YOLO!!

Yesterday was my birthday and I as I have done for every birthday since I turned 29, I looked over the last year…the last few years…and contemplated where I am in relation to where I was. Am I where I want or wanted to be?  Am I who I want or wanted to be? Did I accomplish the goals I had set for myself? Have I grown? Have I changed for the better? All of those questions and more ran through my mind. I looked through old journals to help remind me of these things and set my perspective for the year that is to come.  Not that I have every year planned out or anything…I’m just a person that likes to have an idea of what I want to accomplish so I find it helpful to write it down. 

As I looked over my journals and started to really think about who and where I am at this very moment, I felt a sudden surge of joy hit me…not because I had accomplished everything I had set out to do…on the contrary, I hadn’t.  Actually, some of those things now seemed obsolete or irrelevant.  Some even seemed downright silly or shortsighted.  So, why did I feel joy? Simple…I understand I don’t have it all figured out, I am not exactly who I want to be, and I don’t have a lot of control over a lot of what would get me there…BUT…I know God does.  HE does.  He is directing my path.  I may not understand it all…in fact…I won’t understand it all because I am not God.  What a relief! I don’t have to have it all figured out! I put my life in the hands of the One who formed me, who breathed life into me, who knows how many hairs I have on my head.  My past, my present, my future…it’s all in His Hands.

I still have goals in my mind and heart that I would like to accomplish before my next birthday.  I still write them down and pray over them and ask the Lord to guide me and help me accomplish them. And like I do every year, I add…”nevertheless, not my will but Yours be done”. His will is far superior to mine.  This year, however, I have changed my perspective a bit.  There’s a saying that has become popular recently and I think it’s been used the wrong way.  YOLO (you only live once) has been used to motivate or excuse reckless behavior…I think it should be used for a different purpose.  I have decided to say “yes” to life!  “Yes!” to all the wonderful things God has available to me in this life. “Yes!” to getting out of my comfort zone and putting myself out there.  I say…”Yes!” to life and “No!” to fear.  “Yes!” to life and “No!” to doubt.  “Yes!” to life and “No!” to procrastination.

This is why I felt joy come over me when I read over my journals and considered my year. It is because I have a new paradigm of how I should look at making plans and goals for myself. I have decided to try anything I feel motivated or inspired to try and let the Lord lead me through it. If I truly allow Him to have control and have His will, I may hear Him tell me to do something I’m not sure I am capable of doing. That’s okay! His strength is made perfect in my weakness!  I heard this lovely minister, Christine Caine say, “Impossible is where God starts!”  I love that! I embrace that! That brings me joy! And with that, I say, “Yes!”

What do you need to say “Yes!” to today? Try out for that choir or band or play! Apply for that job! Take a step toward what you want today and shout (to yourself otherwise you may look crazy) YOLO!! A life of regret is a miserable one.  Let the Lord guide you and then make the move you’ve been waiting on a birthday or an anniversary or whatever to make.  If you get a “no”…hey…you didn’t lose anything but you did gain experience and that is priceless!  And in case you think you’re too old or it’s too late, here’s a quote that may change your mind:

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream…” – C.S. Lewis

So, I hope my birthday epiphany was a motivation to someone.  I hope that one of you reading this will see this as the confirmation or motivation you needed to embrace life and begin to say “Yes!” to the things that are in your heart to do.  Even if it’s just one…I am overjoyed!

Until next time!

Much love and many blessings,

Nancy