The end of the year is fast approaching. It is a time when many of us look over the goals we set in January and move into panic mode because we have not accomplished everything we set out to do. I encourage you to STOP. While it is important to have a plan for your life, it is more important to be thankful for the things you were able to achieve.
I came to this realization while my mouth was propped open and a dental hygienist was scrubbing debris from my teeth. Not a pretty picture, right? It wasn’t but God can use any situation to breathe life into you. The dental hygienist has a 16-year old son with Autism; the exact diagnosis is Aspergers Syndrome with ADHD. Still struggling with severe gag reflexes, he eats less than 20 foods and is quite small for his age. He has never eaten a single piece of fruit. She is also convinced that his psychological health suffers because he is malnourished. While cleaning my teeth she informed me of obstacle after obstacle her son has faced. She is convinced he will never read past an 8th grade reading level nor have loving relationships. The woman does not know what to do. Despite our children’s age differences, we have the same worries.
Since school started, I’ve been in panic mode about how my oldest son, who also has Aspergers Syndrome, is adjusting to his new teacher. At times I’ve been so frustrated with managing Aspergers that I’ve failed to realize how much he has been able to accomplish despite his diagnosis. Since August 10, 2010, my son’s first feeding clinic, he has gone from eating less than 10 foods consistently to more than sixty. He can function in noisy crowds and can even articulate, in most cases, when and why he is frustrated. He is extremely intelligent and is above average in every subject. And, it is not that I am such a great mother or his dad is so wonderful–although I couldn’t imagine having children with anyone else—all of my son’s success is because God has blessed us with access to the people and resources needed to make our son’s life better.
Back to Goals. Like many of you, I looked over this past year and succumbed to the panic and let-down of things not accomplished. I wanted to blog more, book more clients, make more money, write more, do more, be more … more, more, more. You get the picture. Some of the “more” I accomplished; some, I didn’t. This morning, I am OK with that. I am still working towards my goals, which are listed below:
- Lose 40 pounds (already down 15)
- Release My Best Friend’s Brother via ebook and audiobook (short story)
- Release Good, Before & After He Finds You via ebook and print (Christian Self-Help)
- Re-Release The Church House (Novel)
- Launch TheSensoryDiet.com (website to help parents of children on the Autism spectrum and with Sensory Processing Disorder)
- Clean out the guest room & hall closets
What are you thankful for despite not meeting every goal set this year? What goals would you still like to meet?
