A Million Little Things

As a great friend reminded me, “the list will always be full, and it will always be there.” Yes, this is very true. Yet we determine the value and weight of the items on the list.

It brings me back to one of the best professional development trainings I’ve ever been to: Leader in Me founded in Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Happy People (https://www.leaderinme.org/what-is-leader-in-me/). An essential tool to help “Put First Things First” was the quadrant of organizing priorities (https://www.franklincovey.com/the-7-habits/habit-3.html). This tool forever changed my mindset on approaching the tasks of the day INTENTIONALLY.

Another fantastic practice that I’ve been inspired to participate in regularly is setting a daily intention. This mindfulness practice that was dearly inspired by Lyndsey Morris from Generation Wellness (https://www.generationwellness.com/). She introduced “accountability buddies” that you set daily intentions with and then share your gratitudes with at the end of each day. I’ve been doing this with two other friends (we call ourselves Team Marigolds) and it has allowed me to feel uplifted and reflective in order to achieve my goals.

These are all great things to remain mindful and intentional about my daily investments. Yet, achieving things off “the-never-ending-always-growing-and-multiplying-list” does not always provide the long-term fulfillment that life has to offer. I must always consider these things:

1. By accomplishing _________________, am I building others up?
2. When I invest my time into ____________________, am I inspiring myself to be my best self?
3. Am I neglecting family and friends by focusing on _____________________?

Life is short. It’s going faster and faster as the days go by. Weeks are going so fast, it’s almost scary. Watching my 5 year old grow as a Kindergartner creates a humbling time awareness. Therefore, the ‘million little things’ that are going through my mind, things started-but-not-yet-finished, the laundry, the dishes and all the other things are far less valuable than spending time with those that I love.  Embracing the memories that unfold as well as the value of their presence should be the utmost priority.

But I wonder. That’s been my truth and has always been important to me, but DOING it has been hard to follow through with. Is it because of the LIST, or is it because of the ENERGY lost from doing things on the LIST? Either way, the cost of valuing ‘getting things done’ has a cost. I value my family and friendships far more than the small things on my to-do-list.

As the title clearly states, “A Million Little Things,” this communicates more than the to-do-list of all of the ‘things’ to do. It goes deeper. The show “A Million Little Things” clearly shows the complexities of just ‘doing the everyday life.’ It shows that even though you’re closely tied to those around you, it still doesn’t mean you know the daily struggles of those closest to you. Sometimes the struggles are disguised in their hard work and determination. They are happily distracted by their alternative focus. Embracing our struggles can be the scariest thing. Yet the most courageous. This is why it’s so important to love each other and accept each other through good and bad times. And honestly, simply by ASKING questions we can be more ATTUNE to each other. Be curious, be open, be YOU.

To tie the big ideas of this blog together, I think there are some key ideas to keep in mind as we take on the day we are in and the days we have ahead.

Let’s embrace the opportunity of today and the promise of tomorrow by being hopeful and optimistic.

Let’s celebrate our achievements and not grieve the incomplete.

Let’s be intentional. Let’s work to build positive outcomes. Let’s inspire others.

Stay connected to self and with the relationships that matter most to us by asking questions and being reflective.

In conclusion, I leave you with a song that truly communicates the MUST-DO’s on our to-do-lists that give the best lifetime investment and payback. Through all things, may we be humble and kind.

Humble and Kind by Tim McGraw