Join along as I document a year of ideas, goals, plans, activities, quick reminders in an effort to not lose sight of what matters most now.
Just recently, I was overwhelmed with how fast life was moving past me and was desperate to hit a life pause button. Summer's coming to an end and my babies are in middle school! I started feeling a sense of urgency as if I was missing some key moments and opportunities with my family. I have so much that I want to do with my kids before they are grown
I don't want to miss this moment in time.
How can I live my life more "on purpose"?
I need a plan that keeps me on track and reminds me what to do when so I don't miss the important moments.
My answer to these worries? What Matters Most Now blog.
My vision for this blog is a culmination of quick reminders, ideas, suggestions and inspirations on how to take advantage of the seaons, holidays, annual traditions and to serve as an on-going "to-do" list (honestly, so I don't forget). Perhaps it could be coined a month-by-month capture of ideas for living a life well lived.
Over the years I have gathered a ton of resources from my previous work planning programs for youth and later for my own family (four kids, a dog and a hubby). My baskets overflow with ideas, clippings, books, calendars, magazines and photos of what I plan to do "someday". Yet, I find that many of these ideas are seasonal and living in the Pacific Northwest (where it rains a good chunk of the year), we have to maximize the defined four seasons.
I want there to be one place that I can house everything from recipes, seasonal activities, date night ideas, art projects, books to read, photos to capture, seasonal menus, places to go, seasonal goals,traditions, and tasks to perform (ugh- my least favorite but ever-so-important tasks such as organizing, fire drills, breast checks, fire alarm battery swaps). Keeping it here on a blog can be a great reference point that I can utilize for my family yet also share with others.
I have to admit that I love to research! From the very first assignment that encouraged students to head to the library (yes, this was long before the days of the Internet) and research a particular subject, I experience a rush every time I am given something to "look into" or "explore further". Seriously. Side note...for my high school research project (also my favorite project in high school) we had to pick a "theme" of one word to research, write and create an annotated bibliography. My subject was "love"! Those who know me are not surprised. I can't tell you how much I loved that assignment. All my peers were groaning and complaining about having to research and spend oodles of time in various libraries...not me. Loved it. Could be another reason that I pursued a Journalism degree in college.
I hope that this blog can be an active companion for us as we navigate life that can serve to enhance our own journeys. Another admission...being organized is not necessarily my forte. Organization is something that I crave and get excited about but it is also something I have to work at. I NEED a tool such as this blog that serves as a weekly reminder of all the ways that I can be enhancing the lives of those around me. I NEED the reminders! Even something as simple as plums are in season in late summer and early fall so I can remember to make a special plum tart that I have wanted to make for the past 10 years.
I truly hope that my readers will weigh in with their own inspirations and ideas so I can learn from your life journeys!
One of my ultimate measures for "What Matters Most Now" is how I enriched, enhanced, empowered, and encouraged others from my example.
Know that these inspirations are only starting points and ideas. There is NO WAY that I could do each an every one of them in a given 365 days. We can often read blogs and get a feeling of inadequacy as if we are not doing enough. I am here to remind you that
YOU ARE ENOUGH
YOU HAVE ENOUGH &
YOU ARE DOING ENOUGH
I am allergic to the idea of anyone ever thinking that this is a blog of what you "should" be doing. This is just a place to share inspiration. I wish that I could have a big disclosure reminder that states "only if this works for your situation".
I also don't want this to ever become a place that leads a reader to feel too overwhelmed. Time is precious. These ideas are meant to be starting points. Perhaps your family is not at an "age" where doing these activities is appropriate. By all means, bookmark or "Pin" an idea for next year at this time...whatever works for you. No pressure!
'Guard well your spare moments - they are like uncut diamonds. Discard them and their value will never be known. Improve them and they will become the brightest gems in a useful life.' - Unknown
I'm so excited to share with you and to document a year's worth of ideas! Here goes...
