Short Stories From 10 Years Ago – January 14, 2004
My Personal Mission Statement
Short Stories From 10 Years Ago – January 14, 2004 – Much is said in the business world about the development of a ‘Mission Statement’ to define a company or corporation. I assume a committee of people sits down and comes up with the appropriate verbiage to describe the culture, goals, attitudes and ethics of the business. Easy enough!
I had a conversation with a friend a year ago about this concept and about designing and arriving at a ‘personal mission statement’. I started with a fresh sheet of paper and my favourite gel pen (I’m so very fond of fresh sheets of paper – they make me feel invigorated). Piece of cake I thought, but I was dead wrong.
I struggled with this task for a week. Who am I? What do I stand for? What is important to me? How do I live? What follows is my first attempt at this undertaking. I wrote this in January 2003. At the time, I hoped in some small way to be able to live up to it each day, because I believed I’d be on my way to becoming a better person.
“My Personal Mission Statement”
I am a woman who values personal integrity, family, friendship, compassion, kindness, laughter, learning and truth.
I live my life – true to myself and I respect the need for others to do the same. I ensure that my decisions, while they enhance my life, harm no one else.
I follow my path in life with appreciation for all I’m learning and all that I have. I am thankful for the tender softness in my soul and the quiet curiosity in my mind.
I am grateful for my strong healthy body, my busy and successful career, my warm and inviting home, my funny dog – Augie and my devilish cat – Ziggy. I believe that my life is a glorious work in progress, and I have faith that I can become all I am capable of being – the woman who shines quietly within my soul.
I approach each new dawn with reverence and gratitude for the blessings of health, inner peace, spiritual maturity, friendship, faith, forgiveness and love that grace my life.
I appreciate that all living beings have their place on earth. They are entitled to freedom and have a right to live their lives without human interference, suffering or cruelty. I will always do whatever I can to assist animals in need and to spread a message of kindness for them and respect for the planet.
Now it’s a year later and I have a desire to add “giving back” to My Personal Mission Statement. Both giving and receiving make a rich life. I have always considered myself to be extremely self-sufficient and it’s difficult for me to ask for help. I think of it as a weakness – but I’m getting better at this – and as I do I find that I am inclined to give more to others.
I have a blessed life. I’m in a position to share some of my good fortune and this has become more important to me this year. So I’m adding another line to My Personal Mission Statement as follows:
I am a woman who recognizes, and is grateful for my blessed life, and I gladly share my good fortune with others less fortunate.
There you have it. Why not take some quiet time and write your own personal mission statement? It may vary as the years go by. That’s okay – life is supposed to be fluid. What you learn about yourself may surprise you in such delightful ways – or fuel your desire, at a deep inner level, to make changes that are long overdue.
