These past for or so years, my parents have really been trying to hammer the concept of priorities into me.
And…
It hasn’t really worked.

We hear about it all the time on ProBlogger, Zen Habits, and Skilliewag.org…

We hear how much it will increase your productivity and improve your life… but… how many of us actually do something about it?
I haven’t.
Well, I haven’t made a dedicated effort to do so…

But just now I came home from a friends house.
Normally, I hop straight on Facebook and catch up with my friends or check my RSS feeds, but this time, I didn’t.
Instead, I finished a blog post that I was working on (It’s Complicated… - The Power of Minimalism, Part 1) - and guess what…
I finished the post!

Imagine that.

Who’da thunk getting the important stuff done first would work, right?

So.
My lesson for today (after re-learning it a zillion times…) is:
Do the Important Stuff FIRST

If you’d prefer, here’s the lyrics.

I only just watched that video.
It still has me reeling.

We all want to live, but most of us (including myself) are confused on how to truly live.

We all have our burdens and our obstacles.
Yours are different than mine, but they’re still there.

However, the biggest difference lies in what we do with those obstacles and burdens.

We have three options: try and handle them ourselves, remove ourselves, or give them away.

Option 1 - Try and Handle the Burdens Ourselves
This is what most of the world does - and I do it too.
After all, we’re strong human beings right? We can do it!

This often leaves us exhausted, lost, and pushing in the wrong direction.

Option 2 - Remove Ourselves from Our Burdens
This leads to flight, apathy, or even suicide.
All are poor choices, but hey, I’ve done those too.

Option 3 - Give Our Burdens Away
Believe it or not, this is the hardest choice to make.
Without realizing it, we cling to our burdens and endear them to ourselves.
I do that every day.

I take pride in my strengths.
Those strengths ultimately become my downfall.

I believe I can take care of them myself, and I just keep getting knocked back down that hill.

There is one who will take those burdens, block out the obstacles, and carry us up the hill.
Yes, his name is Jesus Christ.

Before you run off and ditch this “Church crap,” think for a moment.

What would you do if someone offered to take all of your burdens?

That would be the greatest gift in the world.

Guess what, someone has - Jesus Christ.

Here’s where things get harder, for a time.
We have to give up our burdens.
We have to place our trust in him.

Giving up everything is difficult, but the return is incredible.

…
Yeah.
That was a horrible rant.
but.
Think about it.

What if you could get rid of all your burdens?

Would you do it?

You can, all you have to do is ask…

Life.
One of the many things we to take for granted.
So I have a simple question I would like to ask.

Why do you live?

No.
Seriously.

Why do you live?
Why do you get out of bed each morning?
Why do you strive to improve your quality of life?

Why?

This is not something I can tell you.
Rather, this is something you must discover.

Take a moment and seriously think, “Why do I live?“

If you have no purpose or goal, then you shall get nowhere.

So pick your path, and get going.

It was a bright summer day as I strolled down the path back home. The sun shone brightly as it cast a single brilliant ray earthward from between two snow white clouds. The birds were chirping - the breeze was fine - nothing could be better. I felt as if I were king of the world - which is quite a good feeling.

However, little did I know, danger loomed over me like a innocent monkey about to slip on a particularly slippery banana. Not five paces further and my perfect day would plummet earthward - literally. Not five paces in front of me, my worst fault would reveal itself in all its demonic glory.

But I as I walked, I had no idea this appalling blemish of mine would return to haunt me. I ambled forward without the slightest worry. And then - it happened. My right foot stopped abruptly, while my body continued forward - and then downward.

Time stood still as the dirt path grew ever nearer - and there was nothing I could do about it. I feebly threw my arms forward to catch myself - but they would not obey. My two favorite appendages simply flailed about, making me look all the more ridiculous. And then, with a sickening thud, I hit the ground in a small cloud of dust.

I lay there for a moment, wallowing in my embarrassment, hoping beyond hope that no one had seen my darkest trait - a distinct incapability to keep my center of gravity where it should be. I slowly propped myself onto my knees and brushed the dark brown dirt off my clean shirt. Raising my eyes, I scanned the surrounding landscape, trying to sight anyone who had seen the evils of my clumsiness.

But to my utter astonishment, not a soul was in sight. Not a single man, woman, dog, cat, bird, or even squirrel revealed itself. Relief flooded my mortified brain as I realized that no one has seen me fall.

Hoping to kick the miserable object that caused my sudden and unwelcome meeting with the dirt path, I looked back.
There was nothing in sight.
And then it dawned on me: I had tripped over nothing.