Today’s first was inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert. I catch Liz’s posts daily on Facebook, and appreciate her insights so much. This morning, after reading her post titled Don’t Give Up the Great for the Good, I challenged myself to reflect her on words as I moved through my day and come up with my own list of Great Things to share.
Liz herself was inspired by Pastor Rob Bell, while both were on the Life You Want Tour, with Oprah. Rob shared that we only have so many hours in a day, and more importantly, only so many days in a life. We can fill our day with GOOD things, stay busy doing GOOD things. We have important things to do, items we must cross off our to-do list, important things to accomplish in our businesses, lives and relationships. My list might include: take care of clients, shop for groceries, pay bills, answer emails, texts and phone calls, clean house, service my car.
These are all responsible, good things to do.
There are GREAT things we can do too. Each person knows what lies within that definition of great, and it is a different list for each of us. As Liz shared, there is a clue. My great things are whatever makes my soul ignite, my heart sing, and whatever makes me say, “Oh my God, I’m so excited that I get to do this GREAT THING today!”
Liz then shared her list of Great Things, which was my inspiration for creating a list of my own. After much thought today, and much contemplation about what makes my heart come alive, what lights my face up and infuses my soul with joy, I created this list, in no particular order of importance:
- Meditation and reflective time
- Time spent in quiet and solitude, especially in nature (non-meditation time)
- Writing
- Gardening…getting my hands dirty…knowing the satisfaction of creating a living, changing landscape
- Creating intimate, peaceful, joyful spaces
- Connecting with others, especially those I love
- Sharing in a meaningful way
- Creating beautiful and interesting vignettes and items
- Savoring tea time
- Traveling, especially to Scotland, but also to new places
- Learning something new that helps me grow and then helping others grow
- Increasing my awareness….spiritually, physically, mentally, intuitively
That’s it…at this time in my life. Next year, the list might change. For now, these are the GREAT THINGS I can do that feed my soul and enlarge my boundaries, bring me joy and make me look forward to starting my day. When my days are full of the good things, full of the responsible things, and the great is crowded out, then it is time for me to simplify or eliminate some of the good, to make room for the great. It is all my choice. If I’m not doing the things that light up my life, I need to ask myself why.
I believe I’ll print out the list or even better, work the GREAT THINGS into my vision board for 2015, as a reminder that I am made for something more than the good things that I do. I am created for great things. I intend to experience one or more of the items from my list, on a daily basis, ensuring that I am growing and being and offering from the core of who I am.
I love this quote of Howard Thurman’s, “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” I am alive, as I pursue the Great Things on my list. The world needs me. The world needs us all, awake and aware and alive.
