2012 Goals update

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. -- Thomas Edison

“It takes a person who is wide awake to make his dream come true.” (Roger Babson)

“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” (Zig Ziglar)

"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14

An underlying theme in a lot of my goals for this year seems to be "being proactive". In my life I think am realizing that I want certain things to happen but don't make the necessary effort to make them a reality and then I'm disappointed that nothing has changed. I can see this is many areas of my life now. I think it may stem from the fact that there is so much in my life that I really cannot do anything to "fix": my kids' developmental delays, my husband's sleeping problems... maybe I've gotten used to not being able to change anything and I've allowed that to keep me from doing the things that I actually do have control over.

But lately I am really working hard to my mindset. I have been stepping outside my comfort zone and stretching myself. I am trying to be deliberate about making things happen. Little things, like purposely planning playdates and having couples over for dinner. Things that I used to say "we should get together"... but we never actually would get around to it. It is my prayer that these small steps will, over time, make a larger impact on my life.

I read an article on The Importance of Knowing What You Want to Accomplish that really spoke to me. In it Joshua Becker talks about how our goals mold and shape us and the choices that we make in our lives. Toward the end of the article he asks the question: What then, with the one life that you have to live, do you most desire to accomplish?

Honestly... in some ways I am still figuring it out. But ultimately, I want my life to glorify God, to be a devoted wife and mother, inspire those around me and I want to love my life. I believe I still have a ways to go. But I'm working on it. And that is a step in the right direction.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

I looked up the Serenity Prayer for the purpose of this post and was surprised - I had only ever heard the first four lines. I did not realize it was longer. What powerful words I have missed out on for all this time. Those are words to live by.