I’m not sure when it came about. Maybe it was when I started first learning some of the details of the Relevant Conference…hosted by Sarah Mae and some of her friends. Maybe it was the thoughts that gripped me learning of some recent deaths in the blogosphere. Maybe it was just God speaking to me through those things…or maybe it wasn’t. I don’t really know. On any account though…it came about. I want more. Let me explain.
I don’t want more stuff. In fact I want less. This year I will be cleaning out closets, toyboxes, desks…and even the undersides of the beds. I’m getting rid of STUFF. Simplifying. I kept reading about people decluttering their homes and therefore decluttering their lives and the way they felt. I honestly didn’t believe it. I thought to myself “It’s only stuff. What harm could it do?” that was before I got rid of some “stuff”. It cleared out my bedroom and instantly made me feel better. We rearranged our living room a while back…and the difference made me jump for joy!
My motto this year will be “Less Stuff…More God”. I’m not only referring to physical things though. I’m referring to anything that clutters up my life. I’m putting my life under a magnifying glass and inspecting it closely. Old (bad) habits, feelings and other such nonsense will have to go because I don’t have room for them anymore. There’s no more room for junk in my life. I won’t tolerate it because all it’s doing is holding me back. From what you ask?
From being INTENTIONAL.
Intentional? I hear it as if it echoes in an empty room. What on earth do I mean? I want to do things for a reason. I don’t want to just exist. All too often I do just that. I do things on “autopilot” just because that’s the way I’ve always done them. You know what? That doesn’t work for me anymore. It hasn’t…for some time now. I keep wondering why my life seems so off-balance but I’m not doing anything to balance it out. Doesn’t make much sense does it? Why do things with little or no intent? If there is no purpose…why do it? If it doesn’t make my God, my husband, my children or myself happy….why do it?
I refuse to be an armchair parent. I don’t want to sit and yell things across the house.
I refuse to let my weight be an excuse anymore. If I’m so unhappy with it–fix it. If I won’t fix it…stop complaining about it.
I refuse to “react” to situations instead of just “acting”. All too often I let my frustration with a situation take over…this usually results in my giving up. I need to act based on my morals and principles…not on how frustrated or disappointed I am.
I refuse to be a bum. By this I mean I can’t sit around the house in my PJ’s all day. Maybe if I start treating myself better I’ll feel better. I have to get up and get dressed each morning…and maybe fix my hair and put on a little makeup as well!
I refuse to sit here on this computer more than I should…while my children grow and life passes me by. If this means my blog suffers…well, I’m sorry…but I’m choosing real life. I believe that my blogging will get better though…because it will be INTENTIONAL. It won’t just be stuff filling a page because I feel guilty about not having anything to write.
I’m going to start with these things…and see where that takes me. It takes 30 days to break an old habit is what I’m told. In 30 days I expect to be a better person. I intend to be better because I’m making the choice to do so. It’s going to take longer than 30 days…and I know this…but it sure is a good start. God knows my heart. He knows what I want and how I’m going to get there. He knows that in order to truly glorify Him…I have to make changes in me. It’s time to start doing that and stop fighting Him.
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I love this concept!
I LOVE THIS!
INTENTIONAL! Brilliant!!!!!
This post is absolutely wonderful!
God will honor yor commitment to draw closer to Him. I'mnot exactly sure what is happening, but Ihear more and more people saying similar things. If God's people continue to draw closer to HIm….imagine the outcome!
Yes, yes, and yes!!! Beautifully written and expressed.
I want to de-clutter in general too and be more focused.
You are a smart, smart woman.
YES YES YES! Love this post – AMEN! Oh, this is so so so good…and challenging to me! Thank you so much!
I tweeted it and will link to it w/ some link love this weekend!
What a powerful post! Congrats to you for having the guts to share with the world what is on your heart so you can fulfill your dreams and live a fulfilled live, and for your candor.
I have been feeling the same sorts of things lately, feeling frustrated with certain areas of my life and then life gets in the way, my day gets filled and busy and then I promise to 'tackle it tomorrow'. It is a new year, and I have new desire to live intentionally.
Yesterday I wrote a similar post as I know many feel the same way. This is our year to go after and get what we want out of life!:
http://theclassywoman.blogspot.com/2010/01/are-you-who-you-want-to-be_23.html
Sometimes I feel like I am– in your words– living on "auto pilot". I do so many things (mainly work) because I *must*, not be cause I *want* to. I am working, slowly but surely, to take conscious steps to live MY life on MY terms, and doing what makes me the best "me" I can be!
~Elizabeth
Confessions From A Working Mom
Intention. What an excellent word. And what an excellent way to live your life.
This is great. You've inspired me!
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