What I'm Working On

Warning: I'll be talking about my daily life, and it might get a little tedious. BUT, I did say in the beginning that I wanted to document this journey as genuinely and truthfully as possible...and right now, this is where I'm at. And above all, I want you to know me and this path as truthfully as you can.

I've never been a busy person.

During childhood, I never was involved in sports or other activities. In high school, I was in the band, and so marching band was a large part of my life, but it was my only extra-curricular aside from a few "clubs" or "committees" that were mostly for the benefit of college admissions. In college, I worked and went to school. Aside from other social activities, that was about it. I was always a "fly by the seat of my pants" kind of girl, and I basked in it. I was spontaneous and carefree. Suddenly, ever since the beginning of the missions process, I have become absolutely inundated with tasks and meetings and activities and you name it. I also felt a strong heaviness in my heart, I believe a God-given heaviness, to take control of my life.

Simply said, it became time for me to grow up.

Two interesting things have happened in regards to this:

1) I am suddenly feeling more fulfilled with my life than I have in, well, maybe forever. I never thought that busy was what I needed. But as it turns out, having not just one, but several purposes and goals for my life have brought upon a new desire to accomplish it all.

2) I am suddenly learning a lot about myself... how hard I can push, how much I can fit in, how much my body can handle, how much I dream, how much is possible AND more importantly, how much I need to grow in order to live life to the fullest capacity that I want.

So here is my current task...and any of you organized self-motivators who know how to do this, please chime in with any suggestions you might have...I am currently in a state of overhaul, trying to learn, basically from scratch, how to make it all happen (and if this is even possible).

Here, in no particular order, are my goals, dreams, things that are important to me, things I have to do and things I want to get better at:

• Be a better employee and a better coworker. This includes, but is not limited to, being respectful of other people's time by being punctual.
• Come up with a system for support partnership development. Spread sheets, designated phone call times, at least two meetings a week with potential partners. I need to be making this a top priority, and it should be organized like one.
• Cook more. This is something I love to do...it absolutely recharges me and relaxes me. Not to mention that on top of that it is much healthier and much less expensive!
• Focus on my artistic side. This includes making jewelry and raising my new Etsy store to a respectable level, writing and photographing more creatively for this here blog and even being more creative regarding my personal sense of style...not in a materialistic way, but in a way that makes me feel confident and individual.
• Clean up. I know that I will be more productive, more relaxed and clearer of mind if I learn to be a cleaner, more organized person on a daily basis. (Hopefully the Great Flood of 2011 will aid in my motivation.)
• Get financially under control. I am not thousands in debt or anything...don't worry! But I need to have a better system of bill paying, budget following and savings building.
• Get moving. I'm not getting any younger and my metabolism isn't getting any faster. Now, I don't have a weight problem, nor am I struggling with any health issues, but I do feel like developing good habits of exercise and health are important. Especially while I'm still young...do it now, and I'll be more likely to follow it in the future.
• Be a better family member and a better friend. I do not ever want to allow my personal endeavors or desires to overshadow what is important and necessary in my relationships with other people. I'm not really growing if I leave everyone else in the dust.
• Grow a better relationship with Jesus, a better foundation in Him. Everything I've said above is moot if I don't put my relationship with God first and center. Period.

I realize that this post is highly logistical and highly boring...I didn't find Jesus on a potato chip today, and I haven't come to any crazy epiphanies regarding my faith. I wish I could give an award-winning post every single day. Wouldn't that would be wonderful? But, life is a marathon, and sometimes periods of growth and change come slowly and in the most generic of ways. Like, for example, getting a perpetually-late-forgetful-billpaying-lazy gal to get life in line. If God can give me the strength to make all the changes needed to do all the things listed above, it will truly be a miracle.

Would you pray for me that this miracle would come?

With love,

Alison