How to 'Show Up' for Your Life

A few weeks back, like any good American, every evening I was home with my eyes glued to the TV. The Olympics were on, and I simply had to see the games. They were thrilling, challenging, and unifying for our country.

One game that didn’t particularly thrill me was swimming, but doing my duty as a true fan, I faithfully watched it. I cheered for the women’s relay team and respectfully nodded as Phelps won his 18^th gold metal.

One thing that impressed me about swimming was how the athletes approached the pool. One swimmer leaned far over the edge of the pool and sunk her long, loopy arms in the water, scooping the cold water right in her face. Another jumped straight into the pool, no warning or prep splash. Just straight in.

They continued these preparations, and sooner or later they were all completely submerged in water, ready to swim. They showed up for their race.

It started me thinking about what I do in the day-to-day to ‘show up’ for my life. These swimmers are Olympians. They don’t go to the pool when they feel like it, or eat sugary cereal for breakfast because it’s quicker than making eggs. They prepare, they’re intentional about their days, and they start every day as if each day has a reason. Do I do that?

Over the past few months, I’ve been reading several blogs about time management, learning how to become a morning person, and what it means to take each day seriously. From reading, watching the Olympics, and deciding what’s best for my schedule, I’ve come across a few things that help me ‘show up’ for each day. Here’s what I’ve learned:

1.     Set a morning routine that works for you. Jeff Goins just wrote a great post about this that really helps. Going off of what he suggests, what works for me is to wake up at the same time every day (during the week). I also shoot to actually get up when my alarm goes off, and spend time eating a leisurely and healthy breakfast. I’m a foodie and it helps jump start my day to have a good meal.

2.     Come in to work as if that’s what you meant to do. Don’t treat work like an obligation. Work throughout day diligently and with purpose. It’s a privilege to work every day, especially if it’s something you love.

3.     When go to the gym, work out like you mean it! I love to take aerobics classes. One night after kickboxing during our post workout stretch, the instructor said, “It’s a great day when you’re healthy enough to work out.” I had never thought of it that way. It’s changes the way I look at my workouts.  

4.     Be intentional about setting your weekly schedule, and stick to it. Your schedule is just that, your schedule. It’s not your spouses’, or friends’, or co-workers’, it’s your’s. Don’t purposely schedule things that you dread (if possible), don’t hang out with people who bring you down, and try your best not to veer off course. (Excluding the occasional capers and spontaneous adventures J) You’re not being selfish with your time, you’re being wise and exercising discipline.

This is just a short list, so add to it! What do you do in the day-to-day schedule that helps you ‘show up’ for your life? I’d love to know in the comments section below. 

Do You Want to Buy My Nissan Maxima?

Max is a gentleman and a scholar. He is like a fine tweed vest that doesn’t go out of style and will never let you down. His plush leather seats will set you up for a smooth ride while his Bose stereo system sets the mood.

SINCE I POSTED THIS THE CAR HAS SOLD!!

Don’t let his long life fool you; his years on the road have made for a wise and honest comrade. I can testify – he has been nothing but a trustworthy car and a dear friend. He has taken me to job interviews, short trips with friends, and accompanied me on my daily commute through Atlanta traffic. 

But now it is time for a new owner. Max is retiring from driving Ms. Jessica, and is fervently looking for a new Mr. or Miss to drive around. Will you be the next lucky chap to sail down the highway on his brand new tires, newly detailed seats, and recently tuned up engine?

Max is looking for a new home.

Here’s the skinny: I am selling my 2001 Nissan Maxima. You can see the live ad on autotrader here. Here are the details –

2001 Nissan Maxima

·      190,000 miles

·      New tires

·      Well maintained and detailed

·      Clean title in hand

·      Has never been wrecked

·      Pearl white

·      Leather seats – minor tears

·      Bose stereo system

·      Ice cold AC

·      Excellent heating

·      Sunroof/moon roof

·      Cruise control

·      Large trunk

Interested? I’d love to chat. Give me a call at (770) 596-1819 or email me at jessmit86@gmail.com. He really is a great car. I just bought a newer Nissan J

Dream BIG

An organization called Plywood People are gracious enough to let me contribute on their blog. I wrote this post for them last week. Hope you enjoy!

“You can either accept the reality as it is or create it as you wish it to be. This is the essence of dreaming—and thinking big.”

-Michael Hyatt, Platform

When I was a little girl, I would run around my backyard freckle-faced and sun burned burying things. I would bury my prized possessions; new birthday gifts, jewelry boxes, and anything I dubbed as ‘treasure worthy.’ Promptly after burying my jems, my brother and I would rush inside out of the Georgia summer heat and draw up a treasure map. We would always start near the patio furniture, circle around mom’s flowerbeds, and land ‘where X marks the spot.’ We would dig up whatever we had buried, jump up and down and act like pirates who just struck gold. Every time it was a victorious moment.

You see, I lived in the suburbs of Atlanta; a sort of corralling of identical houses that sprang out of the eighties. I rode the yellow bus to school, went to the grocery store with my mom, and was in bed by 8:30 sharp. Our two story, white picket fence home didn’t leave much room for the imagination, so I had to create my own reality, as I wished it to be.

My closets suddenly became little Narnian realms, the air-conditioning vents were portals for my toys, and the master bathroom suddenly became a witch’s castle. Sadly, I am not exaggerating. Looking back at those times, I have to say I am thankful for not only for my imagination, but also the willingness to make that imagination my reality.

So often I talk to adults who tell me all of the things they ‘wish they were doing’ or ‘ought to be learning’ or ‘hope to do one day.’ It has always been such an enigma to me as to why bills, appointments, and day-to-day frivolities get in the way of our dreams. But, for a lot of us, (myself included) the calendar, alarm clock, or commute wins over our dreams.

I have never heard it so eloquently and sensibly stated as to when I read the quote above in Michael Hyatt’s newest book, Platform. He was talking about thinking big (no BIGGER!) and writing down your dreams and all of the possibilities that come with them. He dismissively states to ‘ignore the mocking little voice that tells you to be more realistic,’ and to start thinking big. The minute I read that I knew it was be wisdom I wanted to hold onto throughout my adult life.

My purpose in taking you down memory lane into my childhood is to encourage you with there is always a place to start. No matter if you are a barista, financial advisor, or mom-of-four, your reality is what you make it. You have a little bit of control over what you do with your life. For myself, I seek wisdom from the Lord and his roadmap for my journey, and so far it’s been nothing less than exciting and ever changing. You never know what ‘reality’ you might stumble into when you start making them a priority.

*If you would like to purchase Michael Hyatt’s new book Platform, you can do so here.