Living with Intention in Every Season
Marisa Norcross

A quick note…David and I have spent a lot of time over the last couple of years talking about leadership and growth in our podcast The Next Page. During our conversations we often try to draw parallels between our professional and personal lives, yet lately we’ve been feeling more inclined to spend additional time discussing how to live intentionally in the personal aspects of our lives.

In an effort to add balance to our podcast, I’m planning to do some occasional “takeovers” of David’s weekly posts and podcasts to remind our readers and listeners that you are multi-faceted, worth more than your work, and deserving of time well spent.

With that, I’d like to jump right into today’s post about living each season with intention and how my family is doing just that right now.

Do you ever feel like life is moving too fast or is simply passing you by? Does it seem like you so much as blink and three months have gone by—or is it just me? In June of 2018 I decided that I was tired of feeling that way and that I wanted to get the absolute most out of summer as possible. My family made a conscious decision to be more intentional about the season and we truly had the best summer ever. At the end of that summer we welcomed another baby into our family which shook things up a bit, but now a year later, we’re in a better groove and are excited to reembark on our intentional season journey.

In a dual effort to inspire others and hold myself accountable, I want to encourage you to take a look at where your time is spent and how you can make each season lifegiving. Maybe it means saying no to the extracurricular activity that everyone’s kids seem to be doing so that you can have more family time. Maybe it means waking up an hour earlier a few times a week to get outside and enjoy the crisp fall air. Maybe it means setting your phone to “do not disturb” to cut out distractions. Maybe it means saying no to what isn’t bringing you joy so that you can find enjoyment in the all-too-brief weekends. Find what works for you and hold onto it.

What’s working for my family this season is a Fall Bucket List. Back in August, I found a customizable bucket list file that I purchased, edited to fit our family’s plans, and printed at Staples for less than $0.35. We have it hung in our kitchen and have thoroughly enjoyed making the most of our days. But trust me when I say, your bucket list doesn’t have to be anything fancy! Get to work with pen and paper, stick it to the fridge, and start checking things off. Your list doesn’t have to include extravagant or expensive activities—this isn’t meant to be a drain on your resources, but rather a list of things that, when complete, will leave you feeling fulfilled.

While I understand this may not be everyone’s cup of tea, I hope it will inspire you to be more intentional about how you spend your time. A good starting place would be to take a look at your calendar or agenda from the previous week. Where was your time invested and what kind of return did you see on that investment? If your calendar feels balanced and seems in line with your goals and values, then keep up the good work! But if you feel like adjustments could be made, give something new a try and see how you feel at the end of your next week. Give yourself permission to fill your life with what matters to you.

I hope you’ll join me and David for Episode 119 of The Next Page podcast to learn about what is on my family’s Fall Bucket List, some quick tips for building your own list, and additional ideas for living your whole life with intention.

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