A game of Evening Chase…

At the beginning of January, I wrote out my priorities. I shared them here, but I also physically wrote them out and taped them to the wall above my writing desk. Zack shares with me often the importance of writing out our goals/priorities (he has so much wisdom), and I know there is a lot of progress when we write them down. So this time, for my 2017 priorities, I wrote them down.

Seeing them on a daily basis, seeing what I want to focus on and what I want to prioritize and what I have given value to, has taught me something: it’s so, so easy to lose my focus. I like to write myself reminders, just like I like I do with using my “special” candles and best coffee mugs and prettiest dish towels and favorite necklace. If I don’t do write reminders or use my favorites, I wait. Forever.

And so what is the point of waiting? This is my one life, I want to enjoy it and be an example for my children to enjoy things and make things a priority, too.

Right now, my writing desk is filled with books. And my computer. And a handful of notebooks. And my mini-binder (more on this later). And last years collection of Real Simple (my favorite magazine).

Just now I looked at what I’m currently reading and thought, “Wow, I’m halfway through this book.”

Look, another priority.

I never regret sitting down to read.

I never regret taking even five minutes to read.

Because really, reading for five minutes (over and over and over) is exactly how I made it to halfway.

PROGRESS! :)

Reading for ten minutes feels great, and reading for twenty minutes feels like a luxury — but guess what? Having a book to read AND seeing I’m halfway through encourages me to keep reading. Just the other day, while Marigold was taking an evening nap, I ushered the older two into their shared bedroom to play together. And what did I do? I grabbed a magazine and sat on our bed to read.

Dinner was simmering on the stove, and I saw the potential for a little quiet time.

Of course I had to ask Max and Natalie to go back into their bedroom a few times…

Of course, because showing them how to play in their room together takes time.

Practice takes time.

Priorities take time.

Still, I kept going back to my magazine.

After what felt like a generous amount of time, Max and Natalie started their game of Evening Chase down the hardwood hallway, which was my reminder to finish up dinner and get the table set.

I tossed my magazine to Zack’s side of the bed, and headed to the kitchen to tend to another one of my priorities…