The Simplified, Intentional Life

I used to be a big resolution and goal maker. One year I had something like 30 goals for the year. Nothing like setting yourself up to fail from the start! I haven't made specific goals in the past 3-4 years, though, because it seemed like every time I did, God smiled and said, "How about we go THIS direction instead?"

And His direction was always so much better.

Even though I've learned to be less focused on what I want to do for the year so God has room to do what He wants to do for the year, I know myself well enough to know that I need some things to shoot for in 2015. It's just who I am and what I love.

I first titled this post "The Simple Life" - because in truth, I long for simplicity after the chaos we seemed to have lived in the last couple of years. But I also know that life itself is just not simple for most people - and certainly not for us. So I've reframed my vision for 2015 to The Simplified, Intentional Life.

I can't make my life simple. But I do hope to find things to simplify it as much as I can. To not take on too much. To not overcommit. To not utterly exhaust myself, especially with the things that do not matter. And in many ways, I feel like I rode the wave of 2014 without intentionally investing in it. I want to do better in 2015.


With all that said, here are some of my hopes for the year...and we'll see how God leads in the bigger, more pivotal things:

* Love Ryan on purpose. This past year, I did a great job of intentionally observing our monthiversary on the second day of every month, amid widespread smirking and eyerolling over my inability to stop celebrating the little things. But the truth is, I don't ever want to stop celebrating the little things. I prayed for a husband for way too many years to stop celebrating the answer God gave me in Ryan. So I don't plan to give up the monthiversaries. Neither do I plan to stop leaving notes in his lunch box every single day, telling him how much I love him. But I feel like last year, those were my only two intentional ways of loving. This year, I want to be more purposeful about planning dates and little gifts for him. I love doing those things, and for me, they're important. I have missed them in the house-selling chaos of 2014. Looking forward to doing better.

* Exercise and quiet time. The two things I have struggled with intensely since becoming a commuter. Something has to give when you lose two hours out of every day that you used to have...and for me, these seem to be the things that stood on the shaky ground of a commuting life. And they're two of the most important things physically and spiritually speaking. So I've asked Ryan to hold me accountable to MAKING TIME for both of these on a regular basis this year. It will mean sacrificing time for other things, and I know that, but it is wildly important and I'm ready to make both a priority.

* Purging. If/when our house sells and we make a move to somewhere in this great, wide world, I shudder to wonder how many boxes we will need to pack. One significant goal I have for both of us this year is to go through the closets and drawers...the attic and garage...slowly...and pull out the things we do not need. The things we never use. Make this future move simpler on ourselves. Live without such excess.

* Appointments at home. I know I am not the only one to feel guilty when asked to do something...if I know that time would be better spent at home, resting, investing in my life with Ryan, etc. I have been working, and want to continue to work, on retraining my mind to understand that an appointment at home is a valid appointment, and I don't have to feel like "just because something isn't on the calendar" doesn't mean I am obligated to say I'm free to (fill in the blank).

Those are my main things. If I can stand on this day, next year and look back at less stuff and more time with others...if I can know that I have poured myself into loving the Lord, Ryan, and myself...I will count the year a success.

Tucked in there, I hope to have time to write, to scrapbook, to visit more counties, to make memories, and the list goes on, but my target focus is on simplifying and being intentional in the things I listed above. And of course, looking forward to spending time here with you every day, letting you peek into Shafferland.

So tell me...how about you? Goals for this year? Resolutions? Fill me in!!