How Living Intentional Has Changed My Life

At the beginning of the year, I made a decision to live completely intentional and on purpose. I would not do anything that didn’t feed my soul and improve me as a person. I wouldn’t say yes to projects I really had no interest in, and I would begin to use NO as a complete sentence. Last year I had a lot on my plate that added no real value to my life. Raising a chronically ill child made me examine more closely what is really important, and I needed to make some changes. If you’ve seen less of me and my family here on the blog, it’s because we’re spending a lot of time enjoying life and living intentionally!

Since beginning to live my life with intention, things have changed pretty rapidly. I’m no longer overwhelmed with my to-do list because it actually got shorter. Living on purpose has given me more time to enjoy the little things. I have started to enjoy the outdoors again, especially hiking. My family loves hiking! It combines so many things in one. Getting active, exploring and learning, and simply getting in touch with nature. It may sound cliche, but it really is a beautiful thing when you can enjoy your surroundings and all of the sounds of nature. Plus it’s fun that doesn’t cost anything.

I also have time to play with BabyCake who happens to be American Girl doll obsessed right now, and I love it! I loved American Girl dolls growing up, and I’m happy I can share in her joy of playing with dolls. We enjoy our “mommy and me” days going to the American Girl store, and reading the books together.

I have more time to date my husband now. Last year a full to-do list actually made me have less time for my marriage. My husband and I both work from home, so we spend a lot of time together already, but those hours are also shared with the kids because we homeschool. Living intentionally, we make “Date Night” several times a month a priority, because it’s so important. We’ve been married 15 years, and we’re still young. After God, my marriage is #1 so I have to pour into that.

Lastly, and very important, living intentional and on purpose gave me more time for ME. I talk about self-care and “me time” so much because it’s a high priority. I told someone last week that you can’t pour from an empty cup, and that’s completely true. I’ve said it here on the blog so many times and I mean it, “To be good to your family, you have to be good to yourself.” I get up a few hours before my family every day to spend time with myself. I pray, read affirmations, meditate, sometimes I color, or head to the gym, and have my coffee/tea in peace and quiet and listen to the bird’s chirp. It’s peaceful moments early in the morning that make the rest of my day go over smoothly. I start in peace and end in peace. Last year my days were more chaotic, and it wasn’t benefiting me or my family.

My peace is so very important, and yours should be too. Living intentionally allows me to protect my peace, and block out the things that aren’t beneficial to me. Are you living intentionally?

Ashley