It’s that time of the year where we are all celebrating what we’re thankful for, enjoying time with loved ones and making room for just one more slice of that delectable sweet potato pie. My mouth waters just thinking about it!

I know that you are busy, working hard, balancing life and work, becoming better and stronger. I trust that you have been doing all that you can to succeed in achieving your life’s goals because I know that I have been doing the same. Nevertheless, I noticed that I’ve been so caught up into realizing my goals according to my plans (which is still a good thing), that I forget to take some time to live and reflect on the accomplishments of my life.

There’s this quote that I read the other day and it said “In between achieving your goals, take the time to live!” I knew I was meant to read that.

Life can move pretty quickly. We are already getting ready to close out 2014 and the next thing that you know we will be preparing our grills for summer barbeque fun. Sometimes we can get so caught up into moving on to the “next thing’ that we forget to celebrate the last five things we achieved. We keep going and going, forgetting to stop to reflect on the journey or we may even get so caught up into our own “stuff” that we forget to check for others in our lives.

Have you ever been there before?

Well, this is what I want you to do. I want you (and I’m talking to me first here) to take the next few days to create a list of all the good you’ve accomplished this year, all the goals you have crossed off your list and all the great things that have happened to you this year. Once you have your list written down, I want you to make the promise to yourself that in between achieving all your new goals that you will live, laugh, love and enjoy life.

The next thing I want you to do is to take the time to reach out to a friend or loved one that you have not had the time to “check in” with. Instead of a text, try giving them a call to have a genuine conversation. The people in our lives want to know that they matter, let’s show them that they do this holiday season.

There are so many things that we can be thankful for in our lives which includes celebrating how far you have come and acknowledging those who have helped you get there. Take the time to acknowledge your accomplishments and continue to LIVE as you work on whatever is next!

Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!

XOXO,

Maria I. Melendez
@embraceherlegacy