Life's short, Live well

I know it's a cliché, and a rather sad one, but every year seems to pass more quickly and the only good thing I can say is that it makes the motivation to "do it now!" even stronger. Hopefully as I get older I'm also getting smarter, more efficient and more selective about where I put my time and energy.When I think back, I see many projects and commitments that I would never invest in today. I done some pretty dumb things.Many think they will live forever and that time is their friend. Money is spent, and risk is rarely considered. Accidents and injury only happened to other people, and everyone takes some foolish chances. If you're like me you probably thought that you could even afford to waste time. (Silly us!)I think I've gained a bit of perspective, but in some ways I still "play." Even this past year I've foolishly wasted so much time, money and energy on things that seemed like "fun" or were "impressive" or "daring" but which gained me very little. I hate to think I still act like a teenager trying to impress my friends, but I know that some of that was involved.Today, 27 years old, I have some regrets, but I'm amazed at some of the things that seemed so important at the time. With the economy tight, we have opportunities to use our time and energy better than before. We have the chance to review our goals, our priorities and our choices, and make adjustments if necessary.My sense is that we can only focus on a very small number of things at a time. Yes, we've all learned to "multi-task" and be "busy about many things" but I suspect that at the end of the day, we can only really focus on a very few things. And here's the terrible thing--that short list represents the heart and soul of our lives.While it's nice and fun and exciting to be to be busy and impress our friends, my fear is that "our hearts aren't in it." Our hearts want focus, fulfillment and joy. I think that comes from choosing well and committing to the few things that are truly important to us.In 2009, live better than before. Choose your focus and be clear about your priorities. For most people, these might include spirituality or personal growth, time with loved ones, health, and perhaps business or career. If you have other choices, that's fine, but clarity is key. You really can't do it all, and I'm sorry to say, you really won't live forever. So use this new year wisely. Choose well and make it a good one.Life's short. Live well.