Constant Reminders

Let's face it, all of us do dumb things that get us into trouble.  It doesn't matter how hard we try, we always seem to find a way to mess it up.  We open our big mouths, we treat others in ways that we know they don't appreciate, we fail to meet a responsibility, or a number of other stupid mistakes and choices that we could possibly make. 

For me, I constantly find myself unable to keep up with the whole host of things I have gotten into.  School, my part time job at my Church, leading worship, being president of a ministry at Geneva College, and maintaining my relationships with friends and my girlfriend are all things that I have filled my life with.  The fact is, I enjoy them all, at least to some extent.  I also feel as if they are all fulfilling in some way or another.  Unfortunately, I've never been able to juggle them as well as I would like.  I get worn out. 

But don't we all do this?  Our society tells us that the key to success is to do as much as you can as well as you can.  The younger generation today has bought into the idea that in order for them to look as attractive to jobs and colleges as they can, they must fill their lives with as many random and sometimes disconnected activities and projects as possible.  I can tell you this from experience.  The problem with this mentality is that it wears kids out and frustrates them from doing the very things that they are most passionate about.  I didn't get into college because of the dozens of things I was involved in.  I got in because of my writing ability and my grades.  So my first thought is: specialize in something.  Become really good at it and sell it to whomever needs to know.  Employees, schools, friends, everyone should know that you are good at what you do, not that you can juggle 80 million things at once.

My second thought is based again on my own experience.  Sometimes we can begin to do so much that we do wear ourselves down and become completely ineffective in everything we do.  I discovered this lesson when I was diagnosed with mono last fall.  It may not be the worst thing you could be diagnosed with, but like some of the worst, it stays with you for life.  It runs you down and weakens your immune system.  You body just can't do the things it used to, and I do a lot.  I am constantly reminded that I can't keep running myself ragged.  I need sleep.  I need time off.  I need a chance to relax and unwind.  Mono has forced me to learn this.  And when I become stubborn and think I can do it all, I become run down and worn out again, forced to stay in my bed.  It truly is a constant reminder. 

So don't let your lifestyle run you down.  Don't let something in your past become a constant reminder of the mistakes you have made over the years.  Learn to be really, really good at whatever you are passionate about and run after that, not everything you possibly can.  This way, you will be able to keep your life in check and never need one of those constant reminders.