Wayne Moses Burke

As I continue to ponder and apply the usefulness of the topic discussed in the previous post, I’ve decided that one of the things that is necessary for making the ‘right’ decisions in every moment is a clear understanding of what my priorities are in life. I see now that the priorities that I would set consciously, may or may not agree with the priorities that I inadvertently use in making decisions in the now, the decisions that actually create who I am and the life that I lead.

Analyzing how I would LIKE to prioritize has been a somewhat convoluted and complex task, but I think the results are quite nice. I have reduced each priority to a single word in order to facilitate ease of recollection for myself.

1. Enjoyment

   This word has many different uses, but in this situation, it reminds me that I get caught up in projects and don’t make time to relax and enjoy life as it is passing by. This can result in frustration, general surliness, and lack of enjoyment. This is particularly unfortunate because I pick, I decide how I’m spending my time. Every project I take on should excite, energize, and enrich my life from first consideration through the sometimes necessary, tedious components, and all the way to completion.

   Simultaneously, ‘enjoyment’ conjures up the necessity to get enough sleep, eat right, make time to exercise and have fun: in short, to take care of myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

   This is the necessary foundation for accomplishing everything else in life. Without being in peak form myself, how can I expect to effectively have a positive impact on others?

2. Melanie

   Melanie is my fiancée and in this context, her name represents the ongoing pursuit of the perfect relationship, and my desire to raise a family.

   I have often heard, and have no reason to doubt, that the greatest satisfaction a person may experience is that of creating life; raising children and watching them find their own way in the world. This is something that I have always intended to do, but have never really focused on and prioritized.

   Melanie is idealistic, sweet, and beautiful, with a child-like quality of her own. She has always been drawn to and worked with children, and I know that we will be loving and caring parents. Our love for one another is greater than the difficulties that arise in the course of a relationship, and neither one of us are content to settle for less than our dreams. Together, we support one another and become better and better with each passing year.

3. World

   Last, but not least, is my commitment to making the world a better place. As I alluded to in the Wow!!! post, this is a feeling that I have always carried with me, and one that my current education is preparing me for. There are so many ways to do this, big and small, from conserving energy to working to improve the way governments, corporations, and members of civil society inter-relate on the international stage.

It is easy for me to lose myself in pursuit of this last priority, and that is why it is important for the other two to be ahead of it. I expect that all three of these will be ongoing pursuits throughout the rest of my life, and there is so much that I want to accomplish. For me, maintaining these priorities will keep everything that I experience and am working towards in perspective, and enable me to make the most pertinent decision in every moment.