I've been thinking a lot about where I invest my limited time, energy and money these days. Then I read the terrific quote to the right by Stephen Covey, and I realized that I want to invest more into the relationships I have. I enjoy being with good people, helping them out, adventuring, and collaborating around meaningful, enjoyable, significant events.
In some ways this is a new revelation for me because during most of my life, my days were filled with people. In fact, from my earliest days as part of a very large extended family, the daughter of a highly social mom, a mom/wife myself, and a teacher in a busy public elementary school, I rarely had a minute to myself--it was people, people, people. Sometimes that people-crowded life seemed overwhelming because I simply couldn't keep up with all the life around me. Now, my life has a more manageable people schedule, it is not as crowded, and I have time to truly think about the people in my life and what I can do to invest in those relationships.
I am also thinking about what I do with and for those people. Many traditions have been handed down, and some of those traditions are wonderful, but others put woman in a somewhat challenging and compromising position. Many traditions of old expected women to do a lot of the leg work for any gathering which often didn't give us the time we needed to take good care of ourselves and our relationships. I want to strike the balance with traditions, a balance that allows me to take care of and enjoy others while also taking good care of myself. As we know, if you don't take care of yourself, your ability to care for and love others will be compromised.
So as I audit my relationships and work to follow Covey's advice in the quote above, I'll start with the simple courtesies and kindnesses--the ways that we can acknowledge, support, and enjoy each other's company in positive, life enriching ways. This is a focus I can certainly wrap my mind and time around. Onward.