Enjoy Life

Often in our lives we get caught up in the daily grind, our commitments and future planning.  So much so that we wake up one morning wondering where all our time went!  I know I am guilty of this.  I often plan ahead to the point where I am not enjoying the present, because I'm already preoccupied with what is to come next.  Don't get me wrong- goal setting is incredibly important, but there is a difference in setting future goals, and letting your goals consume you.  Having a plan can make you successful, but in my opinion that is only half the equation: you must also be able to maintain balance in your life.  Unfortunately when striving for one goal, almost always something else in your life will take a back seat: being able to find a balance in both is what will make you truly successful. 

For me, fitness and competing is a goal of mine, but I will not allow it to disrupt other parts of my life- at least I try not to.  Yes, it is part of who I am, but I am also a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a hairdresser...you get the point...It is not the only part of my life that needs attention and love.  I try my hardest to find balance between them all, but inevitably some things will suffer at one point or another.  Recently, I had to admit to myself that I was doing just that.  And let me tell you, sometimes the hardest person to admit you're wrong to, is to yourself.  For me, I was letting my goal of turning an IFBB Bikini Pro consume me, instead of me consuming it.  Gradually I had begun to let much more important parts of my life slip, parts of my life that are far more important than a trophy.  I still dream of turning Pro, but not if it means compromising the balance that makes life so beautiful and amazing.  I was in my car the other day and heard Trace Adkin's song "You're gonna miss this" on the radio.  It made me think about alot of the emotions I had been feeling lately.  I hadn't been letting myself enjoy the present because I was so wrapped up in what was to come.  I felt like the chorus was speaking out to me... 
You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days,
Hadn't gone by so fast.

These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now,
But you're gonna miss this...

It really got me thinking about my priorities in life.  Were the choices I was making right for me, right for my family?  Who were they benefiting?  What and who was being neglected?  I've taken a step back and am evaluating what is most important in my life, because I never want to look back wondering....