Whew… it is almost May. I hate being that person who says, “look at the time go by.”
That’s the thing, I don’t want to watch time go by. I’ve become too aware of the shortness of days over the last 9 months. So many people have passed that were close to me. I want to savor and relish the days and hours.
That got me to thinking… what are the top 3 things I want to do to make the rest of 2014 extraordinary?
These are not in any particular order. They are all #1 priority. And, before I give them to you, let me say that one thing feeds another. If I get healthy, that tends to make me a better father and husband because I have few limits. It helps me in my business so I can accomplish more in less time. You get the idea.
So, these 3 things are not at the exclusion of the other 99 things I want to do. They are simply what I perceive as my #1 priorities.
#1 – Care For My Family
I am not talking about my wife and kids. I mean my sister , my mother, my grandmother, and my in-laws. There are a few things that are undone that need to be wrapped up, and another thing that I desperately want to do.
My mother and my grandmother both need headstones for their graves. I need to get this done to honor them. I need to figure the cost, what needs to be said on the markers, and get them put in place.
My mother’s estate needs to be wrapped up. “Estate” is deceiving. She didn’t leave much behind, but we owe $$$ for her funeral expenses, lawyer, and a few debts that we want to cover. There are some things that we need to sell so we can get the money for this. I need to be more aggressive in getting these things sold. More than anything, I know this will lift a burden off my sister.
I need to make sure my in-laws are covered financially. Life is hard enough with money. It’s even harder when money is tight, or the month is too long for the money you have. I have seen what my mother went through, and I felt helpless to help her. I don’t want that for them.
Much of this is honoring those who have poured into your life. “But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.” ~ 1 Timothy 5:8.
#2 – I Will Run A Marathon
This has been on my list to do for way too long. This means losing 30+ pounds by year’s end. This means discipline. This means sacrifice. It means not staying up as late and getting better sleep.
I’ve run 3 half-marathons to this point. I understand what it will take.
I must lose the weight in order to have healthy knees, ankles and hips to reach the goal. I must give up soda to help lose the weight and give my system healthier choices.
I have dreamed of myself crossing that finish line so many times. The time for dreaming is over. It’s time to do it.
#3 – I Will Pay Off ALL Credit Card Debt
I’m not going to go into here how much I have, but I have too much. How much is too much? What I have is too much.
This is a tall order. Increasing my income to the point where I can pay off substantial debt requires focus and working smarter. My debt is robbing us of joy, giving, and doing more. It’s robbing me of my future as well.
I’m also throwing in medical debt and a tuition bill. It’s time to be responsible and knock this stuff out. Many can say I want to be debt free, and that’s not what I’m doing here. I have a plan to eliminate our debt without consolidation, credit counseling, or anything – it is paying back what was used and bringing the accounts to $0.
Why? Besides the stress which ruins health and robs happiness, I want to move into a new home. I cannot do it in my current situation. I am ready to move, relocate, and provide for my family like a man should.
These 3 things – why bother?
I could go on doing what I have been doing… living day-to-day and month-to-month, but that is not “living.” That is surviving at it’s best.
- I want to be an honorable son, grandson and brother.
- I want to be healthy for my family and myself. A healthy husband or dad is much better than a broken down one (when the choice is within my power)
- I want to give my family every opportunity, and the last thing we need is the stress brought on my unnecessary financial burdens. My children deserve a better example.
So, there you go.
“Ferb, I know what we’re going to do today.”
Great words.