Time to take stock: Are you who you want to be?

  • Published
  • By LeAnn Throlson, Community Support Coordinator
  • 88th Air Base Wing

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- As the year comes to an end, it’s a good time to look in the mirror and reflect on whether you are the person you want to be. Seriously, look at how you are choosing to spend your time and what is motivating how you spend it.

Are you proud of what you achieved? Do you have regrets or goals you didn’t accomplish? Are you doing what you want or what you or someone else thinks you should be doing?

As we move through life, it can be easy to get caught up in being who we think we should be or doing what others want us to do instead of being true to ourselves. At work and home, most of us have tasks we must do, whether we want to or not. Beyond the musts, how are you spending your time and taking care of yourself?

If you’re thinking – “I don’t have any free time” – it might be a good time to assess whether you have any commitments you can step back from. We often commit without making the intentional choice to spend our time on what we value.

It’s easy to think: “I’ll start working out, taking classes, eating better or find a new a hobby” – at my next base or in January – only to end up being the same person, since it’s much more challenging to take action.

If you made it here, you might have some time to spare. Spend it on yourself. Take a moment and write down what you value and who you want to be. Now, identify what you can do in the next 24 hours, few days, weeks and years to become that person.

Even if it takes 10 years, in 10 years you’ll be 10 years older, whether you’re true to yourself or not. You might as well make progress on being someone you are proud of. Identify what has prevented you from being this person and what might prevent you from progressing. Once you identify these barriers, determine how to overcome them.

Time is a limited entity. Don’t forget to prioritize spending it on being who you want to be.