As I do every year, back in December, I started a list of my number one goals and priorities for 2012. The list was pretty long and ambitious, but I was excited and secretly wondering how in the world I would get it all done.
For me, goals are like candy in the candy store: there are always many more flavors than I can possible choose. And I always want them all.
But….I paired down my list, came up with a handful of the most important ones and sat back. Satisfied with a job well done.
Then on Christmas Eve, I tossed a proverbial hand grenade into my entire list.
I got a puppy.
A big, kissy, bitey, slobbery, pooping and peeing machine dressed in the most lovably soft fur ever. Little Molly is cuddly, fuzzy, sweet (when she is sleeping) and silly. All I want to do is hold her, pet her, laugh at her antics and give her tons of kisses.
Not exactly the most practical thing I could have done if my Goal list stuff was really my top priority.
What had I been thinking?
Sometimes, no matter how organized, efficient, or inspired to create we may think we are, our actions don’t align with what we say our top priorities are. The truth is, we are kidding ourselves.
My top priority changed on Christmas Eve. Now my number one priority is to cuddle with my puppy before she gets big. I will only be able to hold her for a little while. A blink in my life time. Everything else has to fall under that somehow.
The Speed of Light and Priorities.
Along with a celebrating a new puppy, we have two milestone birthdays this month. My oldest daughter, Tania, turns 35 and my youngest son, Michael, is turning 18. In both cases it feels like they were just born. I find myself sitting with tea in hand this month wondering where in the world time flew off to. I don’t feel like have gotten that much older, how in the world are they getting so old?!
I blinked, and my children have grown up. When I blink again, this tiny puppy will be a fifty pound dog. When I blink again, the speed of light will have taken its toll once more. What things will I look back on and wish I had spent more time with? I know…from experience, that the thing I wish I had most is more time with my kids. I know that when they are little it feels like there is forever to enjoy them, but take it from a mom of thirty-five years, before you know it your kids will be grown and gone.
The Most Important Things…
My family and home—people and puppies included—are my TRUE number one priority. My health and fitness have to be my second priority because after all—as I was rudely reminded by an injury in August, without my health and fitness, I can’t enjoy my other priorities.
Business and the Never-ending To Do list…they have to fall in behind.
Here’s the thing. I don’t always behave as if those are my top priorities. In the past, I have spent the majority of my time on business, my To Do list and all my creative endeavors and let the rest of my time be a jumble of other priorities fighting to be squeezed in.
A Puppy Changes Everything.
- A puppy reminds me that our real priorities can’t be put aside for someday. A puppy reminds me that RIGHT NOW is her only chance to be a puppy and if I don’t want to miss it, I have to schedule the time to enjoy it—or lose it forever.
- A puppy reminds me to look around and ask, Is this task REALLY as important as I thought it was or can it wait for another day?
- A puppy reminds me that if I want to get my work out in, that I better get up in the morning and get out the door while she is still sleepy. She reminds me to make better choices with my time.
- A puppy reminds me to go to bed earlier. Because she will be waiting wide awake at the crack of dawn to greet me, whether I went to bed on time or not.
- A puppy creates discipline in my schedule and a truer alignment with all of my priorities.
So far this year, as a result of having a puppy, I am more organized than other years. I am planning better and sticking to schedules. I have to be—or face the mess of a poopy crate. THAT is motivation, let me tell you!
I am getting my family and puppy time in, I am getting my work outs done and behold….I am getting business work done too. More than ever—in a more compact, efficient way.
It feels like something just short of a miracle that I have more time than ever, but in truth, I am just spending my time more wisely.
I’ve always heard, “If you want something done, give it to a busy person.” I think it’s true. When you don’t have much of time, you are less apt to waste it.
And I’m going to squeeze in all the puppy time I can, I don’t want to waste a drop.
