The Gift of Time

Experiencing both another birthday and a Franklin Covey, "Achieving Your Highest Priorities", seminar within a week's time is enough to cause me to take into account my slightly tarnished time-management skills and revisit all of my dreams that are still waiting to enter consciousness. I rarely require nudging to internalize and self-evaluate. I am predisposed to over-analyzing and planning. This continuous inner dialogue is, at times, the bane of my existence. It may be the bane of some of my associates as well. I'll use this moment to send out my sincerest apologies to those of you who, either inwardly and/or outwardly, are begging me to "PLEASE, stop thinking so hard!" Just give me a couple more minutes to ponder.
I am motivated tonight to consider what's possibly missing in my life, what's important to me and what my dreams are for the future. A few months ago I began compiling a list of things I want to accomplish or experience within the next ten years of my life. Some dreams are serious and some pure whimsy but I've discovered that all of them derive from one or more of my personal values - what I place priorities on. I figure I can learn to play the violin, take a ballroom dancing class, write and publish a book, find or start a Christian ministry that I can significantly give my time and resources to and travel to Hawaii all within ten years time.
My birthday isn't until Tuesday but, so far, I've been offered a free Backyard Burger, a signature burrito from Qdoba Mexican Grill, a dessert from Buca Di Beppo, a cream slush from Sonic and 20% off at Old Navy. This onslought of birthday offers has, for one thing, made me realize I may be giving out my personal info at far too many establishments around town. It has also made me realize that, although I love free food, these little offers cannot even begin to make me happy. My values consist of family, faith, learning, loyalty, connectedness, integrity, health/fitness, respect, beauty and creativity to name a few. It's my wish that God grant me the gift of time so that I can have another shot, in my 27th year of living, to achieve my renewed priorities. Where are the birthday candles?

Beautiful

"Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep... wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky he is to have you.... The one who turns to his friends and says, 'that's her'." (www.thinkexist.com)

Your Toes Should Be Pink

You love to dress girly and work your feminine charms, with a bit of an edge. Your ideal guy: Is confident enough to get any girl he wants Stay away from: Jerks who only see you as eye candy

What Color Should Your Toenails Be?

Yes, I'm a girly girl - I admit it. At this point, I feel I can equally call myself an athlete and, thus, safeguard myself from being stereotyped as a simpleton who has nothing better to do than primp. Having trained since January and achieved walking my first half-marathon last weekend, I feel I now qualify for the title of "athlete" (a title I never would have used in describing me a few years back but feel proud to hail now) Yet all the athleticism in the world won't take the girl out of me!
As a little girl, I was entranced by glitter, gloss, and shimmer. All I needed was a dress with lace and ruffles, a pair of my grandma's stilhetto heels and I was a happy girl. Funny thing is, the past couple weeks I've noticed how much I haven't "grown up" in that regard. I still love to dress up and feel beautiful! Maybe it's my knee-jerk response to a painful breakup. It has proven to be an experience that has left me feeling less- than- desirable on many an occasion and now serves, in part, as a motivator in my attempt to feel good about myself again. While I don't intend to generalize or sound shallow, I believe that for many women a good workout, a deep tan or a new haircut is a good start to feeling attractive again. I don't know...but it temporarily works for me. Yes, I mean "temporarily". I don't believe that is the fix-all. There is a longing in me to share the beauty (inner and outer) with someone who will value it even higher than myself. I find myself wavering between desire for a marriage partner and panic at the thought of being "confined". The only thought that relieves the panic is that of marrying a "Leopold" (of the Meg Ryan flick "Kate and Leopold"). Maybe I'm just old-fashioned but a part of me desires chivalry. Oh, to feel prized and respected. Is that asking too much of a man??
This past week I have been reading through, "Sex and the Soul of a Woman - The Reality of Love & Romance in an Age of Casual Sex". It has been refreshing to think of beauty and sexuality from God's viewpoint instead of from Cosmopolitan or Redbook magazine which makes it as appealing as cheap perfume. In it, the author states, "A woman who knows her beauty understands that she has something incredibly valuable to give and something important to protect." I love that! John Eldredge writes, "{A women} embodies the beauty and mystery and tender vulnerability of God." Call me a hopeless romantic but I believe one day my prince will come. In the meantime, I have the joy of a relationship with the greatest lover of my soul: "The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)