Days Turn Into Weeks

There are a lot of things I want to accomplish in life.  Sometimes that is to my detriment.  I want to do so many different things that I get nothing accomplished.  I just sit there being overwhelmed by the load I am putting on my shoulders to carry.  I don't even know where to begin.

And of course, this is when the days turn into weeks.  Weeks turn into months and I'm still sitting in the same place.

If you can relate to this, then it's time to take action.  If you give yourself too much at once, that's when you have to organize and prioritize.  Better yet, prioritize and organize.  See...I just did it!

Okay, maybe that was an easy one.  I know there are times when it's very difficult to define your priorities in life.  Even so, you have to try and you have to take action.  No one ever said that once you define your priorities that they are set in stone.  You can set them, try them out, and adjust them as needed.

There are also times when your priorities have already been defined.  You have to ask yourself this question.  Do my actions reflect my priorities?  I know that my first priority is my family.  In the past, my actions did not reflect my priorities.

I was taking college courses...I was working for a promotion...I was partying with friends...all the while ignoring or not providing enough attention to my first priority.

Along with that point, I just want to say priorities change.  When I was younger, partying and having fun was a high priority.  Nowadays, it's very low on my list.

In closing, take the time to identify your priorities in life and then live your life with those priorities in mind. Make sure your actions match your priorities.  Don't take your number 1 priority for granted.  Remember, take action!  Don't let your days turn into weeks.

Shaped by Events

We are shaped by the events we go through in life.  Theoretically, you can take two people and send them on separate journeys.  Once the journeys are complete, you should be able to see differences in the way the individuals handle different situations based on what they learned from their journeys.  Since we are all individuals on different journeys in life, it is safe to say we are also shaped by events or experiences we face.  Most experiences are not completely unique so fortunately for us, we can often find people that have been through the same or similar experiences for advice and support.  We go through positive and negative experiences during our lifetimes.  "If everyday is a sunny day, then what's a sunny day?" (Eddie Murphy, Vampire in Brooklyn)  Events in life shape us; our response to those events is what defines us.

Reality Check

I have been working hard lately in many different areas of my life, reaching various milestones.  I thought I had everything under control with the perfect balance...but that wasn't reality.  I didn't realize it until my boss gave me a small task and I failed at it.  Sometimes, all it takes is one moment to change your entire perspective.  In that moment, I had to take a look in the mirror and ask myself the difficult questions.  Am I meeting the work expectations of my boss?  Am I meeting the expectations set by me?  I'm always tougher on myself than my boss could ever be.  Like I said earlier, I have been working hard lately in many different areas.  Perhaps, I lost focus on work.  It is possible since I shifted my priorities recently.  So now, I must ask myself a tougher question.  Am I ready to once again focus on work?  The truth is the answer to that question is not as simple as it once was.

The Dark Knight

My outlook on life wasn't always so positive.  I was just thinking about that.  Actually, a few years ago, I had a bad year.  I won't say it was just the worst because there is always someone that has it worse and you never know what the future holds.  At the time, it just seemed like a bad, hopeless year.  I had gained about 20 pounds and was just out of shape.  With that, my energy levels were low.  I had recently moved to a new location and didn't really know anyone.  I was unmotivated at work after I didn't get the promotion I had hoped for.  Financially, I was living paycheck to paycheck.  That's not suffering but it's not financially stable.  I was also lost in relationships.  Overall, nothing was going my way.  At the end of that year, my Grandma passed away.  That put the darkest cloud over my head.  I felt like I was stuck in quicksand and the more I fought, the deeper I sank.

Inevitable Change

Change happens...this is simple, but very true.  We can change our jobs or careers.  We can change our cars.  I'm not changing my car yet even with it's half hanging bumper.  We can change how we dress and even how we think.  These are just a few examples of change.  I think the largest change is the growth of a person.  Sometimes this happens quickly; for some people, it takes longer.  I can remember days that all I cared about was partying.  I didn't have a lot of money but I would gladly spend it on clubs and alcohol.  I thought the world was mine.  So young, so naive.  It was a happy time because I could do whatever I wanted but I was irresponsible.  When I was younger, I didn't make the wisest decisions and whenever alcohol was involved, my smart decisions plummeted.  Today, I try to be wiser.  I still consume alcohol but in moderation.  I'm just talking about me...I'm not telling anyone what they should or should not do.  My goal is not to lecture anyone, just to share my experiences.  Everyone should live their own lives and make their own mistakes.  The key is learning from those mistakes.  I kind of drifted a little.  Now, I perceive myself as more responsible with my decisions and my actions.  I'm not perfect so I may have a lapse or two in judgment but this is still far fewer than I had at a younger age.  I like to look back (not too far, only about 10 years) and reflect on the differences.  I like to talk to younger people and see the person they are now and imagine the person they will be in the future.  To wrap up, change happens to everyone.  It's a good thing as long as it's positive.