One of the things I believe I do well is self-assess. I am not afraid to own my stuff.

For me, it is not about blaming others for my shortcomings; it’s about stepping up to the plate and not just apologizing for my mistake but also stepping back from the situation and looking closely at what I did well and what were opportunities for improvement.

In the last six months, not only in my personal life but in our world, sadness and devastation have surrounded me. Natural disasters in Haiti and Japan have been is heart-wrenching. To think that one day, with all of our to-do lists, in a blink of an eye we could be in need of something as basic as clean water.

I still remember those awful X’s that appeared on the doors of houses in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, signifying that no one was found following an extensive search. And then there were those who lost their lives, just as many have lost their lives in Haiti and now in Japan.

While there is still time, I don’t want to miss the message to me in all of this.

Perhaps the message is really a reminder of what I already knew: At the end of the day, what is important?

I am sure that the people of Haiti and Japan got up in the morning to begin their day, just as we all do, focused on whatever was going on for them at the time. Some may have been on their way to work or school or even heading for the grocery store. But in an instant, the entire landscape of their lives and those of their families were shifted.

I have been guilty of counting on time tomorrow, when tomorrow could very well be too late.

The Apostle Paul encourages us in Ephesians 5:15-16 to be wise in the use of our time, making the most of our opportunities, not taking the days for granted.

We are all on assignment to do something amazing in this life, something that no one else can do. There is a specific fingerprint that we each have; no two peoples are alike.

Ask yourself what I have asked myself: What are my priorities, and what of those priorities line me up for the continuous movement toward what I am called to do.

How apropos that we are coming into spring, a time of cleaning. Are there things that need to be thrown out or reprioritized? What are the time-stealers, and how important in the big scheme of things are they anyway? Is it time to reshuffle the deck and get busy in a deliberate way so that we are maximizing the time we have been given?

I am putting a lot of things in a trash bag right now. Will you join me?
***
Tanya Wilson is an inspirational speaker and author living in Charlotte. Friend her on Facebook, or email her at tw360you@aol.com.

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