5 Lessons in One Sentence

This sentence has been rattling around in my head for weeks. So, I made a meme about it. Then it occurred to me that there are 5 lessons curled up inside this one sentence.

Sweep Your Sidewalks
When the Leaves Are Dry —
5 Lessons in One Sentence

1. Pay Attention. Notice what’s going on around you. Don’t let yourself be so distracted by the busyness of life that you lose sight of living it with purpose.

2. See the patterns. As surely as rains come and go, there are patterns to most things in life. Prepare your tools and your attitude to be ready when the opportunity is best. Plan for the outcomes you want, for achieving your chosen purpose.

3. Know that you will have to work. Anything worth doing requires actual effort, not just desire or wishes. Commit yourself to the work, whether it is work that you have chosen or work that is required by other commitments which you have made.

4. Think. When you pay attention, see the patterns, and think about what they mean in terms of the work, it becomes much easier to decide what to do and when, to use your planning and preparation wisely. If you think, you can figure out the best time to do the work, when it is more likely to flow easily and not be back-breaking or unnecessarily hard.

5. Take action. Nothing is accomplished if we just think about it. We are known by and defined by our actions. Take action and make a difference in your world.