
“There’s something about being above it all that reminds you how small your stress really is.”
3. Meet the Weeds
Pick three “weeds” you see in your yard or on walks and learn about them. Name them. Smell them. Look up their medicinal or nutritional properties.
Let your kids guess what each one is used for — it's like a nature-based scavenger hunt with hidden healing.
We forget that medicine is often growing right outside our front door.
4. SUP, Mama! (Get on the Water)
Stand Up Paddle. Kayak. Canoe. Float. Something.
I used to paddle board in Lake Tahoe and on rivers, but since moving to the coast, I’ve let fear (hello sharks) hold me back.
This month, I’m paddling out in the harbor. Calm water. Moving body. Breath syncing with the rhythm of the water. It’s the definition of alive.
Fear isn’t driving the boat anymore. Joy is.
5. Add Your Own
This one’s yours.
What's the thing you've been saying "maybe later" to? That small spark that keeps tugging at your heart?
Write it down. Make space for it. And then do it. Even just once.
Let’s Make This a Movement
I’m sharing this list not because I have it all figured out — but because I needed a wake-up call, and maybe you do too.
So what would be on your “Feel Alive Again” list?
👇 Drop it in the comments or tag me on Instagram @wildlydomesticmama — I want to cheer you on.
Stay Wildly, Domestically Alive
Motherhood doesn’t mean the wild, wonder-filled parts of you disappear. They just need to be invited back in.
Let’s stop sleepwalking through the magic.