Priorities

It seems that it's the season for new beginnings. As I wrap up this year at school and look forward to a summer that I hope will be restful and full of renewal, there are so many goals on my mind. I struggle to discern what should be an immediate priority and what can wait until another time. There are so many things I want to accomplish - so many things I hope to be one day. It is my prayer that I may take time to listen, and to seek out those activities that will help me to become the woman I was created to be - to allow the other things to melt into the background.

I'm quite excited to be moving with my roommate to Greensboro at the beginning of July. I am also changing grade levels next year, so I will be teaching two new preps in eighth grade. Both are indications of the new season my life is beginning.

As I dream about the days and years to come, my mind and soul are filled with possibilities. Here are a few of the things I am contemplating:

• Train for the Ramblin' Rose Triathlon (I was doing really well with this, but haven't worked out regularly since I got bronchitis a few weeks ago)
• Take yoga and/or pilates regularly as a physical and mental habit
• Join a choir, take mandolin lessons, and/or get a keyboard so I can play the piano at my new apartment
• Find a church that I can belong to in Greensboro
• Join some other groups such as SynerG and United Way Young Leaders
• Begin grad school with an online program in Instructional Technology
• Attend multiple professional development workshops this summer
• Volunteer with Greensboro Urban Ministry and/or Habitat for Humanity
• Spend some time in professional reflection and planning for the year to come
• Write, journal, and blog regularly
• Find some sort of organizational system for my personal and professional life
• Listen to more music! (Loving a mix of Sam Bush, The Avett Brothers, Carole King, Stoney LaRue, Corey Smith, and Sister Hazel at the moment)
• Go on a date with someone other than an exboyfriend :-p

Obviously undertaking all of these activities is overwhelming. But it is my goal to pick a few to pursue rather than allowing all my ambition to be quelled by overwhelm. I welcome insights as to how to separate the worthwhile pursuits from those that can wait.

This is the vision board I created this weekend while on retreat :)

God Says Yes To Me

I asked God if it was okay to be melodramatic

and she said yes

I asked her if it was okay to be short

and she said it sure is

I asked her if I could wear nail polish

or not wear nail polish

and she said honey

she calls me that sometimes

she said you can do just exactly

what you want to

Thanks God I said

And is it even okay if I don't paragraph my letters

Sweetcakes God said

who knows where she picked that up

what I'm telling you is

Yes Yes Yes

(Poem written by Kaylin Haught)

Roll on Bye

Don't be shy just let your feelings roll on bye

And don't wear fear or nobody will know you're there

Just lift your head and let your feelings out instead

No don't be shy just let your feelings roll on bye - Cat Stevens

This weekend I am planning a retreat. Last time I planned a retreat it was for 100 people, many of whom I didn't even really respect. I ran myself into a rut attempting to please every possible audience. The result was that nobody really got an overall meaning or message, and I became exhausted mentally, emotionally, and physically.

This time I am planning a retreat for me and only me.

I am going to spend some time remember who I am, and figuring out where I'm going.

I am going to spend some time thinking about what Lent means to me, today, in my life.

I am going to spend some time thinking about what it is I want and who it is I wish to be.

I am going to rest, and relax, and love myself.

Here is a list of some of the things I am considering for the weekend:

Vision Board/Collaging

Redecorating my room - I need that *special* piece

Phone calls to some special friends (Ruth, Abby, Crystal, Carol)

Poetry!

Pilates

Prayer breakfast at the church I visited on Wednesday

Writing thank-you cards to some special people in my life

Reading

Renting a silly video that I've been wanting to watch

Listening to fabulous music

Creating some awesome play lists

Cleaning out my life - kitchen/fridge; bathroom; corner in my room; car; dead fern in the sun room

Listening to some inspirational speakers and writers thanks to Jennifer Louden's Virtual Retreat

Treating myself to a massage

Journaling

Creating a plan of action for areas in which I'd like to evolve (finances; physical health; cleanliness of my surroundings)

Setting a goal for the month :)

Photo is a picture of the beautiful Iranian New Years tradition "Haft Sin" by Hamed Saber

Words for 2010

Free

Real

Awake

Shimmer

Healthy

Listen

Wind

Soul

Song

Dance

Clarify

Clear

Clean

Sparkle

Translucent

Transparent

Glisten