Thursday, January 11, 2018

Live Love; Live Loved

In the summer of 2012 I read a book called Start with Why by Simon SinekSinek's book is based on the premise that if you don't know why you do something, it's harder to do what needs to be done.  I can honestly say, this book changed my life. I did some work to figure out my why.  I landed on service.  Every thing I do is based on the idea that I want to serve people.  I wrote some about it here. I'm so serious about it that I had it tattooed on my wrist so I would see it often and remember. 


My mind is a strange place.  There's a lot going on in there. I forget things quite often.  I also get wrapped up with a new project and forget about important stuff. I have to keep things front and center.  I have lots of post it notes and notecards all over my office and computer to remind me of a wide variety of things. 

As you know, I struggle quite a bit in the fall.  And it got me thinking about my why and the direction life is going.  I am still committed to service.  But in the fall, I started thinking about the manner in which I serve.  You can serve someone and not be nice to them or not be concerned about them or the outcome.  I found myself doing this a few times in the fall.  I was so focused on what needed to be done that I didn't attend to the people.  I want to serve out of love.  I want to serve with love. 

Additionally, in the fall I thought about being loved.  We experienced an outpouring of love after my father in law died.  My friends loved on me after my anaphylaxis and when they found out I was struggling in the aftermath.  I know GOD loves me and I want to remember that as well.  I want to live remembering that I am loved. 

This year (and every year after) my overarching reminder is to live love and to live loved.  I denote the idea this way.





This was my Christmas present to myself.  Ryan and I both got new tattoos the week after Christmas. 

{That gasp you might have heard is probably my momma because I did not specifically show her my tattoo after I got it. I don't think she approves of my tattoos and I hate to disappoint her.  Sorry, Momma.  But none the less...}

Do you have an overarching theme for your life or this year?  How do you keep it top of mind?

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