I don't want to be extraordinarily wealthy. Honestly, I don't. I feel like I don't have the right personality for immense wealth. I don't want to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. I don't dream of a suburban home that's pinned 1000s of times due to its sheer beauty. I don't want to be a celebrity hairstylist. I don't want to earn the highest degree available to me and gain every academic honor within sight along the way. I don't want a wardrobe that makes others jealous (though having a wardrobe that makes me smile is welcome!). I don't want to visit every country and continent on the globe, and I don't want to write a best-selling novel that is made into a three-part blockbuster movie.
These are all reasonable dreams that many people desire and that some achieve and count among the greatest honors of their life, but I don't think they're for me.
Perhaps you might say I'm not very ambitious. I've been told that a few times. But I'm not sure that I'd completely agree with such a valuation.
I'm ambitious enough to want to live a life outside the ordinary. What I truly want is to love God and because of Him, love people heartily. I want to seek the treasures of heaven and not of earth.
And, honestly, I don't know exactly what that will look like over an entire lifetime. However, I do know that it means daily making the choice to obey God, to love the people in my life and be a blessing to them even (or especially?) when it's very, very hard.
My ultimate goal in life--in everything I do--is to be genuinely, thoroughly, truly missed when I am gone. I've known people who have entered and left this world without seeming to leave any trace at all that they ever lived here. I've also known people whose departure is regularly met with a sigh of relief--and during any kind of absence are not missed whatsoever. It's impossible to live a selfish life and be missed, too. To me, the mark of truly living well is that those who know you best passionately miss your presence in their lives.
You know what I've always liked about George Bailey from It's a Wonderful Life? He's not a hero. He's not a perfect man. He's a man with a temper, who has a variety of selfish dreams for his own life. But, in spite of his own dreams and his own plans, every time he has the chance, he makes the harder choice instead of the selfish one that comes easily and naturally. And the scenes from a world without George Bailey prove to him just how much of a mark he made in his world, just how much he would be missed.
So, I've got ambition. I have some hopes and dreams for exciting life changes in 2014. But, in the long run, I truly know what I want out of life. My life mission may not be as clear and precise as a goal to rule the world or to beat the Guinness World Record for hula-hooping the longest or to have a verified Twitter account, but I've got one. I want to live in such a way that you're gonna miss me when I'm gone, and if I accomplish that, I'll be content with the life I've lived.
-------------------------------------------------------------
p.s. Totally Unrelated Funny Story Alert: On New Year's Eve, I went swing/line dancing with my sisters and parents. That's where the picture in this post came from. Angel was working and unable to come. As it happened, a guy I was dancing with asked me out. Wait a minute. Did you hear what I said there? He asked me out on a date. Having never faced such a situation before, I speechlessly gestured to the rings I wear on my left hand and he said, "Oh.....you're married? Where's your husband? Do you have any kids?" Honestly, I think being married is probably the best way to decline an offer of a date, because it's not a rejection so much as a "You're a little late." I thanked him for the offer, though, because he seemed like a sweet kid, though possibly younger than I am. Let this be a lesson henceforward to all nice young men out there...one purpose of the wedding ring is to save you from awkward moments.
Loved this post. Sometimes what I want out of life is to be the best knitter but that's dumb! I want to worship God and be used my him too.
Hey, what did Angel say when you told him? Did he hug you and say "mine"? Did he laugh? :P
Beautiful post and a wonderful thing to strive for in life! The life you share through your blog definitely is a highlight in my blog reads. You almost always make me smile or laugh or feel challenged to be a better me! I would feel honored to have the chance to meet you in person one day! :) Although I have my list of dreams and goals for life, what you describe is definitely the most important in my opinion. I would actually enjoy working for a Fortune 500 company, but I don't believe I have to get there by being selfish and pushing people out of the way - If I accomplish that, I would love to know that I did it by the grace of God and by showing honesty and loyalty and love. Same goes for all the other dreams and goals I have for my life. Thanks for sharing your goal for not just 2014, but for life! I was blessed by it.
p.s. That story is hilarious! Poor kid lol. I'm surprised he wouldn't have checked for that!
Happy New Year Rachel! I pray you and Angel have a blessed year ahead!
Hahaha that story is hilarious! But such a compliment to you! lol Anyway, this post is fantastic. I love It's a Wonderful Life and I want my life to make an impact like George Bailey's did. That is all we should want out of this life, right? For other's to see Jesus' love through us and remember that when we are gone. I love reading your blog, You always inspire me!
Your goal of loving people and loving God is probably more ambitious than being a celebrity hairstylist, which I would love to be..or any of the other things you listed.
I think it's wonderful that you know exactly what you want out of life, even if you don't have the specifics down! Sounds like you are well on your way to achieving that :)
I love this post! I've been thinking about this a lot, too.
I haven't been asked out/flirted with a single time since I've been married. Not that I'm complaining. ;)
Amen to this!
I've had bizarre moments when I've been hit on and then awkwardly waved my left hand, and you'd have thought I just shot FIRE at the guy with how far he jumped back.
Being missed is one of my goals. I do think it's a mark that you lived a good life. I have other ambitions, but I've become less ambitious over the years. Maybe I've become lazy, maybe it's a sign of cynicism, but there are things I desperately wanted before that I just kind of shrug about now. I'd still like to be a screenwriter and be on late-night talk shows, mostly so I could meet Conan O'Brien, and an Oscar would be nice, but I don't lose sleep over it!
Emeralds and Stripes
I think that wanting to live a good life IS ambitious! It's more than a lot of people can say for themselves, so be PROUD girl! :)
Oh Rachel! Thank you for sharing so honestly! I have been following you, not because you are in the exact life stage as I am in. I follow you and your posts because you are honest, you respond to my silly comments like we are friends, you are encouraging in what you write, you love God, you are funny, and among so many other things, you are yourself. And you have hit the nail on the head, sort of speak, about leaving a mark on the world. Awesome!
You go girl ;) haha that's so funny, line dancing sounds like fun! I think what you seek is a very humble and I have no doubt that you will be greatly missed the day you depart this earth (hopefully, no time soon) :) Have a great one Rachel! -Iva
I think you have such a wonderful outlook on life Rachel!
Lol, the poor guy. You'd think he would have looked for a ring first. Cute picture :)
Love this. Although the big blogger dream and the famous novelist dream are mine, really what would be the best is just being a favorite teacher...a teacher that inspires kids, that kids love, that kids look up to and respect and can brag about. Same with being a mom--I want to be a mom that my children love, respect, and are proud of.
I definitely don't think you have to have huge, hard-to-reach goals in life. I, personally, just want to be happy - no matter how that manifests itself. I think your goal to be missed is a wonderful thing to strive for!
I love George Bailey. He's the perfect example of the conflicts in all of us.
What a fabulous post. I think your ambitions are SO much more worthy than being rich and famous. It's a Wonderful Life is SUCH a good example of this!
I'd say your goal is pretty impressive, and I've been told the same!
I got hit on in an elevator in my building when we first arrived here... a man was chatting to me, and even asked what my husband does, and then asked if I like coffee, to which I said yes... not realising he'd asking if I'd like coffee (like... with him). When he asked when and I realised my mistake I told him that I'd have to check with my husband about when we're available but we'd love to go out for coffee some time... that kinda made him a bit less enthusiastic and he left me alone. Now I have a fear of being alone in an elevator.
Hey take being asked out as a compliment, he thought you were a hottie ;-)
I love theses photos!
Happy new year!
Great post Rachel, aww love your picture :)
thanks for sharing with us at the weekend hop ...
I ask myself this question all the time as I think we spend far too much time striving for things and then striving for greater. But what is the end goal? What do we want out of it?
Love this post so, so much. I've honestly been chewing on the exact same things in my own life. My ultimate purpose in this life is to serve God, and if I do that with little money and earthly possessions, then that is completely fine.
That story is so funny! I wouldn't have known how to react! I probably would've just flashed my ring, too.
I'm with you on wanting to be faithful to God. Also, such a funny New Year's story!
What a beautiful post and what wonderful ambitions for life!
Maria
I loved this post and I completely agree. You are right, wedding rings are great for that! :)
LOVE THIS!! Amen and amen…loving God and loving others is the BEST goal ever:) xxoo
Ahahaha, love the ring story. My husband always tells me not to forget mine and I never really forget to wear it. You have such great dreams Rachel and thinking of it now, it's so interesting how a lot of people can be different in so many ways. :) Wish you all the best this year!
Block annoying voices out with music or choose to ignore. -- Ahhh AMEN to this! Let's all start the year positively. Hope you had a blast Jessica and wish you all the best this year! :)
REAlity Bites
Love that photo Rachel. Made me smile. Great post girl. What a shame that your DH had to work and couldn't join in the fun. Lol to the ring story.
I loved this so much! I think when you said "To me, the mark of truly living well is that those who know you best passionately miss your presence in their lives." it touched me. I often wonder who would come to my funeral. I'm not talking the people from high school who come only to prove that they lived longer than you (and to see who else showed up); I'm talking the meaningful people. The people who I will watch from heaven as Jesus puts his arm around my shoulder and shows me that I helped create that. I made a difference.
I want to have enough riches that money isn't a factor in my life. That doesn't mean millions or not working, but just not having it be a factor for 9 out of the 10 things that I want. And to be a Godly wife and mother. Beautiful post. Thanks for sharing and linking up with Countdown in Style! Don't forget to come back on Friday to see if you were featured!
~~April~~
100lbCountdown.com
This is such a beautifully written post, and one that I wholeheartedly agree with. I loved reading your thoughts. You don't lack ambition. You know what you want and you aren't afraid to say it:) I love that. I hope you are having a wonderful start to your new year! p.s. You're right that wedding rings are supposed to get us out of those embarrassing moments:) Sure is flattering, though:)
This is just wonderful! Thank you for putting this out there for all of us to read. I found you via Sunday Countdown with Style and liked all of your channels. I blog at www.daftlydomestic.com and hope we can connect!
Happy weekend!
What a wonderful life goal. To be truly missed is to know that you have really made a genuinely good impact on others' lives. That is more important than any material thing. You will always remember who has made an impact on your life, you won't remember who won an Academy Award for best actress in (insert year here). And my wedding ring has gotten me out of a few awkward situations, too!
Love this--your reminding us of the legacy that truly matters. Thank you!
And love your swing dancing story! Too funny!
I honestly can totally empathize with where you are coming from. I totally would be content if things stayed the way they are for the rest of my life. My husband and I don't always know how we are going to get food and money for things every single day, but we are always provided for no matter what. I've never seen God forsake us in any way. That's means more to me than any worldly accomplishment or riches I could ever have on this earth. Thank you for sharing your wonderful heart with us at Countdown in Style! Don't forget to stop by to see if you are featured on Friday! xo
The best thing you can do is know yourself. The fact that you are self aware enough to understand what you want and what is going to best for you is all you need. Poo poo on those who say you are not ambitious, ambition is not solely about worldly things
Loved this post Rachel...I like how you said you want to love others heartily (good word choice). It reminds me that we are not made for the world here on earth, but for eternity in Heaven. good thoughts, girl:)
so much heart and truth and goodness in this post. let's seek to be gentle and kind and love and be loved and enjoy the days -- the rest will fade :)
ps- are you on twitter? i want to tweet this!
you've accomplished your goal because i would miss you if you were to leave this earth! and if i would miss you, i have no doubt that you have so many family and friends who would miss your smile and effervescent personality!
I just want to leave the world a better place than I found it. In as many ways as possible, but they might be quite small ways... and that's okay with me :)
I love this post. When I was reading, I kept nodding along and agreeing with so much of it. Like you, I have ambitions but they're not society's norm. I don't want a magazine-worthy house, a flashy car, the hottest outfits, or tons of money. I'd like a safe/stable house, a car that's reliable, clothes that keep me warm, and enough money to make ends meet - but my "real ambitions" aren't tied to a status in life. Nice to know there's other like-minded people out there :)
Totally imagined you singing 'If you like it you shoulda putt ring on it' in that photo now (having read the last paragraph!)....LOVE this post - so beautiful. [Sidenote: George Bailey is just about my favourite film character ever....]
Post a Comment