Goals.....

We are now in February and I still haven't 'actually' written down my goals for this year (and you know what they say about 'writing it down') so this will have to act as the official 'recording of my goals'.

I think that ONE word really sums up everything I want to achieve this year (in fact this word is appropriate for me, every year.......past, present and possibly future).......the word is DISCIPLINE!!!! ahhhh sigh! When I think about the things I want to improve in my life and the things I want to change, it really does all come down to discipline! I recently read a quote that said something along the lines of, being committed to something is NOT about convenience it's about discipline! (how true this is for me).

There are lots of things I have reflected on while setting my goals and assessing "where I'm at" for this year. How committed I am, being focused, (I am constantly telling my kids to focus on 'one' thing at a time) Being organised.......just to mention a few but once again DISCIPLINE seems to cover everything I 'want' and the things that are MOST important.

So lately I have felt torn about "what I want to do, or should be doing".......now that Jasmin is nearly 1 (I know can you believe it) and not so 'attatched' (if ya get what I mean) should I spend more time doing photography and get back into doing weddings..........should I go back to teaching at the gym because I love it (and I need it :)......should I 'scrub' up on photoshop and do editing from home at night etc etc......basically I have been pressuring myself that now that I don't have a 'newborn' and I'm feeling so "free" (used very loosely) I should be 'multi tasking' my life and doing 'things' that I love, that are 'child friendly' and don't 'take me 'away' from my kids.

So I was thinking about this trying to 'make a descision' on what I would throw myself into wholeheartedly, when I suddenly (and it was quite sudden) I remembered one of my favourite quotes by Richard G Scott....

""there are so many fascinating, exciting things to do and so many challenges pressing down upon us that it is hard to keep FOCUSED on that which is essential? When things of the world crowd in, all too often the wrong things take highest priority. Then it is easy to forget the fundamental purpose of life. Satan has a powerful tool to use against good people. It is distraction. He would have good people fill life with 'GOOD THINGS' so there is no room for the essential ones".........

I am one who is easily distracted (to this Chad would say "oh yes") and I realised that all the things i've been thinking about doing are all 'good' things. they are all great things. things that I LOVE. but they are NOT the most important things!!! So are these the things I should be throwing myself "wholeheartedly" into??

Ok this is getting WAY too long - i will get to the point

What is best for me (at this stage of my life) is my family. As Chad has often reminded me, there is a time and a season for everything. I can always go back to teaching at the gym. I will always have photography or whatever it is, but my focus NOW needs to be on the 4 people I love the most in this world! My kids need me. They need me to play with them. to talk to them.......to read to them.....to just be with them......and not just in 'body' (as in doing things around them - like photo editing) but to completely involve myself with them.......I want them to look back and remember having a 'life with me' and not just living with me!!

I am so blessed to be the 'mother of my 'children'. I LOVE THEM ALL SO MUCH......I can't even believe how much.......(so much so that I think i want another baby already - i know shock horror - not the words you thought you would hear me say for another year or so........AT LEAST......but that's a whole 'other' story that I won't go into now......)

So this year I am going to choose what I think is BEST not just good, and i'm going to DISCIPLINE myself to make the changes and improvements that I need and want......and I am going to WHOLE HEARTEDLY - without regret - throw myself into this stage of my life and SIMPLY enjoy every minute I have with my BEAUTIFUL FAMILY!!