A Few Reflections On My Journey
December 30, 2007 | In Making A Diff. Lifestyle |
“God gave us our memories so that we might have roses in December.” - J. M. Barrie
Photo by tanakawho
Peter at I Will Change Your Life had a very interesting post on Friday entitled: “50 Tips From My Year Of Change.” The title caught my interest since my life has changed a lot over the past year or so as well. A few of the tips stood out, either as tips I’ve also tried and found useful, or as tips I want to add to my “to do” list. Following the order of the original post, below are the tips that resonated the most with me:
Write A Personal Mission Statement
This is a great tip; I know because I wrote mine in the summer of 2006. This was an eye opening experience that really clarified my values and focus in life. It was one of the first steps I took on the long road to living my dream.
When I wrote my mission statement, I looked back over my life and really thought about all the goals I’ve had and all the “things I wanted to be when I grew up.” I realized that ever since middle school, I’ve wanted to be a teacher. What I wanted to teach changed, but the teaching remained. I realized this was part of my mission in life - to teach.
However, I was still at a loss as to what, exactly, I wanted to teach. Then, at the end of this past summer, I again had an opportunity to examine my life and my dream of being an activist resurfaced. Putting the two elements together gave me a perfect plan - I would teach how to be an activist. First, by just showing what I’m doing as I go along. Then, later, when I have more knowledge, and hopefully more time, I can expand into volunteering at my local aquarium or science center and teach there as well.
My Mission Statement: My mission is to experience life through loving John and teaching others.
Don’t Be Afraid To Become A Parent
This is one of those tips I’m putting on the “to do” list. A little over a year ago, the idea of becoming a parent was terrifying. First there was the state of the world with political unrest and environmental damage. Then there was my own personal issues - I felt like my emotional baggage would be to much for a child to handle and I thought becoming a parent would be a really bad idea.
However, since the summer of 2006 (when I wrote my mission statement), several things have changed in my life: I’ve made the conscious decision deal with some of that emotional baggage, taken the plunge to go for my dreams, then watched my niece turn four, then five. Last, but not least, I married the man of my dreams.
I’m not the same person I was in the summer of 2006. I believe I’m a better person and better prepared for the journey ahead. I’m now much more ready to contemplate becoming a parent. Although - I’m not sure which is going to be easier - saving the Chesapeake Bay, or raising children!
Listen To Podcasts And Audio Books
This is one I’ve definitely done this past year and am glad I did. Here’s a shocker - I don’t own an iPod. However, a few years ago I bought a Palm PDA. I’ve used it for keeping a calendar, exercise log, notepad, and alarm clock. Then, this summer, I purchased a memory card to turn it into an MP3 player.
I’ve listened to it while exercising and hooked it up to a cheap pair of speakers to listen in the car. I also discovered - with a lot more room - that I can download lots of e-books to it as well.
To be honest, the reason I bought the memory card instead of an iPod is because I didn’t see the point in owning another piece of technology. By no means am I anti technology. I guess it was a little bit of frugality, and a little bit of saving the planet, but I figured that if I could use something I already owned, it didn’t make any sense to buy something new.
So, although this particular tips isn’t related specifically to environmental activism, I do appreciate that it gave me an opportunity to once more think about how I use “stuff” and consider how I can use less “stuff” whenever possible.
Work On Yourself At Work
This is definitely something I’ve given thought to. In Let Giving - Not Money - Motivate You, I spoke of how I don’t feel that just working for someone’s bottom line is for me. I need to feel that I’m giving back in some way.
Then, in Work Space Decoration - Show Your Activist Side, I spoke of ways that I decorate my desk to show that I’m an activist.
Finally, just yesterday, I spoke about my plans for a new position in the new year in A New Leaf Named 2008 - Personal Thoughts
Stretch Yourself By Trying Something New
This year, I tried hiking regularly. Although I didn’t get out as often as I could have, I’m thankful that I did get out to the forest a few times. I went hiking with my brother and niece on one trip and the other trips it was just me and my husband. We picked up lots of trash and we spent a lot of time talking.
More importantly, I think I found something spiritual beneath the trees. The hiking trail we follow runs along a river. At several points along the river there are spots to stop and rest. Many times John and I sat on a rock and listened to the water flowing. It was peaceful and moving. I can’t say for sure that going hiking gave me an epiphany or anything, but I can say that appreciating nature was one of the deciding factors in making the decision to make a change.
I’m grateful to Peter for publishing the list because it gave me a chance to see how far I’ve come as well. I encourage you to check out the original post, or to leave me a comment below on anything that stood out for you in my post.
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