The year started out with great momentum. We secured a nanny to give me a bit of breathing room. I re-launched my Photography and Design business and invoiced over $2000 in the first two months, (a number which more than doubled what I had hoped for in essentially starting a new business in a new city). I dusted off the cobwebs from my blog, gave it a little makeover and connected with some amazing other writers. I launched a new online business turning my attention to health and wellness and I finally felt like I had a handle on my fridge, the laundry and life in general.
Then March came and life stopped.
Now, I am sitting down at my computer after over a week of neglect and I have forgotten who I am, where I was going and what I was doing. The scenery looks a little different and my surroundings, unfamiliar.
Who knew that in one month so much could change…even for someone on the periphery. Death has an abrasive way of calling to question our priorities and values and boldly asking, “what will people say about me when I’m gone?”
I am struck by how my mother-in-law led anything but an “easy” life according to the world’s standards – they were missionaries, they were not wealthy. In fact, they probably lived below the poverty line for much of their life together. They lived in Brazil, where crime and witchcraft was all around them. They had times of transition, during which they questioned where they should be and what they should be doing. And they had broken relationships that they were constantly trying to redeem and yet, my mother-in-law was faithful. Her life was full and I know that when she entered God’s presence, he said, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Will He say the same to me?
I read a post today about seeing life as a prayer, seeing ourselves as a prayer and while I know that, in theory, my life should be an act of worship, I feel as though I have lost touch with what this actually looks like on a day-to-day basis.
What does this look like as I run my business?
What does this look like as I embark on a new job? (more to come…)
What does this look like as I am mama to my kids?
What does this look like as I am a wife to my husband?
What does this look like as I am a friend, a neighbor, a daughter, a sister.
Before life stopped, I was working on refining monthly goal setting. I want my goals to reflect my values and priorities. For me, it is important to know that each day, I am working towards becoming a better person.
How about you? Do you set monthly goals? Yearly goals? Daily goals?
Do you have a criteria or formula or do you simply take on what is glaring you in the face at the moment?
Please share in the comments your thoughts on setting goals and how you keep on the right track.
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3 Comments
I wish I had something to offer. I feel like I’m falling apart. Life has stopped in this moment where I’m at, and I don’t even have a good excuse. I’m going to ramble on for a bit anyways, though, because that’s what I do. It’s how I heal, and sometimes it’s the little bits and pieces you pull out of nonsense that make the most sense.
Stop the glorification of “busy”.
I read that on Instagram yesterday, and it keeps sticking out in my head. Busy does not mean successful. In fact, when I think about it, to me, my life would be successful if I wasn’t busy. If I had time to just be. To enjoy the simple things and not be thinking about that billion things I have to do.
So that’s how I’m going to working on my goals. Reducing them. Simplifying. Becoming less busy. I hope this is possible. I need it so badly.
Thanks for writing something I could connect with. You’re a beautiful, valuable, worthwhile human being and I’m so happy you’re here, sharing yourself with us.
That’s a great question. I’ve always been one who just tackles what needs to be done at the moment. I ‘let life happen to me’ as I heard it negatively described. I can’t help it, that’s just who I am. I’ve also been one who feels guilty if I read a magazine when I should be mopping the floor. Or if I play on the computer then there is housework to be done. I try to defend myself to individual accusers. Until recently. I was listening to The Stand on Youtube, over and over. And the Lord put His finger on that guilt I carry around. Guilt about my house not being beautiful like my friends; guilt about not having granite counter tops or hardwood floors. He reminded me that I don’t have to live like that! He didn’t die on the cross so I could feel guilty! And I can trust that on the day of His return, He will NOT ask me about our carpet. So now the guilt is gone. And His peace reigns in my heart. Even without a criteria or formula or a professionally manicured yard.
*Invisible accusers.