How Do I Get Back to What Really Matters in My Life?
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By Dr. Michelle Jorgensen
At this time of year, we find ourselves setting goals and making plans for the future. I know I always wonder how get back to what really matters.
The answer I’ve found…simplify!
I want to go back in time and talk about some important lessons I have learned from my grandparents. Let’s see what life was like back in the 1950’s.
My parents were raised in big families – my dad comes from a family of eight children and my mom comes from nine! I’m amazed at how my grandmothers kept everything and everyone under control, clothed and fed.
Here are some of the things they had to do:
• Help all the kids (and yourself) stay clean and well-dressed
• Cook 3 meals a day for the whole family
• Keep the house clean and presentable
• Laundry for all those kids
• Make sure your Husband is well-fed and comfortable
…and more!
I know they had to simplify their lives and prioritize the things they spent their time on. How else would they get the essentials done? Just laundry alone would have been a momentous task (remember hanging things on the line to dry).
Now, most of us don’t have those same responsibilities, but we may feel like we have even more to do nowadays.
I am trying to…
- Run a dental office
- Teach live health classes
- Speak at conferences
- Make online courses
- Write books
- Do continuing education
- Actively participate in my children’s school and church,
…and still cook and clean the house.
Raise your hand if you’ve ever thought…
“How am I going to do everything I need to do?”
“I just don’t have enough time – I need to sleep someday!”
“I’m just too busy.”
With so many things in my life, how can I focus on what really matters?
New Year’s Resolutions
I am making a New Year’s Resolution to SIMPLIFY my life!
I’m going to call it “grandma-ing” my life. I recently read a great article about a couple that had taken on a “50’s housewife experiment”. The things they learned, and incorporated into life, were eye-opening! So, let’s dive into the 50’s! Some of my favorites:
1. Less distractions
Today’s interactions usually include:
- Wife at the computer
- Husband staring at the phone
- Kids playing video games or entranced with other screens
1950’s solution: The 50s housewife was a smart lady and she would have none of that…
She greeted her husband when he arrived home, the kids were spit shined and she was looking her best. She aimed to have dinner timed so they could all enjoy it together.
2020 Resolution – We do pretty well with dinner, but the greeting is lousy. My goal is to greet each other when we arrive home and really LISTEN. Listening does not involve any screens.
2. Men’s and Women’s roles.
I always thought this was interesting…the roles of the man and the woman in the family. Our “modern” world has had its way with these roles, and for some reason, things just got mixed up!
As a professional working woman, you might say I’ve been emancipated. I’ve been freed from the drudgery of the kitchen and trying to make a man happy.
Or have I…?
3. Prettying up is worth doing.
The only time I ever saw my grandma without her hair done was when we were on our annual Lake Powell trip. Other than that, she was up, hair done, dressed and ready for the day before anyone was even stirring. She didn’t get fancy – very little makeup, her clothes were more for working than show, but she always looked nice. There is something to being “put together”. It helps you feel like you actually are. 2020 Resolution– To comb my hair and brush my teeth before noon, even on a work at home day! I may actually even get ready for the day whether I’m going anywhere or not. I think there is an advantage to spending a couple of minutes preparing for the day. You feel like an adult that has their act together. So, I’m not going to get fancy, but I’m going to spend enough time to do my hair – in memory of grandma. I truly hope that these 4 resolutions will help me simplify life by removing the unnecessary or unimportant things and help me to appreciate and spend most of my time doing what is most important to me. May you simplify and get back to the things that really matter to you this new year. It’s going to be a great one! Love, Dr. Michelle Jorgensen P.S. If one of your goals for 2020 is to improve your health, make sure to get a FREE copy of my book! It’s all about how to improve your dental AND overall health. Click below to get your free copy.
