"To Live My Life As..."
This is a re-post of the ONLY post I did that didn't receive a single comment. I consider it to be one of the most important posts I've written...
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First of all, thank you so much for reading this and for all the amazing emails, phone calls and conversations of support. I know I am blogging like crazy, but for now, the juices are a'flowin', so I am a'bloggin'. I'm sure it will slow a bit and I will start to post recipes and such....okay for those of you who know me, maybe not recipes...
It was an intimate retreat of 10 business professionals designed help create your business's culture. In any business, you have to know what kind of culture you want in order to really hire and market to the people you want.. or more importantly, the people who want you!
To begin the process, the facilitator (actually, I think he was a jedi master in disguise) asked us to each come up with a mission statement for our own life. My mind started reeling immediately (I am totally competitive when it comes to these things) but the "Master" spoke and reeling ceased almost instantly and my life was changed forever.
This man, master, guru, said the following: "For me, it is that I want to live my life as the man I want my son to become."
TO LIVE MY LIFE AS THE MAN I WANT MY SON TO BECOME
Every fiber of my being resounded, "Yes! Yes! Yes! That is it. That is how I want to live."
The clarity was instant. It was a true "Ah Ha" moment. How to live, who to be, what to do, was....well, instantly obvious.
Getting the mission statement was the easy part (this sentence alone was worth every penny of that expensive retreat). Truly living it, holding my place in the world in this way is the challenge.
When I hold myself to this kind of awesome accountability, I make the right choice everytime, without fail, no exceptions. When I let my ego, pettiness, jealousy, etc. get the better of me, I try to snap out of it by reminding myself of the woman and example I want to be.
Am I perfect? Ah, that would be a big, fat "NO, not even close!" But, I am thoughtful and aware and that's half the battle. For me, having a "motto" for my life is necessary. A grounding point. If you don't know where you're going, how are you ever going to get anywhere?
If you have a mission statement or motto, please share it in the comments! If not, maybe take a few minutes and think about it. If the motto I shared suits you, take it, it's yours... Can you imagine a world in which we all functioned from such a place?
© 2008 The R Family Diaries. All Rights Reserved.
Comments
I sure I didn't say that right, but you know what I mean.
My motto?? That's tough...let me think on it tonight!!
I think I am the one little European red dot on your map right now. That's fun too.
I haven't had my Aha moment, still flying by the seat of my pants and hoping against hope that my husband has a plan.
Excellent advice! Truly. Our kids soak up everything we say and do.
Glad you reposted this!
Mrs. R really does live this way and is an amazing balance in any situation. She's constantly talking me down off of the ceiling and telling me to live my life as an example to my girls.
It makes me think about situations, issues and problems in ways I wouldn't normally tackle them and, in turn, it makes me take the time to calm down and face it like an adult.
Because I have a tendency to start sentences with, "I want..." and it usually ends with a trip to Target or shopping online at Forever 21 and Fred Flare.
Sigh...
But back to you...
You are amazing. And I am president of your fan club, just in case anyone's wondering.
My motto:
To experience JOY everyday.
a quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson:
"I am a part of all that I have met, yet- through each arch gleams that untravelled world whose margins fade forever and ever where I move."
swirl girl
"She Gave Them All She Had"
Since then I'vet tried to remind myself everyday to gife Life all I have - participate fully and not sleep-walk through a minute of it.
Great post! I can't believe no one commented on before.
Beautiful, inspiring motto!
I'm heading out into the day with this motto in my heart.
Ever since I had Z though I do look at people and situations differently. If someone or something really bothers me, I try to step back and think "Ok, this person is someone's son/daughter. If the situation were reversed, how would I want them to speak or treat Zander if it were him?" Unfortunately, I don't always remember this...but I really try.
Hmmmmm... I try to live without regret. And to never wish I'd been around the kids more. So far I'm doing much better with the latter. :)
I also like the Serenity Prayer...
'God grant the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change. Courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.'
"Make A Difference In The World...One Person At a Time"
Thanks for the reminder, I needed that!
You never know when it could all change or be over.
But as an interior designer, I learned a little trick a long time ago---think about your house or a room you don't like. Then describe what you like or don't like about it, what you want to change, etc.---and then take a moment and ponder on it and you'll find you are describing something about yourself! (cue Twilight Zone music....)
Hope the 29 comments you've gotten on this so far make up for the previous 0!!! :)
My line is in the Mission statement:)
Anyway... I don't have a motto. And I can't handle the pressure to figure one out. But I did have a mantra once, when I was suffering from extreme anxiety, which was, "what can I do in this moment to improve the quality of my life?" This would focus me away from negative thoughts. I almost didn't include it here, b/c it sounds selfish and not at all a motto, but it's the closest thing I've got. This was before I had kids, so I might revise it now to the quality of OUR life as a family, but that's not quite it either. GAAAH! I give up!
"Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders and says..
"Oh no, she's awake."
---Unknown