Today is my last day as a 26 year old. I’m sitting on the floor of my room thinking of all the wonderful things this year has brought me.  It’s been a whirlwind of adventure and change, but I can’t help but think how I want the next chapter to be even better. I thought to myself – If my life was defined by this next year, what would I want my life to look like?

I want my life to be a legacy of love and impact. This next year, I want to pursue 5 main things:

• ·         Love
• ·         Prayer
• ·         Travel
• ·         Better stewardship
• ·         Helping and encouraging other women

I do my best to live with purpose. If this day, or month, or year was my last would I do anything differently? That’s the question that fuels my decision making. It is so easy to obsess over things that won’t matter one, five, or 20 years from now. It’s even easier to take the small and seemingly mundane yet beautiful day-to-day things for granted. The goal is to focus and pursue what matters.

These five things mean the most me. They encompass my purpose and bring me joy. If these were the things I was known for – being loving, prayerful, a good steward of all God has given me, a lover of travel and culture, and an encourager - I’d be happy. Right now – this is what a full and abundant life looks like for me.

What about you? What is it that brings you joy and fulfills your purpose. What sets your soul on fire? Are you pursuing it?

Life is too short to waste any of the time we’ve been given. Life happens with time, but living happens with purpose. We create the life we want, we don’t stumble upon it. Do yourself a favor and take time to think about what it is you want the next year of your life to look like; what you want your legacy to be. Then, go and make it happen.