This word ‘single’ is one which I have spent lots of time thinking on for a few different reasons. One because I am single and have been the majority of my life. Secondly I spent the majority of the past decade involved with one of largest Singles ministries in the United States in volunteer roles and then profession.
When ‘singles’ are your job you spend a lot of time trying to understand this word. And while I could go in many directions in this post I just wanted to share one thing I came across a few years ago and then rediscovered today. I cannot take credit for creation – I copied this from an email, website or something, but don’t know where it originally came from.
I think these eleven statements are worth thinking about because often it is assumed that they are
11 Statements about Singleness
1. One good thing about singleness is…
2. One tough thing about singleness is…
3. People think single adults are…
4. Most people should get married by the time they are…
5. Being single was not what I expected it to be because…
6. I’d like to see my single friends…
7. If my child never married I would feel…
8. Seeing my parent become single again I felt…
9. When I married I never thought I would become single again because…
10. When my relative went through a divorce I understood that…
11. The greatest single adult who ever lived was…
Maybe in the future I will put up a few other thoughts about singleness – it seems I definitely have a few. For me singleness has been one of the greatest gifts I have been given that I never asked or hoped for.
Sometimes its the simple principles in life that we can so easily miss and it just takes someone to help us refocus. That is exactly what Andy Andrews does in The Noticer. The subtitle ‘Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective’ is one of the greatest lessons we could learn and apply to our lives. In his book Andrews uses a character named Jones to bring perspective to several individuals in a small town. Jones is that reminder as he quietly moves in and out of the lives of members of this small town. Through a variety of circumstances and interactions he shows the reader that our responses to each other and our situations completely depend on our perspective. No matter where we find ourselves or what the situation might be around us perspective can totally shift our mindset. Simply by changing our perspective we can change the course of our lives and sometimes we all need a little reminder of that fact. Andrews also uses Jones to show love, kindness and value to others that we somehow have forgotten to include in our daily interactions with people. This is a simple story which makes for an entertaining and easy read that I would recommend everyone add to their must read list to bring a little perspective back into your life!
At multiple times during the day I have thoughts come to my head and I think ‘I should really put that down on paper or on my blog’ BUT when I get in front of my computer to write it down the thought completely disappears. What is the deal that I cannot get thoughts from my head to my hands to write/type out? Its kinda frustrating as there are a LOT of thoughts rolling around in this head of mine!
On November 7th I will be running in the ING NYC Marathon and for the first time, every single ING New York City marathoner can unite to make their run count toward the goal of raising $1 million per mile.
When I learned of this opportunity I knew right away how I wanted to participate. One of the issues which I am most passionate about in our world is that almost one billion people on the planet don’t have access to clean drinking water. Unsafe water and a lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of all disease and kill more people than all forms of violence, including war.
I am SO excited about running this marathon in NYC, a city that I have loved for the last 25 years. What I am now even MORE excited about is running with a purpose, knowing that I will be playing a small part in bringing clean water to a community who currently does not have clean water, AND running for an organization that is making a difference.
charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. 100% of public donations directly fund water projects.
My goal is to raise $5,000 because that is the average cost of one well. This will provide clean water for 250 people for 20 years.
Would you please join me in this effort? You can visit my charity:water site at mycharity: water site
Thank you!
In one week I will be dropping Rachel off at college (she is beginning her freshman year at UGA and I could not be prouder). That also means that in one week the ‘someday’ I have been thinking about for the last 20 years becomes a reality and will become the current ‘today’ I will be living in. What does that mean?
Twenty years ago I became a mom. I was young – just 19 years old. That decision meant many temporary sacrifices but has brought much greater reward. I gave up the ‘college years’, I gave up my twenties, never was a typical ‘twentysomething’. Would I change it? Not at all.
However, time passes and I find myself quickly approaching the day where the ‘freedom’ I have been seeing in my future a quickly approaching reality and with it bringing many mixed emotions.
Being a mom has been the most important purpose in my life and I am sure will continue to be – it will just look differently. Many times I referred to my job as a mom as the ‘I am doing a great work and I cannot come down’(read Visioneering by Andy Stanley for a thorough explanation) in my life. No more soccer practices, track meets, lunches to make, dirty dishes, laundry, homework, school functions, etc. But now that those things are past what does my future look like?
I am not sure. I have definitely NOT missed out on great opportunities. I’ve lived a very full life and been given great and unusual opportunities which have included visiting all the continents except Antarctica, running a marathon and have been part of many great events. I have a great job and work with amazing people and still have two amazing kids. But there is going to be a huge void in my life where all the ‘mom’ stuff was.
I don’t expect answers in the next seven days and I am eagerly waiting for this new ‘today’ to arrive. But I could not let it come without stopping to reflect over the last 20 years and say that I am so glad that I became a mom and ‘did not come down‘ before now.
living it out 