Read the following:
imnotsureifyouregoingtobeabletomakesenseofthisparagraphb
utatleastyoumightgiveitatrywithoutcapitallettersorpunctuati
onthesewordsmakelittlesensetheyneedcapitalizationspacingp
aragraphsandotherpunctuationforthewordstobecomereadabl
eandforustomakesenseofthem.
I suspect the paragraph above will seem difficult to read and decipher. It maybe confusing, too. If, however, I insert the necessary spaces between the words, add correct punctuation, and capitalize letters as needed, the paragraph becomes readable. Now try it:
I’m not sure if you’re going to be able to make sense of this paragraph but at least you might give it a try. Without capital letters or punctuation these words make little sense; they need capitalization, spacing, paragraphs, commas, periods, and other punctuation for the words to become readable and for us to make sense of them.
What a difference a few pauses make!
We all need pauses (spaces and punctuation) and priorities (capitalization) to help us make sense of our lives. Yet we often run through life without a moment’s thought to what we’re doing or where we’re going. Life feels like a fog, and we just stumble through without a clue where we’re headed.
How long has it been since we paused to consider what we’re involved in and why, or how we use our time? Like a run-on paragraph, our lives make little sense. Oh, sure, we might be able to decipher some words on our lives’ pages, but only with great difficulty. At a glance, though, our existence seems jumbled and confusing.
If we add spaces and punctuation, if we take time to pause, reflect, plan, and prioritize, the confusion clears. Instead of living lives that feel like endless streams of meaningless activity, we begin to live lives that flow like words of a well-written paragraph: purposeful, meaningful, clear, and balanced.
A punctuated, prioritized life, simply put, makes more sense. It’s easier to manage, follow, and understand.
It’s easier to live.
Won’t you take time this week to pause, reflect, and prioritize?
You’ll feel refreshed and refocused if you do.
‘Til next time,
Joan
