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12 Words

I have been a closet fan of Arthur C. Brooks for a while and recently I read an interview with him in the newspaper here.   I'm pretty excited that BYU is giving him an honorary doctorate next month and I'm planning on being there.


In the interview, he talks about his recommendation to condense your life's story and purpose into 12 words.  His is: “A lucky man, dedicated to lifting others up and bringing them together.”  

He talks about reading about J.S. Bach who was asked why he composed music.  Bach said, "The aim and final end of music should be none other than the glory of God." Brooks says reading that is what inspired him to make his own life purpose statement.  He says, "It’s really super empowering to do it."

 So I've been thinking what would mine be?  What would I say is my life purpose statement?  Here's what I've come up with:  Committed wife and mother, striving to follow Christ, grateful in all things.

That sounds pretty serious.  Is it accurate?  If not, maybe it can be aspirational. I have been wanting to have a purpose statement for a long time and this seems like a good parameter:  12 words.  That feels so much easier than an open-ended mission statement.

Now to live up to it.

Here am I on a hike with my wonderful husband.  I don't think my eyes were closed.  It was finally a sunny day and I think I'm squinting. It was a fun hike and so great to be out in the sunshine.


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