38 - Plan to Purpose

I feel like I had this 'key' for many years ... and I've dabbled with it often.  However, every time I picked up and made motion to use it in full, I would start with focus and motivation ... and something would come out of the blue, unexpected, and derail my intentions.  I remember once I began the year with clear intention to clean up my computer/digital information.  And, I got my teaching files cleaned (all of them transferred from floppy disks to hard drive - yes, it was that long ago!) and I took my computer for a servicing ... and the entire documentation got destroyed.  Now, why I didn't back it up, I don't know ... perhaps because flash drives had yet to be invented?  Another year, I began the year with grand intentions ... and then illness.  Or job loss.  Or financial crash.  My life seems to be full with attempt, with focus, and then the engine of my life blows up.  And again.  And again.  And yes, I will try again.

A number of years ago, I began to develop a concept for goal planning and achievement.  I got parts done, but never saw 3 consecutive months through.  Over time, I worked on parts and would try again, and last year, when my health took over and then employment changes (to complete loss this year), I set it aside.  Well, for some reason, I have a renewed interest in planning.  Maybe because this break is good?  Time to reflect and review?  I've become a bit obsessed in goal planning, life planning, dayplanners, all things to do with future planning and achievement.  I've been looking at planners online (I don't have the money, but I can look and plan!) - Erin Condren, Passion Planner, Filo-Fax ... and I have yet to find something perfect for me, so I'm starting to entertain the idea of creating my own.  What do I need?  What size works for me?  I'm thinking two - a large binder-size (for the goal plans) and small binder size (for the running day to day plans).  I'm starting to conceptualize it and will likely play with bits and pieces, getting things in place and test-driving it ... until 2016 create the hard copy to pull myself through the year.  And, with all the problems I've had, I guess I should also figure out a contingency plan - for when plans get thrown out the window!! How to deal with that and how to get the train back on the rails.  What I do know is that if done right (and there are many ways to do it 'right'), if one perseveres the plan, adapting accordingly yet keeping the 'North Star' in focus, success is possible.  Achievement is achievable.  Maybe there is blessing in this break.

I'll share more as time goes on.  I guess I wish I would have done this earlier - in my 30s, or earlier.  Maybe things would have turned out more deliberate rather than reactive, which is what the brunt of my life seems to have been.  The good part?  There's still life left!

Gratitude Moments for Today
1/ Today, I'm grateful for getting my rash looked at and now to get the prescription and see if it helps.
2/ Today, I'm grateful for the incredible beautiful day!
3/ Today, I'm grateful for my friendship with PN - I feel terrible about how things turned out but I believe that she will forgive me ... so, I'm grateful for forgiveness!
4/ Today, I'm grateful for the fog that is slowly seeming to clear.  Maybe this is the best way for it to happen.
5/ Today, I'm grateful for the opportunity for an interview on Friday.  I pray that it yields results! and if nothing else, it's excellent practice! (I'd rather have the offer for a min. of a year!) Or ... maybe one of the other resumes I put forth yesterday?? I have faith that a shift is coming ... and for that faith, I am grateful!!