Discover - Being a mother since I was 18, I’ve spent my entire adult life taking care of others and tending to their needs. Somewhere along the way, I lost myself. While I would do it all again, what I wanted out of life was left behind. Though I’ve never been one to give up on my dreams, I tucked them away. After a year filled with transitions, I need to discover them again; see what I want out of the second half of my life. 

Decide - Once I rediscover those dreams, I need to decide which ones I want to pursue and which ones I am most passionate about.

Explore – Then I need to explore the possibilities. If a budget wasn’t a concern, or if I had unlimited time, I could explore them all. That’s just not the case.

Intentional – So, I must be intentional with how I proceed and define my priorities.

Faith – It will take a lot of faith. I’ll need faith in myself to see it through. But more importantly, I’ll need faith that God’s plan for my life will come to fruition as long as I open my heart and my mind to his guidance and direction.

Action – I’ll need to be a person of action, not just words or thoughts. Overthinking can impede progress.

Brave – That means I must be brave enough to toss fear aside and take a chance, and brave enough to embrace failures along with triumphs.

Courage – Mistakes may happen, so I’ll need courage to admit them and learn from them. And if God reveals a different journey than the road I’m on, I hope I’ll have the courage to accept it.

Grateful – May I approach each day with a grateful heart and look for the blessing in each moment.

Love – As I discover who I am and what I want my future to look like, may I always keep love front and center: love of God, love of family, and love of friends. May I learn to love myself. May that love help me reconcile the past, appreciate the present, and empower the future.