"One day at a time--this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering."

Ida Scott Taylor


Sunday, January 16, 2011

Wanting BEST instead of GOOD


Our dreams are so important and that is why last year I chose the word "Action"
to focus on for 2010.  Doing so produced some amazing results for me.  
I accomplished everything on my 2010 "to do" list plus learned so much
more about what I am made of and also that my dreams are exactly the 
right direction for me. So thank you to the word "Action" for keeping me
accountable last year. We were a great team!

Dream Altered Art Journal
I recently created for a customer- 
using old book covers

So now to share with you my word for 2011. It isn't what I call a pretty word.
It's not even what I think of as a desired word. I even went and looked it up in 
the Thesaurus, thinking I could find a more flowery word to use instead of it,
but there wasn't one.
Some words are just what they are and mean just what they mean.




Yes, PRIORITIZE is my word for 2011.

I kept trying to find another word, but
I couldn't get away from
hearing God tell me in my soul that this is
what I needed to do this year.

"  Commit your work to the Lord,
then it will succeed.
Prov. 16:3
♥ 


You see, when I chose Action for last year,
my creativity doubled and
tripled for me and it unleashed so many
good things inside of me. My spontaneity and 
imagination came more alive
and my hopes and 
dreams became actual open doors
  to begin walking through.
I was and am so excited about what is ahead.

But, other things happened last year too,
like loosing my job,
then starting another new part-time job and my
schedule changing. I also went through
a biopsy because of pre-cancer then a lump removed
which (a big YAY!!) ended up showing
no pre-cancer or cancer.
.....so now I know it is important that I start caring 
more about my health 
and what I can control like taking better care of it 
with exercise and better food choices. So I need
to make it a PRIORITY.

 I am in the process of seeking what
God and I want for my list of priorities to be this year.
I already know that creating art will be on
that list, along with
family time and time spent
daily with the Lord. To make
my list, I have so many good things that I
could pick from but
sometimes you have to give up 
the good for the Best.


"Decide what you want,
decide what you are willing
to exchange for it.
Establish your priorities 
and go to work."
H. L. Hunt

So I would love to hear from you about 
some of your tips on prioritizing. If you are 
an artsy person, tell me how you plan your day
creating.  If you have a part-time or full-time job 
away from home, tell me how you fit in
working towards your dreams etc..
Anything you want to share I know would be
helpful to either me or someone else.
Thank YOU in advance.


Wishing Y♥U, my friend, 
the BEST always!

14 comments:

Bren Graham Thebeau said...

I'm looking forward to the responses and tips you might receive on this one too! It's a great word, without it the things that really matter get left in the dust.
You've had an interesting year, so glad to hear your biop was clear!

Jennifer Richardson said...

I LOVE the gorgeous journal
you created.....those colors
are just over the moon beautiful!
Here's to you and your
prioritized year to come;
may it be lived from a place
of deep rest and peace.
Cool runnings:)
Love and warm hugs,
Jennifer

Tricia said...

Hi Lee Ann! I've been missing you and your happy spirit. Prioritize is a good word for the year...it's a word that sounds like it means business. It will really get things done and in the right way. My only tip on prioritizing is to have an organized home. A place for everything and everything in its place. When that is done, it's easier to take stock of what else you need to do in your life and how you can manage it. Best wishes ♥

Farmgirl Paints said...

This is not an area that I'm really good at. I think it's a perfect word for you girl. I know you have a lot of juggling that you do!

Jamie said...

Love your art. Keep creating and writing on setting priorities. I look forward to checking in bunches.

Mary said...

first things first
ducks in a row

the scripture that comes to mind with your word is: "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33

I remember reading I have all the time in a day to accomplish what God wants me to accomplish. I just don't stop and ask him enough of the time.

Such a good word to focus on Lee Ann, one I need to pay more attention to.

love to you dear friend.

LeeAnn@Encouragement Is Contagious said...

Oh thank you girls for all of your tips. Truly, they are such good ones. Keep sharing! It is so helpful to more than just me!

♥Lee Ann

Anonymous said...

Wonderful post - as all yours are. For me to prioritize I first need to simplify. No, I don't mean going without or being frugal, I mean getting rid of that which is no longer of great importance to me so that the Holy Spirit has room to move within my being, my home etc. My second tip on prioritizing is to write it down. If you want to spend a certain amount of time on your art, then schedule that amount of time in your calendar day. Make it sacred time where you don't answer the phone or allow other distractions to get in the way. When you get the priority list of items written - hang it up in a place you will see it every day. Read it every day and you will be amazed at how those things manifest in your life. YOU GO GIRL!
Jlynn

LeeAnn@Encouragement Is Contagious said...

Thank you JLynn! Wonderful tips that I will use.

♥Lee Ann

Nicole | Blue Bicicletta said...

Hello Lee Ann! Thanks so much for popping in on my blog and leading me to you! I love this post, and I think prioritizing is SO SO important, especially when you're a creative person, and especially when you might need to do other work to meet financial needs.

I work part time, and the main key for me in making that work has been making art my first priority, and finding a job that works with, not against my art work.

For me prioritizing means not only making plenty of time for art, but putting it literally first in my schedule. I do art in the mornings and work part time in the afternoons. Especially when I first started doing art more seriously (but really still), I had to learn to make art-time absolutely non-negotiable because too often other things would get in the way.

I also have to prioritize open time by myself. I'm an introvert, and I find that I just need lots of extra time to let myself chill out. If I start double-booking it makes me absolutely frantic!

Good luck, good luck! And I'm so glad to hear that so many wild and wonderful things happened for you last year. They are bound to keep coming!

LeeAnn@Encouragement Is Contagious said...

Thank you Nicole! I like the idea of scheduling my art time just as I would set aside a specific time to do other appointments,so it won't be interrupted. Thanks for sharing your tips. They were great!

♥Lee Ann

Anonymous said...

I like your word Leanne. It sounds stable. I prioritize in an embarassingly silly way. I can spend to much time on the computer so I make myself finish certain tasks before I'm able to get online. I get so much more done that way.

LeeAnn@Encouragement Is Contagious said...

That is a very good tip Lissa. Time on the computer is one that I am trying to manage within my Priority List.

Just Be Real said...

Beautiful art work dear. Thank you for sharing. Blessings.