(For those of you who are wondering about Rachelle’s reference to “gremlins,” check out her great blog post on the matter: http://www.magpie-girl.com/20081228/quiten-down-how-to-shut-up-your-gremlins/)

Jodi, I really like how you describe this approach to balance: “crafting a plan, but holding it loosely.” You also used the phrase “be open,” which is key to what I’m trying to do. I suspect that exciting things are happening around us all the time, and that we miss them by our lack of openness. Thanks for your comment, and may 2009 be a blessing for you, too!

Deb, I think “accidental” can be one way to think about the opposite of “intentional.” Isn’t it interesting how “accidental” seems to carry negative connotations? (Even though you rightly point out that accidents can be happy ones.) I guess what I don’t like about that word here is that is suggests that things just happen to us, willy nilly. I believe there’s something bigger going on, and that my gut or my instincts or the nudging of God’s spirit (or whatever you want to call it) is often more spot-on than my logic and intellect. I agree–it can be scary, though! I will try to write some follow up posts about my little baby steps forward and back. Thanks for reading!

blackwasp19, I’m really glad you brought the word “contrived” into the conversation. I guess that’s what I often feel the result is when I think through things a bit too much and try too hard to make a specific thing happen. It’s like trying to find a spouse, right? The more you come up with a plan for meeting the perfect person, the less natural (and probably less successful) the search becomes. Ultimately, I do think living intentionally is a really good thing. It’s finding that thin line, as you pointed out, that’s important.

It seems we often get these two concepts confuse and use them interchangeably. Instead of living life with intention we try to control and contrive aspects and minute details of life. This is what leads us to exhaustion. We are so pre-occupied with control that we forgo the experiencing the opportunities of life.

It’s scary to me to venture from the tried and true path to where I want to go. So if you don’t mind – I’ll be following you to see how it is working for you.

And I think I’ll just veer a little, every once in awhile!

Great post, thanks.
Deb @debworks

Makes me think about the importance of living in the moment. Or crafting the plan, but holding it loosely. We need to be open to our current location, those we meet, the situations we stumble upon, and the opportunities we have.

Enjoy your 2009, I am sure your new focus will be a blessing.
Jodi

Much of my life I’ve had the great joy of working in jobs that I fully believe in and can give myself to. This hasn’t come about because of any well-thought-out or “intentional” plan. It’s been serendipity, which I like to think of as “the things that happen to those who pay attention.” I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Here’s to letting it happen.

@BarbChamberlain