Living in the Moment

Recently, I was having a conversation with a friend about priorities and balance in life.  We were discussing our jobs and the amount of stress, worry, and hours of the day we put into our careers.  Why do we do that to ourselves?  Sure, we want to have a good job so that we can pay our bills every month.  Is the only way to be successful by working 60 hours a week, and constantly thinking of what else can I be doing for my company?  That was how I lived my life for years.  I always wanted to get ahead.  I was always looking for that next challenge at work, and I definitely ranked my job as the number one priority in my life.  It paid off.  I was awarded employee of the year for my company in 2010.  All my hard work was noticed.  Then I thought about what I sacrificed to get there.  I had no hobbies, no time to spend with friends, and while I am blessed to have a very supportive husband, my marriage was suffering.  

It was around the time that I made this list that I decided to make a personal change.  I would still work hard when I was at the office and have no problem putting in late hours when I need to, but work will no longer come first.  Life will come first.  Relationships will come first.  I was reminded of a quote from Abraham Lincoln:  “And in the end it is not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years.”  Spending all my time worrying about work is not 'life in my years.'  (Just to stay honest, I had to look up who said that quote.  I remember statements that I like, but am terrible at remembering their authors.)  

So I made new promises to myself.  I will work hard and be passionate about my job, but when I leave work, I will actually leave work.  I will discover hobbies and new passions in my life that are completely my own, for me, and no one else.  I will dedicate time to growing myself as a child of Christ.  I will make an effort everyday to develop my relationships with my friends, family and husband.  I will be the woman God made me to be.

Last night I was enjoying a night of keeping promises.  I was at a concert spending time with my two wonderful aunts and loving husband.  My work email was off, and I was doing two of my favorite things (listening to live music and spending time with family.)  During the concert, a song came on that I thought was a perfect summary for this year in my life.  I thought it was a great fit for this blog and my intentions with creating it.

 "Living In The Moment"

If this life is one act
Why do we lay all these traps?
We put them right in our path
When we just wanna be free

I will not waste my days
Making up all kinds of ways
To worry about all the things
That will not happen to me

So I just let go of what I know I don't know
And I know I'll only do this by
Living in the moment
Living our life
Easy and breezy
With peace in my mind
With peace in my heart
Peace in my soul
Wherever I'm going, I'm already home
Living in the moment

I'm letting myself off the hook for things I've done
I let my past go past
And now I'm having more fun
I'm letting go of the thoughts
That do not make me strong
And I believe this way can be the same for everyone

And if I fall asleep
I know you'll be the one who'll always remind me
To live in the moment
To live my life
Easy and breezy
With peace in my mind
With peace in my heart
Got peace in my soul
Wherever I'm going, I'm already home

I can't walk through life facing backwards
I have tried
I tried more than once to just make sure
And I was denied the future I'd been searching for
But I spun around and hurt no more
By living in the moment
Living my life
Easy and breezy
With peace in my mind
With peace in my heart
Got peace in my soul
Wherever I'm going, I'm already home