Understanding how your space works for or against you is important to getting things done. Which room is the one where you get the most done? Where is the space you relax?
Design it. Give each space a purpose.
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journey
Map Something Out
When you are going somewhere, map something out so that you will have a sense of where you are going. A map will give you a landscape of what you will encounter on the way so that there are no big surprises. It will also tell you how you will travel and how much ground you will cover.
When I start fleshing out an idea, I map it out. Since I am a visual person, there are little shapes here that hold small ideas and big shapes there that hold big ideas. The whole thing will become my response to the journey that I am on.
Your map doesn’t have to look like everyone else. It just has to tell you the information you need when you need it. It can be a representation of items to remind you what you need to do.
It can show where you start and how far you have gone. It will give you a visual representation of your journey also reminding you of what you have been through. Sometimes at the end of the year, we review our progress and it doesn’t seem like we have done much. It may seem like we stay in the same place for a long time, but we forget about the times we go up high mountains or down to deep valleys. We should account for those times and think about what we learned in the process.
Where You Want To Be
Where You At?
If you know where you at you can judge the distance to where you want to go. Spend some time assessing where you are. Think about the good things
Where You Come From?
Always remember. Honor it. It made you.
Honestly, there are some days I don’t get me. But when I visit home it becomes clear. Crystal.
My hometown is Fort Worth, Texas where the west begins, but still stuck in the old south. It had great chicken fried steak and sweet tea. There are good schools that pass out fine educations. I went to school with some of the best and brightest.
In high school, I got to interview Alan Bean, Astronaut from the Apollo 12 mission for the school newspaper because he was a graduate from the same school. I remember this moment because he made all of the other media wait and gave me the first few minutes of his time. It made a lasting impression.
For many years the city was gerrymandered so that Republicans could maintain control of government positions. I lived in an African American neighborhood south of downtown Fort Worth, and my congressional representative was a physician who lived in South Lake, one of the richest neighborhoods in the state. There were no town halls with him but I did learn that I lived in a food desert, which is an urban area where it is difficult to buy affordable or fresh food. This neglect made a lasting impression.
It is still a city plagued with racist ideas because the current leadership does not appreciate what marginalized voices bring to the table. The majority still believe that electing a sheriff that kicks out immigrants is the way to fix our problems. The majority believes electing officials who cover up abusive police officers is the way to handle problems. It is making a national impression.
Knowing that I come from this type of environment makes me cautious because some things I might think are normal, are probably racist. Some of the things I have learned to live with, I probably should not have.
So look at where you come from because it will definitely affect where you are going.
The One Thing We Need We Often Forget
We pack all of the things we need for a trip: clothes, shoes, accessories, tickets, gadgets and their chargers. We spend lots of money or find the greatest bargains on flights, hotels, and cruises. Yet many of the things we need to take, we do not.
I know that I am guilty of it. Many times I take a trip to relax and do everything but relax. And do I come back rejuvenated? No, I usually need a vacation from my vacation. I come home worn out because I have crammed so many things into the time period.
This journey has taught me that there are some things I need to include along the way. I have learned that rest, balance, peace and patience help me rejuvenate. Having these items make the journey less of a chore and more of an adventure.
I have learned not to treat a journey like a 50-yard dash, but more like a marathon. This means I need to bring things that will give me staying power. The things I have shared with you this month are those things. Remember to tuck them in your suitcase for your trip.
Patience is Power
Searching For the Enemy
Sometimes the most important things we take on a journey are the things packed in our minds. The stories in our heads can feel like all there is. So we need to make sure our minds are filled with good stuff that will aid us in the journey. Our thoughts. Our hopes. Our dreams.
As God teaches me His truths and how to live, I find that I try them on like clothes. Some fit like skinny jeans good and snug, while others like a loose wide sleeved blouse that flows with the wind. Rest has become an old friend who I see every now and then, while Peace has been a constant companion.
Balance is my nemesis. When I would really like to focus on that one thing, balance reminds me otherwise. I can’t work on projects all the time. I can’t hang out with family all the time. Why do I have to choose? Sometimes it is about finding balance between the things you love.
I am also reminded that it is really about the dance. Dances don’t last forever. They have clear beginnings, middles, and ends. Just like us. We have to recognize where we are in the process.
With a healthy dose of “I can conquer the world” comes our doubts. Our fears. Our shortcomings. It keeps me balanced. It keeps my head in the game. It reminds me where I am at in the journey.
Your Best Companion: Peace
Remember to Take This With You
When you go on a journey, one of the things you have to remember to do is rest. Sometimes you get so caught up in the adventure you wear yourself out. Schedule breaks. Rest and enjoy the process.
