The Main Thing...

I once sat through a training meeting with the owner of Young Automotive Group. I remember him giving each person a small slip of paper and asking each of us to write what we thought the "main thing" was. Well, the paper was fairly small, maybe an inch wide and 2 inches long. I thought to myself, "How can I ever write the 'main thing' on such a small piece of paper?" After each person had labeled their microscopic "main thing," he bestowed this piece of wisdom on the group.

The main thing is keeping the main thing the main thing.

"What?!?" I asked myself. I truly thought that he had lost his mind. I was nineteen, maybe twenty-years-old, and I lacked any true life experience. You know those experiences. The ones that knock you down and humble you. Those that teach you pride, responsibility, courage, humility, compassion...and so many other valuable life lessons. The periods of time when, as a mom, dad, sister, brother, friend, etc., that you work so hard to keep EVERYTHING the main thing.

Now, as a thirty-year-old mom, partner, sister, friend, student, employee, and all the other many labels I put on each day, I realize the value in his statement. The main thing is what is in front of you, what you value, and the main thing is to keep that main thing the main thing.

Sometimes when I am overwhelmed, discouraged, have been a poor mom, partner, sister, ... , I think about the "main thing" and ask myself, "Are you keeping the main thing the main thing? Or are you too worried about the minor things?"

So, the point (this is what makes the ranting so much better for the reader)-especially during this holiday season, but keep in mind always...

Are you keeping the main thing the main thing?