Making Things Happen: ATL 2012

{via MTH tumblr}

As a freshman in high school, my bible teacher made us memorize the simple verse, "Above all else, Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" (Proverbs 4:23).  He had a banner made, and it hung in his classroom all year long.  That verse has come to mind a lot since then.  It was something I thought about when I was dating, when I listened to music, when I chose friendships, etc.  We have a choice of who and what we let into our life and hearts.  I kept thinking of this verse throughout Wednesday too.  Which was the day I attended Making Things Happen in Atlanta.

Where I was able to meet Lara Casey, Emily Ley and Gina Zeidler.  As I mentioned before, I've been following Lara and the MTH movement since 2009.  I basically wanted to play Bette Midler's - wind beneath my wings, with a boom box, John Cusack Say Anything style upon meeting.  For me, meeting all three of those women whose words have meant so much to me over the past three years, must be like what people that watch Oprah feel like upon meeting.  And i'm here to tell you that, these women are the real deal.  I left in total awe of their hearts.  And every kind of thankful that they could share openly with people they had just met.  What life changing and life giving words they all gave!

I'll say MTH wasn't what I thought it would be.  It was a lot more.  I was prepared to talk about business. Instead, I used a lot of tissues. When you are forced to actually name your fears, and face all of the clutter that's been hanging out in your head ...  you get vulnerable, honest and you get to the core of why you do what you do, and you're forced to see who you're doing it for.  You come face to face with what matters and whether you're putting them before all the junk that simply does not.  

Back to that verse I first spoke of, and have been mulling over since Wednesday.  Over the years the things I've let into my heart hasn't always been exemplary. { Oh goodness it's still not even close }!  But the largest chambers of my heart consist of my faith, my husband, Tuck growing inside me, my family, a few close friendships, a desire to help others and live a life of purpose.  Putting those things first gives me LIFE, JOY, PEACE, CONTENTMENT.  And I realize the only way to get there is guarding against distractions, controlling the volume of the negativity, lies we believe and keep telling ourselves.  For me this looks like: limiting social media (being aware of what you're letting in), leaving my phone behind when I can, having an alarm clock instead of bringing my phone to bed with me, resting in ways that feed my soul and not exhaust it, doing the hard work, making decisions instead of just thinking about them, dealing with reality instead of being distracted by twitter/FB/instagram all day, being obsessed with busy-ness ... . clearing out all of the clutter whether it lives in my mind or near my desk. I want to put what ultimately matters before all of those things I want right now (namely: approval).  A huge prayer of mine is to have vision.  To not be short sided in my thinking.  

I want to pursue a life of LOVE, purpose, joy, peace, and be fulfilled not drained by what I do.  I want to guard my heart, focus on what matters, follow my dreams, and live a life of adventure with my two boys.  

And infuse all of the things that fire me up.  as much as possible.  Life is too short not to.  

find the templates here and write your own list of what fires you up!  and leave a link below so I can see (: