My Best Life

   Good morning, Friends! This week I posted a Reel on Instagram, highlighting some photos from a recent trip to Nevada. And in the background, I used a song by Ben Rector called, "Living My Best Life.” But here's what I love about this song. He points out an incredibly important truth that our social media obsessed culture has forgotten. So often, we think of living our best lives as all the things we post pictures of: Drinks with friends, travel to exotic locations, delicious food, perfectly curated homes. And while those things are fun, beautiful, and can add a lot of enjoyment to our lives, the truth is, you can have all those things and still be miserable. You can #liveyourbestlife and still never have a good life. If you don't believe me, think of all the rich and famous people who commit suicide. Our best lives aren't created by how many fancy trips we go on or delicacies we eat. Our best lives encompass so much more. Our best lives require us to thrive. 

    Ben Rector points out a fundamental truth about our best lives. They probably look different on a daily basis than we thought they would. Because in order to thrive, we have to do something so much different than posting glitzy photos on social media. Our best lives require us to put in the work, to create good habits, and to care for our body, mind, and spirit. Our best lives require uncomfortable decisions like exercise, sacrifice, and healthful habits. Our best lives require us to learn and grow as people. Our best lives require us to tap into our spiritual practice and live on a level of love and peace that is above the daily concerns that try to pull us down. And our best lives, they aren't made up of those big moments we show everyone else. They're made up of the small daily decisions no one sees. 

    This should be good news for a lot of us. If you aren't a millionaire, can't drop everything and travel to Bali for a month, or don't own a beach vacation house in the Caribbean, you can still live your best life. You can make the decision to get up everyday and grow yourself, care for yourself, and nurture your passions and goals. You can put in the work to form habits which serve you mentally and physically, and in reality, when you do, you'll realize what your best life really looks like. It might include gorgeous vacations. But it might also be your daily yoga practice, your morning prayer time, or your evenings around the table with family and friends. Our best lives aren't just made up of picture worthy moments. They're also the little, everyday habits we build which truly propel us toward who we were meant to be. 

  This week, focus on the small steps you can take to be your best right here and now. Over time as you build your physical, spiritual, and mental health through your habits, you'll find you really are living your best life. I can't wait to see you succeed.

~K.L.W. 

Wise Stewarding

 Hello Friends, It’s Earth Day, and I thought it was a great time to share some things I’ve been thinking about. Lately I’ve been dwelling a lot on the concept of stewardship. It’s a word we don’t hear often, but it’s something that has valuable implications in all of our lives. When we steward something, it means we use it wisely, that we make the most of what we have and don’t waste. 

  When it comes to the earth, we are probably all familiar with the concept of stewardship. We’ve all been told to Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle. And these are important things for us to do for the health of our planet. But the truth is, stewardship extends to so much more. Stewardship should actually be a lifestyle. 

  When we are good stewards of our time, our health, our money, and our talents, we will find we waste less, accomplish more, and get more satisfaction out of what we have. But it’s more than that. A life lived in stewardship of our time and talents is a life with purpose, a life which is not wasted. 

  The book of Matthew tells the story of three servants, entrusted with varying amounts of money while their master went on a journey. Two of them worked hard to multiply what they had been given, while the third buried his away and did nothing. He was fearful and also foolish. Upon the master’s return, he rejoiced over the two who had used their gifts so well, giving them even more to manage because they had proven themselves good stewards. The third, however, was not only a disappointment to his master, but even the little he had was taken away from him since he had not managed it well. (Matthew 25:14-30)

  The sad thing is, all three of them were capable of being good stewards. They would not have been entrusted with the money if the master didn’t have faith in them. Likewise, all of us on this earth are entrusted with varying degrees of time, talents, and money. We wouldn’t have been put here if we weren’t capable of doing something with what we’ve been given. But the question is, will we steward well what we’ve been entrusted with? 

  The choice is yours today. How are you using what you have to make the world a better place for yourself and others? Even if you only have a little, you are capable of being a good steward. Don’t waste what you’ve been entrusted with. The world needs what you have to offer. Steward your time and talents well, and see how much more you can be entrusted with. I can’t wait to see you succeed! 

~K.L.W.

Let the Leaves Go

   Good Morning, Friends! I’ve been thinking recently about the idea of change and the way we deal with transition. As humans, we have a tendency to hold to homeostasis. We want things to stay the same, and we really prefer to stay in our comfort zones, often to our own detriment.

  Over the past two years, most of us were forced to change our lives in one way or another, everything from the space we work from, the way we attend social functions, and picking up groceries has shifted. And so, the idea of transitioning anything else might seem overwhelming at the moment. 

  But the truth is, change is a necessary and even healthy part of life. Just as the earth methodically goes through seasons, we must realize that our lives do the same. And the harder we fight against change, the more difficult our lives become. It is only when we can let go and grow with the change that we receive the peace and benefit of the seasons we’re entering and leaving. 

  There’s a children’s book, called Little Tree, by Loren Long. And in this book, a small tree decides not to let go of its leaves in the fall. And so, season by season, as all the trees shed their leaves and grow them anew, little tree stays stuck holding its brown dead leaves, until all the trees around it have grown large. This book may be written for children, but the lesson is a poignant one for all of us. We must be willing to let go and change in order to grow. 

  This week, ask yourself what it’s time to let go of. What are you holding on to that’s holding you back. Don’t be afraid of change. Stay flexible as the seasons come and go. I can’t wait to see you succeed!

~K.LW.