ON BUSYNESS.

I think a lot about what I'd like to do more of. What I'd like to learn, what I'd like to do, what I'd like to gain. I'm constantly moving forward and push ahead. I have this "go get 'em" mentality that just doesn't stop.

My co-workers tell me that they're amazed by my work ethic, asking me what I take (no caffeine in this girl's system, oddly enough!) and if they can have some.

But it's not something I'm actually proud of. This busyness that I find myself addicted to is a bad one. I don't think that being busy is a bad thing, but I do believe that there is a time and place for it. In society, we're looked down upon for being lazy and every person (especially women, for some reason) who's hardworking is labeled with #goals.

One of the biggest reasons why I chose my word for the year is because of my busybody nature. I want to break my busy habits, just like I continue to work to rid myself of my perfectionistic tendencies. I want to keep busyness to a minimum so I can enjoy the present and continue to find and share the little things in life.

I want to eat meals slower so I can savor flavors and cultivate more conversations.

I want to sit down more at work so I can play more with kids and make them laugh.

I want to use my DSLR more (as opposed to my phone) so it takes me a few minutes longer to snap a photo.

I want to carve out time in my busy schedule for friends and family, because quality time is my love language.

I want to actually take my breaks so I can use the bathroom (true story).

I want to wake up earlier so I can enjoy the mornings before the busyness of day-to-day life begins. 

I want to make these "wants" and goals into habits and routines. And I want to make an effort to do these little things because life is short and stress is not something I want to hold onto as tightly as I do. I want to live freely because that's why Jesus came down here on earth in the first place--for freedom, grace, and life.