By Hey friends!
Let me ask you a question. Have you ever felt caught up in the rat race of life? As if your life is always on the go, moving at top speed, and never feeling like you have time to stop and take a breather?
Me too, friend.
In our society today, that’s a big thing and it’s kind of become a mindset of our culture.
I won’t say all, but a lot of people get caught up in this rat race, myself included. We fill up our schedules to the max with commitments and obligations, sometimes without realizing how much we’ve taken on, and the next thing we know we have no time to stop and take a breath let alone enjoy life.
For me, that started four years ago.
My days usually consisted of me going to work, then after work rushing to the next place I had to be. By the time that was finished it was time to go home and go to bed. Oh, and the weekends were hardly a thing too as more times than not I would have a prior commitment or had to work on something for the next week. So there was honestly little time for me to enjoy life, hobbies, or friends. It was just me and my overbooked schedule.
After a few years of this continual cycle I began to feel burn out coming on, to the point where I was ready to quit everything, move to a secluded place, and forget about everything and everyone. However, because of how my momma raised me, I stuck with it and didn’t do anything rash based on those emotions.
And it’s not to say that I didn’t like what I was involved in because I did for the most part. (The other part was because I had a hard time saying “no” and disappointing people. That, however, is a post for another day). No, my overwhelming schedule was more self-inflicted in nature.
About six months ago, however, I realized something had to change. After praying about it, God pointed out to me what that something was: my perspective and conduct of life had to change.
I realized that if I didn’t change this, life was just going to pass me by as I exhausted myself with my seemingly endless schedule. That if I didn’t change anything, time would just zoom past without me.
Going.
Going.
Gone.
Realizing the need for a change, I had made it my goal for that particular month to be present and intentional.
I couldn’t just let my schedule control my life anymore. Yes, have a schedule and a to-do list, but not let it control me. God wanted me to take hold of my busy life and let Him guide me, not the ever busy schedule.
If I truly wanted change for the good, to be able to enjoy life again and the good things God had given me, I had to be intentional and protective about my time. I couldn’t just wait or hope for it to happen, but I had to intentionally set time aside for God, family, friends, hobbies, dreams, myself. I had to be present in every moment.
Well, I can tell you with certainty that being intentional has gone with me from that month forward. I even made it my word for this year, 2020, because I have come to realize the importance of living intentionally.
I’ve made it a point to be intentional in every area of my life — to stop running in the rat race and instead taking time to slow down, even in the midst of my busy schedule. I’m deliberately choosing to enjoy the things that God has blessed me with in my life. After all, what’s the use of having the blessing if I’m too busy to slow down and enjoy it?
So if your answer to my question in the beginning was “yes,” I want to encourage you to stop letting your schedule control you, but instead to take your schedule by the reins. Be intentional with what is truly important in your life, and don’t let the ever present to-do list get in the way.
After all, it will still be there tomorrow 😉
Now, Intentional Living has become more than a goal for a particular month. It’s become my life motto.
Until next time my friends.
Caleigh
An adventurer and coffee enthusiast at heart, Caleigh Ball has a passion for reaching out to others to inspire them to live with intention and purpose. As an ordained minister, she spends her time ministering as a youth pastor and is actively involved in Arise Ministries as the vice president and bookkeeper as well as one of the ministers. She enjoys life with her husband, Emmanuel, and their cat, Alaska, in their home state, Almost Heaven West Virginia.
Find Caleigh on Instagram at @caleigh.ball
by leaps and bounds 