Savoring Life In 2015

Have you found yourself overwhelmed, rushing from one activity to another, but never really finding joy in any of it? Do you feel like you are stuck on the hamster wheel running and running but there’s no way to get off? Have you found time and life passing you by without being able to truly enjoy it?

2014 is now history. Time doesn’t stop and wait for us to wake up, get our priorities figured out, and live the life we’re meant to live.

I have found myself in all of those examples above at different points in my life. Luckily, God has been working through others to help me live a more meaningful life. It’s also helping me prepare for the future.

Each January I choose a new One Word to be the focus or theme of my life in the upcoming year. I’ve found that by doing this, it keeps me on track to accomplish my goals throughout the year.

This year my word is savor. In 2014 it was present and 2013 was intentional.

There were many reasons I chose the word savor, but here are a few reasons that were very influential in my choice this year:

• A young woman in our community died after battling cancer leaving behind her husband and young children. Because we were close in age, it was a major wake up call that we are mortal. Life is short and unpredictable.
• A friend of mine is suffering after miscarrying her baby. I remember after having my oldest child and dealing with a miscarriage and the brokenness I felt. I’m so thankful for a few friends who made the extra effort to pull me out of my depression.
• I am a member of a decluttering group on Facebook. Here is a note one of the ladies received on her front door just a few days ago: “Hey I noticed you had a few things for free.. We are gathering donations to use at a yard sale next weekend for funeral expenses for a close friend of mine who lost her five month old little boy… They are in dire need of funding.”

Each of these situations are heartbreaking and all need compassion and love.

Have you been savoring life, being thankful for what you have, and giving to others?

Each of us is given 86,400 seconds each day. It’s what we do with those 86,400 seconds that matter!

Last week I had my annual eye exam because my contact prescription was expired and I needed to be able to order new lenses. As I sat, waiting for the optometrist (without any contacts or glasses), I looked around the room with blurry vision. (I have bad enough vision that I can’t read the alarm clock without my glasses or contacts).

When the doctor walked in I made the remark how lucky we are to not only be able to have access to eye care but also to be able to afford lenses.

She told me about a woman who’d recently been in her office from Latin America that had -16.0 vision and never had glasses or contact lenses. (My vision is -5.25 for comparison, so this woman’s eyes were three times worse than my own.) She had lived her life not being able to see hardly anything.

Can you imagine this woman’s reaction to being able to see clearly for the first time?

It’s a new year, full of new beginnings. Are you going to live this year letting life happen to you, or are you intentionally living and savoring your life?