DO NOT GET CAUGHT UP
Do you ever feel like you are on a hamster’s wheel, when it seems there is just one thing happening after another? Have you psyched yourself to believe that it is just life? WRONG! Let us go back to the beginning of how you got to this point, the race trap situation. The race trap is the presence of the desire or a want for something, but the lack of preparation or discipline to run the race to obtain it. The result is a continuous cycle of going nowhere fast, the disappointment that ensues, and eventually, getting caught up on the proverbial hamster’s wheel.
You wanted to:
- Get a degree
- Have that extended vacation
- Land that perfect job position
- Get married
- Have children
- Get the promotion, staying relevant, and growing on the job
- Be the super parent and stay slim and sexy
Instead, the motivation that was with you initially was not sufficient to see you to the end. Is your head spinning yet? Well, that is how you end up on the hamster’s wheel. Not accomplishing or realizing what you set out to do is exhausting and disappointing. The wheel of life will continuously spin, and you must make the decision how much to take on at a time. It is okay to set lofty goals, but it is just as essential to reach them strategically step by step.
The best part of life is enjoying the view. When you get caught in a whirlwind, you miss life, and you wake up and find yourself 65 and retired. You do not remember the vacations, the details of the wedding, or the kids’ graduation. That perfect job you landed could collapse at any time. Let us reset. Enjoy the journey of high school and college, memories of developing and cultivating friendships, taking in sporting events, and reflect on all the moments, the good and the bad. Remember lessons learned from even the horrid experience of your best friend stealing your boyfriend or girlfriend, which could have possibly turned out to save you future grief (smile).
Before you land that well deserved career, see the beauty in the planning of a simple vacation between finishing school and accepting the daily grind of that career. When starting that path, know your worth, make every day count, be a person of excellence when no one else cares. Go for the promotions or know when it is time to venture out to explore and pursue something new. Because of your self-confidence, good communication skills, leadership abilities, and your self-care, it is likely you will attract people with the same values, including a potential spouse if that is your dream. All relationships have challenges, but the skills learned and applied during your life dealing with problem-solving will enhance and solidify any worthwhile relationship, resulting in a mindset to count it all joy.
Without a doubt, parenting will be the greatest responsibility anyone will face during a lifetime. Although knowledge is power, there really is no amount of preparation that can fully equip you for this monumental task. Years ago, all well informed prospective parents read Dr. Spock’s books on baby and child care, child development, etc. Little did they know that these books, though helpful, were just an introduction to parenthood. They were not the entire encyclopedia of knowledge that could only come with experience and the well tried and tested life experiences of those who have been successful at this fulfilling undertaking. The life of parenting cannot be duplicated; it is joyful, stressful, painful, surprising, interesting and fulfilling. Yes, I can go on forever.
Life is a journey to be lived and enjoyed. There will be stopping along the way, times of rest and adventure, but there will also be periods learning, training, working, gaining, and giving. There will be hindrances that can cause set-backs, but these can be avoided if you remain focused. Preparation, self-care, strength, determination, and most importantly, faith in God, are all essential core values needed to move forward to accomplish and realize those things that will bring joy and fulfilment.
DON’T GET CAUGHT UP (SMILE)
Justifiable Joann