Want to know why I spend time with a devotional as often as I can? Because sometimes that’s the grounding moment in my day. When the chaos of life gets to be too much I know I can take a quiet moment and reflect on my faith. I can dig into Biblical teachings to find guidance for tough situations. I can turn to my church family when my marriage needs a little tune up. I blast worship music when I need to remember that there is something bigger than me out there. I’ll never forget the first time I was able to attend church at boot camp. It was the third Sunday I was there and I was more than a little overwhelmed by the whole environment. But that Sunday I walked in and heard the opening lines of God’s Not Dead and it brought tears to my eyes. Might sound silly to some people, but music has such a big influence in my life (proud former band geek here) and it was that song, hearing something familiar from home, that energized me again enough to make it through one more day, one more week without giving up. My faith is there no matter what challenges come into my life.
Want to know why I find myself on the treadmill until my toes bleed? Because I have a job that requires it. And because I really do get a thrill out of being able to say I finished another race. I hate the gym. My husband is a gym rat and loves spending hours there. But me, I sometimes think if the military didn’t have body composition standards and a PFA for me to run twice a year I might never step foot in the gym. So on those days where the last thing I want to do is lace up my sneakers and run I remember that I love my job. I am proud of being a Sailor. And part of that means maintaining standards. I guess this one goes back to the work ethic thing since I am trying to be the best Sailor I can be. And ok…it doesn’t suck when my husband tells me my butt looks good on our way out the door. Makes me kick the incline up a little the next time I’m on the dreaded treadmill.
So there you have it. My personal gps. The guiding forces in my life. My family, my beliefs, my work, my fitness, and my faith. These are things that make me who I am and help me make decisions that I think are best for me and my spouse. What about you? What guides you due north in your life? Your kids maybe? Is it your gypsy spirit? Your desire to be a leader? What makes you move in the right direction even when it isn’t a popular path to follow?
