Incredible Women

To my readers:

My life is pretty busy - just like yours. I've become so busy lately, I'm having a hard time juggling everything. I've recently decided that I need to simplify a little bit, and I've been thinking a lot about this blog. Why do I do this blog? Well, my reasons for starting it were: I wanted to thank those women who helped me through a difficult time in my life, I wanted to meet new incredible women, and I wanted to help other women to recognize their incredible worth. My reasons for continuing this blog: I think it's a good thing - I've had many women tell me that their interview for the blog helped them to realize they really are important and incredible. It has helped them take time to evaluate their lives, and they like what they see.

One of the leaders of my church - Dallin H. Oaks - gave a talk a few years ago. I've been thinking about that talk recently. It was entitled "Good, Better, Best". The basic idea of this talk: We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.

Some of the most important things said by Elder Oaks: "We should begin by recognizing the reality that just because something is good is not a sufficient reason for doing it. The number of good things we can do far exceeds the time available to accomplish them. Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives."

"As we consider various choices, we should remember that it is not enough that something is good. Other choices are better, and still others are best. Even though a particular choice is more costly, its far greater value may make it the best choice of all."

I consider these words very wise. This talk was given in October of 2007. Last month, another church leader, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, had something similar to say in his talk "Of Things That Matter Most"

"One of the characteristics of modern life seems to be that we are moving at an ever-increasing rate, regardless of turbulence or obstacles. Let’s be honest; it’s rather easy to be busy. We all can think up a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedules. Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list. They flood the open spaces in their time with lists of meetings and minutia—even during times of stress and fatigue. Because they unnecessarily complicate their lives, they often feel increased frustration, diminished joy, and too little sense of meaning in their lives. It is said that any virtue when taken to an extreme can become a vice. Overscheduling our days would certainly qualify for this. There comes a point where milestones can become millstones and ambitions, albatrosses around our necks.

Elder Uchtdorf gave some incredibly important advice - it talked to my soul. His suggestions...

1. First, our relationship with God is most sacred and vital.
2. Our second key relationship is with our families.
3. The third key relationship we have is with our fellowman.
4. The fourth key relationship is with ourselves.

So, looking at that list, my Incredible Women blog would fall under number 3 - behind my relationship to God and my family. I don't mind admitting that more often than not, it comes before those two. So, I've been thinking about how I can simplify my life, and refocus on things that mean more to my family. On Friday, when I realized I didn't have an interview for the blog this week, I told my husband that I thought it might be a good idea to start doing a new interview each month, instead of each week. He seemed to think this was a good idea. As the weekend progressed, I thought more about things, and decided that I was going to quit this blog. But, when I told my husband what my decision was, he said, "Do you think that's the best thing to do? Maybe you should pray about it." Now, that was a surprising thing for me to hear coming from my husband, who has lately been asking me to focus more of my time on the kids. If he thinks this blog is important, then it probably is.

This post has been my attempt to explain that I'll be cutting back a little bit on things like this. Because I still feel that it's important to continue to interview women - mostly because it helps them - I'll continue the blog. But, I'm going to cut back to one interview per month. That will cut back on my stress and worries about who to interview. 12 women per year instead of 50+ is a "better" choice.

I hope you'll all continue to check back each month and enjoy the interviews I bring you.

Thanks for being part of this blog. I'll have a new interview for November up within a few weeks.

Take care.