How are those New Year’s resolutions going?

Me?

I didn’t make any.

Why?

By the time the holidays came, I had lost focus on all my priorities and goals.

I haven’t posted in almost two months because my joyful simple life got complicated. I was dealing with a new job, dealing with the weather, dealing with some personal issues.

There I was trying to work the new job, trying to handle the weather, trying to spend extra time with my family.

And I was failing. Failing to write. Failing to read. Failing to pray.

In other words, I failed a lot.

How do you un-complicate your joyful simple life?

By choosing to re-focus on those things that matter.

For instance my job matters, but only to the extent that I need to do my job well and then leave it. No more brooding over having to go in. Leave work at work and leave my time for my family. No more encroachments.

Second, I can’t change the weather, but I don’t need to focus on it. Watch the weather, prepare the best I can, and get on with life. (Geesh, you’d think I could handle a Midwest winter by now.)

When I put the world back into perspective, I find my priorities have gone bonkers. The light bulb goes off and my V8 moment hits: God first, family second, the rest will fall into place.

Today, I choose to put God first.

Today, I choose to put my family second.

Today, I choose to let the rest fall back into its deserving place.

What will I gain?

A peaceful heart and mind. A peaceful family life. A peaceful simple life.

Have you gotten off-track? How are you going to put yourself back onto the path of your own Joyful Simple Life?