This month, this month of January, I've been thinking a lot about how we make time for things that matter to us. For example, my mom takes a nap every day and she specifically makes time in her daily schedule to take at least one nap (Sometimes it's two or three). Taking a nap every day matters to my mom. We are all going to take time to do things that are important to us.
Over the past few years that I have been writing a blog I have talked a lot about things that matter to us and finding purpose in life. It is a common theme that I've noticed in my writing. Just because I often write about purpose and things that matter doesn't mean that everything I do is purposeful or I only do things that matter to me, because, let's be honest, I don't.
I've been reading the book The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi and she talks a lot (A lot) about finding what matters to you, so you can, in her words, 'Be a genius about the things that matter, and lazy about the things that don't.' She gives practical advice in the book, mostly about homemaking and running a household (Cleaning, laundry, cooking, taking care of kids, etc). The book is geared towards women, especially moms, and while I am not a mom -- yet -- I can definitely still glean from what she is saying especially when it comes to finding daily routines and organization (Which is funny, because I already am an organized, tidy and routine person. I can always learning something new though).
The thing that I am really pondering from this book though is that I don't know how...how to figure out what matters to me. I mean, isn't that what this book about? Discovering what matters to you personally and then being a genius about doing it and lazy about everything else? I feel Adachi gives practical advice and how-to do things, but almost leaves out the 'discovering' part. And the discovering bit is what I need.
The discovering is what is going to take some time and me paying attention as I go about my days. I'm left wondering, 'What does really matter to me??'. I go through life, doing things, but...do the things I do actually really matter to me or am I just filling space and filling time and just doing what I do because someone else told me to do it or because it's just 'what I do'??
These are legitimate questions I am having. What actually matters to me?
As I thought about this question today, a few things jumped out at me. I learned that having a tidy, organized and semi-clean house matters to me. I can't function in an untidy and cluttered, disorganzied space. I literally can't work and can't think. Why does having a tidy space matter? For one, I like working and I like thinking and I like to function.... *smiley face*
Second, if a space isn't organized and I have to dig through piles of stuff to find what I'm looking for it drives me crazy because I don't like looking for things and I get mad when I can't find something I need. And I don't like walking around being mad all the time, or being upset and frustrated. Finding what I need when I need it should be easy and simple (Hence, 'A place for everything and everything in its place'). Since having a tidy house matters to me, I do spend a good chunk of time tidying up...but I like to and it's just a part of my lifestyle. I don't have to think too hard about it, I just do it.
Another thing that matters to me is health. I make sure I exercise regularly, eat half-way healthy, don't get too much screen time, spend time outdoors, take walks, etc. I've noticed that if I don't exercise regularly or eat too much 'junk' food I feel yuck inside and I don't like that feeling. Since I don't like feeling yuck, I purposely try to avoid that by living an active lifestyle.
I'm slowly answering my own questions of how and what does actually matter to me. This is a lifelong process. As I continue to ponder this questions, I'm sure there will be more discoveries.
What matters to you? Like, really, truly matters -- not just what someone told you you should care about.
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