What Are Your Intentions?

There is a profound moment in the movie Apollo 13 where Jim Lovell asks his team "Gentlemen, what are your intentions?" 

Why is that such an important question?

The original mission of Apollo 13 was for the lunar module Aquarius to land Lovell and Fred Haise on the moon and to explore the Fra Mauro highlands. 

As famously noted - everything changed with the statement "Houston, we have a problem" and the intended mission went out the window.  The new intentions?  Stay alive and return to Earth as quickly as possible.   Seemingly good intentions and ultimately - successful for the crew. 

Without intention - the day becomes unfocused and frustrated.  The day "happens to me" instead of me steering that ship.  Too much junk and clutter.  I am skipping yoga and the treadmill.  I'm not creative, and finding excuses for not doing that which I intended to do.

With intention:

• Action is guided towards goals and objectives
• Excuses dissipate
• Change occurs
• Accomplishments flourish
• Everything feels better

So, what are my intentions?  The first one is at this very moment to forgive myself for what I didn't do, what I didn't accomplish, and my goals gone by the wayside.  All of that is done, and there really is no use in crying over spilled milkshakes, gained weight, or uncompleted to do lists.  My intention is that all of that is behind me - right now.

I intend that as of this moment - the playing field is completely level and the future is all things possible. 

Now - my intentions are set for the next 30 days and admittedly, they are challenging.  I am intent on accomplishment, and I will be asking myself the question each morning, and using the answers to shape my daily activities.  After the first 30 days, it will again be time to reflect and reset the next set of intentions.

Don't wait any longer.  It is time to ask ourselves what do we really want and how we are going to do it.  Why not?

What are your intentions? 

Carpe Diem, and so it is...