What Are My Priorities

You are a Badass Deck, by Jen Sincero — It’s time to get mighty clear about what makes you happy and what makes you feel the most alive, and then create it instead of pretending you can’t have it.

The cards in this deck were created from a book You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life.

Several years ago now, right after I retired, I was asked to write rap. A grandson was into rap at the time and he knew I could write. He said, "Grandma, write me a rap song," so I started to write rap, only it wasn't really rap. He said, "Grandma, you don't rhyme enough!" Then he said, "It is too long." And finally, he said, "You don't have a beat."

Writing makes me happy. From this start, I learned to rhyme. I learned the beat but was told, isn't that sweet, but have you considered 'spoken word'? I knew the basics of writing from years of technical writing and from all the papers I had written in college. As a child, I did some creative writing, but I had a ways to go.

Feeling most alive is when I finish a piece of writing that I publish as a fundraiser and it sells. Then years later, I heard someone say, "I have several of your books and I think that your stories should be kept forever." Most of my materials have gone to a small group of people. Some family from giveaways at memorials, some patrons of the fundraiser.

REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE #1 - Put your priorities first - don't check e-mails or voice messages or social media until you've gotten into your day and accomplished some of the tasks you want to do. Don't answer the phone or texts while you're busy. Other people's needs can occupy several lifetimes' worth of our attention, and if you let them, they will. Jen Sincero

Getting into my day starts early most days. It started with reading on my phone Fridays. There is always lots to do in November. I hear it should snow next week. I can remember some snow days of the past, so when hearing that it is time to bring out the mittens and the winter hat.

My priorities are often around the hubby sleeping. He is a night person and I am a morning person. I get a sweatshirt on and pj pants as I will go out to greet the sun in a couple of hours. I am always up before the sun comes up.

My priority at one time was coffee. I think even before coffee it was a cigarette. As a kid, I would sleep as long as I could before having to get up for school. No more coffee, cigarettes, or school.

Most mornings I write. Usually check in on anything important that I may have to take care of in the day. I have tea that I brewed the evening before that is ready to drink in the morning.

When I hear hubby rising, I have usually finished the tea and will now make more tea for the day. I drink herbal tea and I write.

Your job isn't to know the how, it's to know the what and to be open to discovering, and receiving, the how. Jen Sincero

The what for me is living life in the present, loving, laughing, enjoying life as it happens. Last night I was invited to be in a four generation photo fundraiser. Then out to dinner with my daughter, three granddaughters and two granddaughters three children.

Great evening. Yesterday, I had lunch with a brother. I was thinking, how am I going to get my writing in with all this life going on and then I remembered that I can't miss any of this, so I was short on my writing goal and happy!

Today, I am joining some Y Sisters for planning our yearly fundraiser basket for the Y. I really don't have time for this but I wouldn't miss it. These sisters have had cancer and some more than once. I try not to miss any get together.

This weekend is the 4-year memorial for my favorite cousin(older sister). How can I miss this? Busy life! It will mean an eight hour day minimum.

I am so glad the pandemic has passed for many. I got a booster shot yesterday that made my arm sore last night and this morning. I had it before and know it is temporary. It reminded me of how much I missed being with people that I love during that time!