In class this week we watched a video of a talk given by Jeff Sandefer at Brigham Young University Idaho. It was so packed full of great advice I had to write fast! He stated that at the end of your life the only thing that will really matter is four things:
- Did I contribute something meaningful?
- Was I a good Person?
- Who did I love?
- Who loved me?
Here are a couple things I wrote about each one. In order to contribute something meaningful you need to do something you enjoy. Think of the last time you lost track of time? When I was praying about what to do when I finished my prerequisites for nursing school, I had a conversation with my husband and I said this: "I think nursing is going to turn out to be like a job for me. One that I am not excited to go to everyday. On the other hand when I do genealogy I get lost. I lose track of my whole day because I love it!" Of course my husband said "Well I think you know your answer."
Jeff Sandefer also mentioned that we should ask 5 people that know me well, what I do best. So far I have asked only my husband and oldest son. I sent a message to my family on Facebook to see what their replies would be. My husband said I am good at making good use of my time. I don't have much of a choice on that one. Since I have five kids, babysit another one during the week, have two businesses, am going to school full-time and I have a daughter that is taking classes from an online charter school, I don't have an option but to use my time well! My son said I am good at being a mom! What a good boy! I told him I don't think I am good at being a mom. He asked why and I said "I don't meet my expectations for what a mom should be." At least he thinks I am good at it! He also said I am good at getting him and his siblings to do things around the house. I said "So in other words I am a good yeller?" He said "yeah..." with a smile. My husband said I am a good motivator! :) One of my sisters responded and said I am good at delegating. I have to agree with that one!
One more thing Jeff Sandefer said on that subject was when you find what you love to do it also has to satisfy a burning need in the world. A calling must serve others. That is a lot of what I have been
thinking about lately!
Number two is about being a good person. He said to write down a list of "Will Not's", which are boundaries that you are not willing to cross. He said we will have moments when we will be about to cross those boundaries. This list will help us evaluate what our priorities are! He shared a joke. This is a joke that a friend told him. This friend reads this joke when he is wanting to cross a boundary that has been set. "What is the difference between you and God? God never thought he was you." That puts things into perspective. It is kind of like the old saying "your getting to big for your britches! We have to remember who we are. We are children of God and he knows what is best for us.
The third and fourth thing he mentioned was who did you love and who loved you? He said it is not all about YOUR happiness! It is about others. Another thing he said that made me sit back and think was, "Using your gifts to change the world
changes you!" You can't help but be changed when you see others grow or have their needs met because of you! I firmly believe that if you consistently pray for someone (with your heart) and serve them, that Heavenly Father will bless you with a love for them.
He also mentioned how you must surround yourself with people of character because you become who you surround yourself with!
What a blessing that talk was to me. This is about the journey and I want to be the Hero! I love that I can choose what and who I want to be by setting boundaries, serving others, loving them and loving what I do. I hope I can always follow the inspiration that Heavenly Father has given me in order to make the lives around me better and in the end answer all the questions well!
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