Stars!

Looking For the Stars!

This week I have been looking for the STARS that shine in my future to give me direction in my entrepreneurial journey.  It has been difficult and I'm going to be truthful, I may have done my school assignments all wrong, but I am a work in progress. I want to make a difference in the world...this means I may sometimes fail so when I do I plan to "fail forward" as Tom Kelley author of The Art of Innovation says is the "ideal"...

"failing in a way that has a little learning attached..." 

Remember I'm well over fifty. Here is a quote that really socked it to me from "Stars and Steppingstones" by Jeff Sandefer, 

"The ultimate horror in life is not death. The ultimate horror is to wake up at age fifty-five or sixty and realize you have wasted your life; either that time has slipped past while your dreams waited or that you never had any dreams at all. The great constraint on human life is time."

EEEEK!!!

Is it too late for me? At age 59 starting over may be too late but let me please note: I am just putting the finishing touches on my last years in life. I am not dead yet! I have lots of learning, living and helping others to do. I am starting new adventures every day. To tell you the truth, I am right where I want to be at this time in my life. 

• I am happily married to Bret a wonderfully hard working, patient, and funnest man ever! I feel God created him just for me. Together we have 6 BEAUTIFUL and AMAZING children, 3 wonderful son-in-laws and a daughter- in-law that I love as my own .
• We have 10 and almost 11 grandchildren that we know and love and they know and love us!
• We are part owners in a successful family business.
• My health allows me to bike, hike and play with my kids and family.
• I have enjoyed many years of service in my church and community creating life long friendships that has added deep value and meaning to my life.
• I have been given the ability to return to school to refresh old skills and learn many new ones as I shoot for my stars.

What I Have Learned

STARS...

This week I learned of the importance of STARS...life long goals that help us to chart our course in life.

I have spent a lot of time in self-reflection this week as I sought to identify my STARS. Jeff Sandefer gives tremendous advice on how to identify what is ultimately most important in our life. 

"Life is a journey not a destination... a relentless pursuit were persistence transforms ideals into a life long MISSION". (Sandefer)

• I want to live a life of learning...
• I want to serve a church mission with my husband...
• I want to be a kind and loving person...

These goals are what govern what decisions I make every day. They are why I do what I do...  even the time I spend doing dishes and laundry have taught me lessons, giving me the opportunity to serve. Opening a drawer of clean towels or clothes you can't help but feel loved or love the person that put them there! Every little thing I do can connect me to my ultimate STARS. But reaching for my stars will not necessarily give me the meaningful life I would like if I just aimlessly gaze at the stars while doing my dishes and laundry. I am going to need to stretch, feel uncomfortable and yes, even fail. 

Steven R. Covey recommends "beginning with the end in mind"...We can work back from where we ultimately want to be to better understand what we have to do to get there. We will have to do some stretching and growing to fill in that gap. There are always skills we can improve, relationships we can strengthen or repair....the list goes on and on. 

Steppingstones...

Steppingstones build and lead us to secure foundations. At each stage in life we will have to make choices that lead us toward our goals. What adventures should we take? How do we manage our money, how we spend time with our children, school and skill development, evaluating our dreams and ambitions and what will take us to the next step in our journey, and are we including spiritual growth and knowledge along the way etc.

Guardrails...

What will keep you from wandering all over in your life journey? "While steppingstones are not a ridged plan" (Sandefer), guardrails are philosophical lines we do not cross. They begin with "I would never..." (Sandefer),  describing ethical lines we will not cross in order to hold true to your principles and values. Examples would be: "I will never be dishonest or I will never lie" etc.

What I Have Not Yet Learned

Jeffery A. Thompson (BYU Associate Professor, June 1, 2021) reminds us that, 

"We can think about our calling without anxiety... With the Lord we don't need to feel anxious." 

This is definitely something I have not learned. I struggle with thinking quickly....I over think and make things harder than they need to be. I am paralyzed by the fear of pushing the wrong button or typing something that is miss-read or just not interesting. I struggle scheduling time away from my family and want find balance and continually am pleading for the Lords help. 

I still struggle with solidifying the concepts I read and retaining them for quizzes and exams.

Reflections

I reached out to my friend Valerie who is in her 80"s. She was raised during World War II. She is a woman to be admired. I asked what she cherished most in life, what she considered victories and failures, her regrets and her life mission. Somehow her answers were not surprising to me. You can see the answers in the pleasant look on her face and the hope in her voice and the firm conviction she has toward God.  

She cherished most the way she was raised. 

Her victories are her children.

Her regrets were not having more children.

Her life mission...She said she is still working on, but wants to be useful and relevant for her family and for her church.  She wants to continue to be more willing to give of herself to the Lord and be worthy of His sacrifice... 

She shared so many wonderful thoughts that I will cherish and keep.

Spiritual Insights

Romans 8:28 "All things work together for good to them that love God. to them that are called according to his purpose."

It is He who calls us and helps us walk our path. I have felt him lift me when I fall and give me courage to try again when I fail. He has put the stars in the sky to direct wise men. He will light our stars to direct our path ...our entrepreneurial journey... which now means to me that any time we press forward within appropriate and ethical bounds, doing good, learning and applying what we learn, building upon principles and values, attending to what is needed and doing our very best...this is the "Entrepreneurial Journey" of life.

Goals

• Yoga and meditation
• Scripture and gospel study
• Spend meaningful time with family
• Lower my anxiety by putting greater trust in Gods guidance
• Follow the Light...