refocusing ...

When I am on vacation, I do my best to stay present with the people around me. I keep my computer shut off. I keep my cell phone at bay. I try to remain "disconnected." Sometimes, it works. Sometimes, it doesn't. But, without fail, I always return from vacation with the reminder of two things.

First, I'm not a fan of "keeping up" with the people around me. Deep down, I know that you can't prove anything by owning the best of everything. I know true value is not attached to objects, but rather actions.

But, that doesn't mean I don't get caught up in it.

And second, I'm not of fan of "forcing" things to happen. (Note: there is a difference between forcing something to happen and working hard at something). Things that are meant to be, will be. And if I am constantly pushing and pushing to make things happen, they probably shouldn't be a part of my life.

But, that doesn't mean that I don't push harder than I should at times.

I came home from our recent trip feeling like I needed to refocus. Feeling like I needed to reassess how I am spending my time. And feeling like I needed to decide what people and things deserved my attention and what could fall to the wayside.

So, I'll be downsizing some aspects of my life.

Commitments that I don't really want to be committed to.
Obligations that don't excite me.
Fillers that are just taking up space.

I want my actions to have purpose. I want to do things because I want to, not because I have to. And I want to share those things with the people I love, because in the end, they are all that matter.