Sunday Post..

Be soft.  Don't let the world make you hard.

Do not let the pain make you hate.

Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness.

Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree,

you still believe it to be a beautiful place.

-K.Vonnegut... The man's legacy was his writing, but much more: POW during Battle of the Bulge, 1944; father; car salesman; teacher; and there-after a Harvard Professor.

Many times we have quotes, writings, sayings that have been spoken by others and we find them to be our 'truth'.  We may remember the individual that stated the words but rarely know of their life, possible life-events, values, but we do know one thing: Their Words.

I stumbled upon this.. like most things.
I find it to state a bit of 'truth' for me.... Vonnegut doesn't have a huge impact on me, but his combination of words do.
Many of us can get caught up in the routine... caught up in our thoughts, events, activities that seem to dominate our days if we let them.
So how do you not?

We write lots of lists...
Decided it was time to write one I wasn't going to lose:

The Priorities List.

How this list works: 

Make two columns. 

1- what you do now.. all of it. you can categorize it if you would like. what consumes all of your time... everything from work, church, school, family, activities, hobbies, sports, reading, web-surfing, etc...

2- what you wish you could have the time to do or what you wish you had more time to do

Now... look at them.  Truly find yourself in them.  How you see your life with what you really want to be doing with your time. 

Maybe there are things that you do feel passion for, but unfortunately you just don't agree with those leading that group/organization/activity you are a part of.  Right now may not be the right time in your life for you to be a part of that.

This list will evolve as you and your setting do... so be in the present and make the most of it.

Begin to eliminate what you are doing just because somewhere along the way you ended up doing it.. get rid of what you find to have little passion for, what you aren't going to really miss, or what just isn't fitting where you are at.  Find what makes you who you really want to be: what challenges you, brings you joy, drives your passion, and makes you better.

Finally... Start.

Start living with your priorities in mind and begin saying no to the rest.

Sometimes this is what stands between mediocre and absolute greatness.

I think the time has come... to be Great.