It’s SUMMERTIME! We are no different than the rest of the earth’s inhabitants. We can thrive in the sunshine, grow our gardens and stockpile food for winter, lay on the beach and stare at the clouds, eat banana splits on a hot day, or enjoy time with friends by the pool. The list is endless and it sounds fabulous! Are you disciplined?
Do you have the discipline to make it all happen?
The month of July moved extremely fast in my personal world. I was moving fast right along with it and doing very little of my above dream list. Some days actually moved faster than I could possibly run.
However, even in the midst of this fast-paced world, I am taking mental notes and pondering some questions that may be beneficial for many of us.
- Is it totally necessary to RUN from daylight til dark?
- Is there a way to trim obligations to allow for more down time?
- At the end of each day, what is TRULY the most important thing in life?
Well, those are big questions that deserve answers from each of us. The truth is this. IF you don’t manage your life, someone else will. The demands on your personal self-created culture are monitored by your own discipline.
Our 7-year-old grandson stayed a few days with us this summer. I noticed that discipline was not his favorite element of the visit. (although he doesn’t get too much of it from his MiMi :)) Simple things like washing your hands, brushing your teeth, eating your dinner, and taking a break from the IPAD seemed like major events in his world. I can easily relate to him on a different level.
The answer to question number one is simply NO. It is not necessary to fill your day from daylight till dark. You can only do what you can do BUT you don’t have to do MORE than you can do.
A brush with death in 2015 has kept me continually aware of when my plate has become too full. I realized the value of life in one moment after a bad motorcycle crash. I knew my priorities would be changing before the paramedics even arrived. Now, when I feel myself reeling out of the boundaries of where I am my best self, I simply readjust.
I am certain I don’t have to remind anyone that life is precious and ultimately short. Yes, the days fly by but they each hold time that has not yet been captured. The answer to question number two is YES! Obligations CAN be trimmed. It may take a plan of action to achieve the goal BUT it can be done.
It has taken two years to phase out some of my previous obligations (including workload). I scaled back from working 40 hours a week for someone else to investing more time in our own personal dreams and goals. That includes writing this blog. Starting with only an hour a few mornings a week to where I am now, one entire day a week. I still work for someone else 20 hours a week, but contract work is managed around MY life instead of theirs.
Question number three can be difficult because it varies for each of us. It depends on what season we are occupying. I am in a golden season of understanding more than ever the value of relationships. 2020 was a rough year on a global basis. The fear instilled in folks close to me and abroad can only be overcome by keeping what is most important to us continually at the forefront of our vision.
For example, I will rework my schedule just to have a morning coffee with a friend. I will work hard for several days in a row to clear 4 days of uninterrupted time with my grandson. I will purposely make a Saturday morning available to browse a farmer’s market and catch up with my friend and music partner at a favorite coffee shop. My husband and I have weekend obligations at church so “date night” morphed into “date morning”. It can be anything from a game of golf to breakfast on the deck.
These are a few of my latest epiphanies of life. If you have already achieved your ultimate life – don’t change a thing!
I leave you with this encouragement. Don’t take anything for granted. Take a deep look at these simple questions and create the life YOU enjoy. It may not seem like it but the truth is there are answers to every obstacle you face. Start seeking out the wisdom to build the life you want and make a disciplined plan to make it happen. I for one am determined to stop to smell the roses and
Enjoy the Journey – VB
Blogging WAS one of those dreams for me….UNTIL I made up my mind. It all started right here. A SIMPLE CLICK. It’s just that easy.
There’s more of my story in my book “Escape from Darkness”. Find it here.