By Nancy Cruse

I am freaking out!  At a 4th of July parade over the weekend, one of my friends leaned over to me and said, It’s the 4th of July, that means summer is half over.”  Soon after that, a neighbor said, “It’s 4th of July, that means the year is half over.”  Next the mother of one of my son’s friends said, “Do you realize that Unit 5’s first day of school is only 6 weeks away?”  Well, I do now!  And I also know that six weeks from now, I will be moving my 18 year old daughter to Webster University to start her freshman year of college.  As long as we are going down this path, do you realize that Christmas is but a mere 169 days away?

At my age, time is flying.  I have learned that I must put everything I want to do on my calendar or it just won’t happen.  I have also learned that just because something is on my calendar, it doesn’t mean I have to do it.

I’m not a huge fan of Facebook, but I am a lover of a good quote. And this quote, I not only love, I have made it my new philosophy. Here it is:  “The key is not to prioritize your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”

What are your priorities?  Is it spending time with your kids before they head back to school?  Is it connecting regularly with your gal pals?  When you plan your week, and you should plan a week at a time, start with those things that matter most to you:  time with those you love, time serving your community, and don’t forget – time just for you.  Once you have slotted time for those things then you can fill in everything else.  You will find it becomes much easier to decide what to say yes or no to when you clearly understand what is important to you.

Happy scheduling, happy life!

Nancy Cruse has been part of the Bloomington/Normal community for the past almost 30 years. A widow, with five children, along with her late husband was a small business owner in downtown Bloomington. Now employed by State Farm, Nancy is active in the community, writing the Clare House newsletter and maintaining their Facebook page, hosting an annual Fourth of July Food Drive, a team leader and fundraiser for the Pat Nohl Lupus Walk, and a member of Toastmasters International, as well as volunteering in various capacities at Holy Trinity Church and schools. In her spare time, Nancy likes to run, bike, hike, read, sew, and be a vegetarian who occasionally indulges in a Schooners Tenderloin.

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