Live on Purpose
And just like that…
fall is here!
A season so many of us look forward to - cooler temperatures, forgotten sweatshirts, cozy drinks, and changing leaves. And while I very much look forward to all of that, I’d be lying if I didn’t also feel like I haven’t caught my rhythm with the busyness that fall can bring.
My work days are extra full. The sports schedules have taken over my evenings. There is no such thing as “normal routine” yet. And by the end of the week, I finally catch my breath and wonder what just happened. Anyone else?
And here’s the thing: I’m incredibly thankful for each of the things I’m a part of. I love my job; new school year energy is inspiring, and classrooms are full of excitement and new learning. Uber-ing my daughters to all the evening practices and cheering them on from the soccer sideline is my favorite. Not to mention those Friday Night Lights and all the other details that fill a day.
I wouldn’t change a thing — but is my constant motion causing me to miss the very life I’m trying to live?
Here’s what I am choosing to focus on this fall: live on purpose.
I know the schedule will be full. I know I will be exhausted at the end of the week. The busy is not going to let off the gas. But, I don’t want to let life just happen TO me, without having a say in how I show up in it. In the midst of the busy, I am trying to find real purpose in what I’m a part of. Instead of just opening doors in the car rider line, I’m choosing to see it as an opportunity to start the day off with a million “good mornings,” too many smiles to count, and a fresh start.
Instead of just looking at data and spreadsheets and new programs, I’m choosing to see the unique learners behind the numbers and how I can show up for students and their teachers in the classroom. Instead of just driving to Kansas for another soccer game, I’m choosing to cherish the captive audience that I know won’t last forever. When I do this, I find very quickly that this full schedule of mine is FULL of meaning. It changes my perspective and makes space for the things that matter most.
So this fall, let’s not just make it through the season. Let’s live it. Let’s choose intention over routine, presence over distraction, and connection over simply checking the next item off the list. The schedule may be full, but when we focus on what matters most, our lives can be full of meaning, too.