Don't Let Another Year Pass You By...And a Giveaway!

Today marks the end of another year.  It sounds so cliche, but the older I get the faster the years seem to turn.  Can you believe it was already fifteen years ago we were preparing to celebrate the millennium with such great anticipation?  I certainly cannot.

Time can be so hard to manage.  Our generation is stuck in the rat race.  We are pulled in so many directions, distracted by modern conveniences, over-scheduled, and living in excess.  Unfortunately, we are passing this lifestyle on to the next generation and if we don't make a conscious effort to slow down and bit and simplify, our children will more than likely live at a speed even faster than ours, if that's even possible.

Perhaps you're a little bit confused:  here I have declared 2015 "The Year to Get It Done," yet I am talking about slowing down and simplifying.  Let me explain.

Each day I find myself wishing I would get this or that done around the house.  Instead of making the decision to work on it, I tend to put many of these tasks off.  Little things, like cleaning out the pantry or catching up on the kids' photos, add up to what feels like an insurmountable amount.  If I rid myself of distraction and designate some time each day to tackle these projects, not only would they get done, but it would be so fulfilling to turn the "I wish" to "I did."

Let's look at another angle.  We have many great ideas to spice up our family time.  By carefully managing our time both during the day and week, our weekends and evenings will be freed up to either resume or start back up some family traditions.  We used to play a game every night with our older two kids before they went to bed.  Once we expanded our family, that tradition sadly went away.  While it may not be realistic to play a game each night before bed, we certainly could slow down and designate one night a week as family game night.

While it may be The Year to Get It Done, that does not mean adding more to our overly-filled schedules.  Instead, we need to evaluate our lives.  We should choose to spend our time engaging in activities that bring us joy and fulfillment and let go of those that don't.  We need to find what motivates us.  We need to consider all of those projects, ideas, and goals we have put off until the right time comes along and make 2015 the right time.

Let's band together and let go of complacency.  Let's make 2015 The Year We Get It Done!

To start the year off right, one lucky reader will win a copy of one of the inspirational books I love:  Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider.  Here is how you can qualify to win:  "Like" my Facebook page and share it with your friends.  Leave a comment below stating one goal you'd like to achieve this year.  For an extra entry, sign up via email to follow my blog.  The contest will end at 7:00 P.M. CST.  The winner will be announced January 2nd! *This contest is now closed!

It is my hope we can create a positive, supportive online community.  When life gets in the way, we'll be here to pick each other up.  I hope you'll join us!