Having a plan

We've all heard it before:

"Life goes by so quickly!"
"The kids grow up so fast!"
"Cherish these moments, they're the best in your life!"
"Don't take this for granted!"

I don't know about you, but that's a lot of pressure and exclamation points to put on a young person. Everyone's situation is different, but someone who is overwhelmed by their college course load, a newlywed who is in the middle of a rough first year of marriage, or a new mom with an infant that looks to her to fulfill every need, hears those words as an omen and not an encouragement. What if you're not enjoying every. single. second. of this gift that God has given you? What if you can't see past your exhaustion? Your heartache? Your pile of laundry? Are you missing out???

I was someone who went through all these stages with a glass-half-full optimism. It's in my nature to be positive. Does that mean that I live every second of every day to the fullest? No way. Sometimes I choose naps over reading a new book. Sometimes I make mistakes or choices that cause hurt or pain. Through the midst of it I might be able to put a sunny outlook on it, but life can still pass me by. The good news? There is grace. I live in a world where our Savior has come to give us new life, life to the fullest! I want to meet that life head on. I want to meet my new days prepared and ready for what the world hands me. And, most desperately, I want to look back on my days and know that I lived a purposeful, passionate life.

So how do we do it? How do we learn to be grateful for what we have been given?

We plan! 

Write down your goals. Where do you want to be a year from now? What things would you like to have accomplished? Put it all down on paper or do like I do: in the notes section on my phone. Read it often. Update it as you finish something or think of something new to add. Use it as a guide, check in with it when something comes up and ask yourself, "is this something that will help me achieve any of my goals?" If yes, go for it! If not, then maybe take a second to think, "Do I have time for this?" "Is it a necessity?" "Will this go against any of the things I'm trying to do?" I'm a list person so this comes pretty easily to me, I'll admit, but even if you're not, give it a try! You'll be amazed at what you can follow through with when you write things down.

Now take that list and pare it down to 3-5 key things. Having a long list is great but can be overwhelming. Maybe your list has some 5 year goals or 10 year goals (way to go overachiever), but let's choose to focus your top 5 list on things that are immediately actionable within the next year.

Share your list. What better way to work towards your goals than to invite some accountability into your life. Find a trusted friend, spouse, coworker, whomever, who can help encourage you towards reaching some of your goals and staying on a path of purpose.

Ready for my list?
1. Daily time with the Lord. I'm constantly making excuses for not finding time in my day to sit in the quiet with my Savior, but I'm pretty sure if I have time to sit on the couch and watch tv after the kids are in bed then I have time to read and pray. I purchased the Jesus Calling devotional by Sarah Young and I'm plugging my way through it. The daily excerpts are not very long, but there is a nugget of truth and I always walk away feeling blessed by those precious moments.

2. Exercise. I'm one of those women who entered adulthood carrying a few extra pounds. Then I got married and found out I am a pretty good cook. Then I had two babies in two years. You do the math. I'm learning to find energy and passion in the time I can spend alone (with my iPod) doing something for the betterment of me. It might not be my first choice of "me" time activities but it definitely helps me to feel better about myself, which helps me to have more energy to give my husband and my kids. Win. Win. Win.

3. Be present. It's ironic, I know, for someone who blogs to be down on technology, but I spend too much time looking at my phone. It's easy to explain it away by saying I use it to take pictures of my kids, which I do, but if it's constantly in my pocket I'm not really present. I want to watch my kids. I want to look into my husband's eyes. I want to hear what people are saying to me. If my face is buried in my phone then I'm missing all of that.

Why are those my goals? Because I'm getting older, we all are! I want to look back on this year and be wiser, fitter, more engaged with my family and friends. I want to have experienced life to its fullest. I want people to look at me and see passion and compassion and grace and love. Lofty goals, for sure, but at least somewhat attainable and measurable.

What are your goals?