Lately I've been having conversations with people about living a life that makes them happy. I think everyone wants that, they just can't see an easy way to get there sometimes. We can get brought down by all the things we have to do, the things that seem to always take up too much time. And I don't think there's any way around taking care of your responsibilities. You've got to do your homework, you have to go to work everyday, you have to pay the bills and run errands and do your laundry and the list goes on and on. But I choose to believe that there is more to life than that. If we can figure out a way to get excited about living, about the day we're in, it can make all the difference.
I remember during college I had this realization that I should start saying no to the things I didn't actually care about and start saying yes only to the things that really mattered to me. Instead of trying to please the people around me or getting involved just because it was what I thought I should be doing I could give my time and attention to things that mattered more and brought me more joy. When I was excited about those things and had fewer distractions I ended up doing a better job.
Bob Goff of Love Does writes, "Stop doing what you're able to do and figure out what you were made to do--then do lots of that." It just makes sense. I don't know why more of us don't figure that out. It's easy to spend time on Facebook, scrolling through Twitter, watching TV but those things don't make us come alive. Maybe you've got to figure out what makes you excited, makes you want to know more, makes you want to wake up each day and spend time doing exactly that.
I was reading an article about today's students that says, "Can we surprised that kids come out of the chute after four years in college, not knowing what they want to do, or what the possibilities might be? We haven't built their muscles for figuring out where they could make themselves useful, have fun and support themselves. We've built their getting-good-grades and coloring-inside-the-lines-muscles instead."
I don't think there's time to waste if we're going to make each day the best day of the year, if you want today to be great, if you want to live life to the full. Life just works better when you're living into what God made you to do. It's probably more than just one thing.
For me, I come alive when I'm playing with campers at Tecumseh or talking in a circle with my bible study girls or creating something or hanging out with YL kids or taking pictures and blogging or teaching my students in FBC or planning a CILT reunion or taking friends on an adventure or writing letters. Once I figured out what made me come alive then I could make sure I was doing a lot of that.
I think this life is too precious to settle for just being content everyday. There is so much to be excited about, to get involved in, to pursue and focus on. So today I will be intentional about doing what makes me come alive--meeting Erin O'Awesome for dinner, tackling Olivia and Libby after their soccer game, cheering for Kathleen, talking with Maddie in the stands, calling up Ellie Pearl, reading letters from Erin, Katie Pim and Grace, skyping with Kraft, sending out surprises and working on plans for a cabin reunion. Today I choose to live a life that I'm excited about.
What are the things that make you come alive?
Sarah, I just wanted to tell you how much I loved this post. I read it this morning and have thought about it several times throughout the day. As Kraft says, you truly are the most intentional person I know. I just love your outlook and your energy! Hugs, friend.
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