Category: Passion

When was the last time that you were scheduled to be somewhere to support a loved one, but didn’t follow through? Perhaps it was for your child’s soccer game, the launch of a friends new business or a neighbors holiday party.  What about the last meeting at work or with the organization that you are a part of that was on your schedule for weeks, did you not show up? My guess is never…no. Or, at least not intentionally. So why do we schedule time to support others, but not ourselves? Why do we not schedule time to do the things we enjoy, that we are passionate about?

As silly as it may sound, we have to make time for these things by scheduling them as we would anything else. Yes, that means blocking time in our schedules to do the things we enjoy, that we are passionate about.  They must become a priority by either writing or typing them into our schedules; otherwise, we will likely never get around to them. Why? Well, because LIFE HAPPENS. Although our intentions maybe good, things will inevitably come up. Can I get an amen this Thursday evening?

So,  where do we start when every minute of every day seems to be occupied with things that we “need” to do? I say start small and grow from there. That is what I have done over the years. Maybe that means committing to 30 minutes every day or 3 times a week. Perhaps you can plan on getting up a bit earlier, staying up a little later or using part of your lunch hour. Whatever you decide, commit and follow through. Write it on your calendar and protect the time that you have allotted yourself. Do not allow anything to keep you from taking that time. That may mean saying no to somethings . After all, we make time for the things that are important to us. Don’t we? Are the things that you are passionate about important to you? Of course they are! Give yourself permission to make time for them.

The Lord has designed each of us with things that we enjoy doing and wants us to do them. I truly believe that our passions are an indicator of work that the Lord wants to do in AND through us. By not pursing them due to guilt or anything else keeps him from doing just that. Let’s make a decision together today that we are going to strive to make time for these things by scheduling them into our calendars . I am certain that we will find that we will not only be better for doing so, but that our loved ones will be too!

Thank you guys for being a part of this blog week. I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend! Cheers!

Warmest regards,

Salina Watson

 

 

As we begin to pursue the things that we enjoy, the things that we are passionate about, the Lord reveals more. It’s true! See, that “thing”  is a doorway to many opportunities of growth that lie ahead.  Having set out to launch this blog on 12/31/2018 after many years of dreaming about it, I can attest to this first hand.

Not only have I learned a great deal about blogging, but building and managing a website, graphic design, marketing, photography, etc. All of those things combined with the people that I have met along the way has allowed me to grow in ways that I could not fathom before venturing out. And it’s only been a few short months since this whole thing transpired.

My point? We must move past the guilt of pursuing the things that we enjoy, the things that we are passionate about, because the Lord wants to use those very things to raise us to higher ground. Why? Because as we learn, grow and become who he created us to be, those around us will find the courage within themselves do the same. This brings glory to God!

As a wife and mother of 3, I realize that we have obligations on the home front that we must tend to, but there are things outside of our 4 walls that the Lord wants to do in and through us. We should not feel guilty about this in any way, shape or form. And I am speaking to myself here as I type this message out to you. It’s funny to me, but the Lord often uses my messages to speak to me.

So, where do we start? How do we move past the guilt and pursue the things that the Lord created us to enjoy and are passionate about? Well, I think I have a few practical ideas that might just help you. Let’s plan on ending the blog week tomorrow talking about them. Until then, take sometime through out the day today to reflect upon those things and consider what has kept you from pursing them. Let’s see if we can begin to work towards them.

I’ll plan on seeing you here tomorrow morning and on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/thefaithfilledtraveler/) later today. Make it a great Wednesday, my friends! (Hugs) to you all!

Warmest regards,

Salina Watson

 

 

Could it be that when we pursue our passions, our loved ones actually benefit from us doing so? Do you think that the process has the potential to teach them a thing or two; although, they are likely oblivious to it? As a wife and mother who has put off doing things that I enjoy….that I am passionate about many times due to guilt, I believe so!

Since 2010 I have had a passion for writing. I love to share my thoughts and ideas with others. Although it wasn’t until I was 35 years old when I discovered it, writing has been something that I have thoroughly enjoyed ever since. That said, over the course of the past 9 years, I have put off writing multiple times. In fact, I had a dream of starting this blog in 2010-2011, but did not pursue it. I felt like it would take time away from my family. Yes, I allowed mother guilt to settle in. Well….for awhile, anyway.

As I began to share my excitement about the possibility of starting a blog, our daughter, Morgan encouraged me to do so. She watched me plan, research, write content, etc.. She also listened patiently as I shared my ideas about what I wanted the blog to look like, and who I wanted it to reach. Most importantly, she cheered me on when I considered forgoing the idea, which I did many times.

Thankfully, after many years of putting it off , I launched the blog on December 31, 2018. To celebrate, we had a launch party at our home on New Year’s Eve. As you can see from the picture above, Morgan was so excited! I think she was just as excited as I was, perhaps even more. The smile says it all, doesn’t? So did the tears of joy.

See, Morgan was there from the start. She watched as I wrote updates when she was initially diagnosed with leukemia in 2009. She heard me speak about having a dream of having my own blog for years upon years. She sat watching as I created not one, but TWO websites. She has been there through it all! And she celebrated the accomplishments with me on 12/31/18.

THIS, my friends is one of the main reasons that we must stop putting off pursuing our passions due to guilt. By doing the things that we are passionate about that bring us joy, the Lord works through us to teach those around us. Don’t you see? Our families benefit from the process. In my case, Morgan witnessed her mother’s dream become a reality. What was once a thought came into fruition right before her eyes. It is priceless!!!

So, what is it that you enjoy? What are you passionate about? Better yet, why are you not doing it? Please share. I would love to hear your feed back. Comment email or PM me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/thefaithfilledtraveler ) and let’s work through it, shall we?!

I’ll see you guys here tomorrow!!!

Warmest regards,

Salina Watson

 

Hi, guys! Good Monday morning to each one of you. How was your weekend? I hope that you were able to get a little rest, have a lot of fun and do somethings that you have been needing &/or wanting to do.  With our youngest daughter being admitted into the hospital Saturday night, the weekend in the Watson house did not turn out exactly the way we had planned. But, we made it! Thank the good Lord, we made it! Now, let’s jump in, shall we?

What is the one thing that you absolutely love to do? You know, the thing that you are passionate about that makes you smile like nonother. For our son Montana, baseball is that “thing”. Since he was a little boy, he has loved the game. If he wasn’t playing baseball, he was watching it on television or talking about it. In fact, he’s been doing these things for the past 13 years. Other than getting a little older, much taller and more knowledgeable about baseball, his love for the game has not changed.

I believe that each of us, like Montana,  were designed with something that we are passionate about. Something that makes us feel fully alive when we are doing it. I also believe that as we get older and life happens, we tend to do less and less of these things. Whether that is due to our obligations at home or work, we seem to move further and further away from the things that we are passionate about.

Can you relate to this in anyway? I sure can. For the majority of my adult life , I have put off doing things that I personally enjoy doing that I am passionate about because of my obligations at home. As a wife and mother, I have put my families needs, goals and desires before my own more times than I can count. Although I think it is natural to do so, I don’t believe that the Lord wants us to get stuck in this cycle. After all, he wired us with these passions. Why on earth would he want us not to  pursue them?

Today, I am going to challenge you to think about the things that you are passionate about. What do you love doing? When was the last time you did it? How did it make you feel? If it’s been a while, what has held you back? My goal in doing this exercise is for us to reflect on the things that the Lord has uniquely created us to enjoy doing and by the end of the blog week discover ways of pursuing them. I hope you will join me.

Thank you for being here today. I’ll plan on meeting you at the same place tomorrow and on Facebook            ( https://www.facebook.com/thefaithfilledtraveler/ ) later today. Make it a great day! See you soon!

Warmest regard,

Salina Watson