January 2023 is in the history books. February is a short month and soon we will be done with winter (for those of you who experience it). In a short time, we will be overwhelmed with that horrible Christmas song by Mariah Carey. Time is not waiting for us to make moves. Time is moving.
How are we spending those precious moments? Are we productive, efficient, or procrastinating? Are we living, loving, or losing? Personally and professionally time is valuable and of all the things we can replace in life, time is not one of them. I have learned some important truths about time. Apply these to your life daily and you will experience a greater sense of accomplishment and purpose.
Plan your day the day before. Know what you want to accomplish and put a plan in action to get it done. If you have not moved beyond your present state in months or years, you have not planned properly. You should see movement each day and boxes should be checked. It is not the responsibility of anyone to plan or live your life for you.
Love your loved ones. Last year my brother and I visited my mother's gravesite. In conversing with people we discovered that many of them were saying goodbye to their mothers for the first time. COVID protocols prevented them from seeing their loved ones in the hospital after they passed. We do not know when we will take our last breath. Appreciate your loved ones and thank them for being a part of your life.
Go see something. There are seven wonderful continents on this planet. Most of us will only set out foot on one. Get out of your backyard and experience the finer things in life. Do something new. Plan a trip. It doesn't have to be a grand vacation, but plan one and see the beauty of this world.
Don't sweat the small stuff. If you cannot go a day without complaining, you may need to chat with a mental health professional. There is no need to be petty about life and nit pik about things you cannot control. So what if a parson has a hair out of place, a crumb on their face, or shoe with an untied lace. There are more important areas of focus. Stop complaining and be grateful for what you have. Some people would love to have your insignificant issues.
Be a blessing to others. There are people who need your help. Don't spend your life only caring for those in your inner circle. Look for ways to share your time, talents, and treasures with others who can benefit from you. Make is a priority to leave nothing behind. Use everything you have to make someone smile or shed tears of joy.
Take breaks. Everything cannot be done at once. You cannot be everywhere at the same time. Take breaks from the routine and exhale. Turn off the phone, the television, the laptop for a few minutes and relax. Finish the cup of coffee that usually goes cold on your desk. Look at the pictures you created from wonderful memories. Remember, this world will go on when you are gone. Don't let its cares and foolishness be the reason you leave prematurely.
Be better. Be better at loving God, loving yourself, and loving others. Be better at being likeable. Be better at laughing at yourself. Laugh at the funny moments in life. Stop taking things so seriously. Be a better friend. Be better in every way possible. Work on becoming the best version of yourself. Be all you can be every day.
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