Sep 11
9
If You Were About to Lose It All…
This week is “bookended” by two very emotional Sundays. Just a few days ago, Austin was surrounded by wildfires. The stories and photos have been heartbreaking, but thankfully few lives have been lost.This weekend, we will remember the events of 9/11 on the 10th anniversary of the day that changed America. Another emotional reminder that life can change in an instant, and that we should appreciate what we have every day.
I spent part of Labor Day weekend watching the news as fires spread all around Austin. Though two of them were 15 miles away and another 60 miles, the air at my home was filled with smoke and ashes, and the stories and photos of people losing everything they owned were heartbreaking. Sometimes it takes a tragedy to make us stop and appreciate what we have, and remember what is really important in life. I am still contemplating that today.
It is times like this, when life can change in an instant, that make me more passionate than ever about living life to the fullest, making sure I use the gifts God has given me to the best of my ability. I want to make sure I inspire joy and excellence in others, from my children to my friends to my extended community. I want to know that, when my life is over, I will be able to say that I have few regrets, that I have done all I could do to encourage those around me to live with the same enthusiasm for life that I have. I want to know that I have lived, loved and laughed as much as I possibly could and that I have made a difference.
I have also been thinking about what I would grab and run with if told I had five minutes to leave. The “stuff” of life becomes unimportant at that point, and family is all that matters. I would leave behind my home accessories, my business files, my computer and everything in my closet. I would take with me my family photographs and my dogs, those things that make me feel happy and secure. I spent several hours yesterday pulling photos out of 28-years of albums and will scan them in the near future. Right now, they are all organized in photo boxes in a large tub, ready for the “grab and go” scenario.
If you knew that you were about to lose everything, or that you had only a few years to live, what would you do? How would you use your God-given gifts to live more fully and passionately? Would you live with more purpose, saying “no” to the things that don’t bring you joy and instead focus on the things that energize and excite you? Would you shed the things that are a burden to you so you could orchestrate your life the way you want it to play out?
I am thankful that I have a Life Purpose Statement, providing the foundation for living my life “from the inside out.” I am grateful for the opportunity to 
influence others, and for the Divine inspiration that has given me the skills and knowledge to help others live more fully and intentionally. I am thankful that I have a life plan that will help me live so focused and joyfully that I will have few regrets when suddenly everything changes. I know I am making a difference, one life at a time, and that I matter.
If you are feeling out of balance, focused on things that don’t enrich your life, then I encourage you to spend some time defining your own life purpose. Think about where you are now, where you want to go, and who you want to impact. Plan your days around your life’s priorities, and say “no” more often. Create some big goals for yourself that will strengthen you mentally, spiritually and physically. Embrace your passions and live with purpose, spreading your goodness to those around you. Take care of yourself, follow your dreams, live joyfully, and you will make a difference, too.
