When it comes to getting things done, especially something we don’t really want to do, it’s easy to make excuses and find a way out of it.

Recently, I was shopping at Costco with my youngest daughter. She asked if I would buy her a Gingerbread House kit. It was a kit that comes complete with candy, icing and pieces of the house and all one has to do is glue everything together using the icing.

“Please,” she begged, “They’re so fun to make and it will be an activity we can do together. Think of the quality time we will get to spend making this.”

We’ve made these many times in the past and of course I agreed to buy it. Truth be told, she had me at “quality time.”

“We can drink a hot cup of cocoa, listen to music and work on the gingerbread house together,” she continued. It sounded like a Hallmark movie and I was happy to sign on.

I didn’t need to look for an excuse, I wanted to do it.

When we got to the checkout line, the cashier who was ringing up our items stopped when she got to the gingerbread house.

“I always wanted to make one of these,” she said, “My mom would never buy one for me. Good job for getting your daughter one.”

I smiled at her and then said, “I’m sorry you never got to make one as a child. Now that you’re an adult you can buy one for yourself and have fun making it with your friends or family.”

She looked at us, shook her head and said, “No. I don’t have time for that now. But, you’re lucky you get to make one.”

I could tell she was feeling wistful and melancholy and I wanted so much to not only buy a kit for her but convince her that she has the time to make one. I could tell something was holding her back and I didn’t want to pry.

I also know, like many of the things I make excuses for, if she really wanted to make one she would find the time to do it.

It was a good lesson for me and I hope for you.

We’re all busy.

However, we make time for the things that are important to us. It really is as simple as that. If there’s something you want to do, you’re probably going to find a way to fit it into your schedule or save your money until you can afford to do it.

If it’s important to you, you will find a way, if not, you will find an excuse.

It’s called priories.

If there’s something you don’t view as being important, more than likely, you won’t get it done.

Life is a series of choices and we have to manage our time the best we can. We especially have to make time for the things that matter most to us.

Don’t make excuses.

Spend your time on activities you find meaningful. Surround yourself with people you enjoy being with. If there’s something you’ve always wanted to do, find a way to make it happen. Figure out what’s important to you and then go do it.

Sometimes, we make life more complicated than it needs to be. Don’t make excuses, make it happen.

Find meaning each day,

Dara

Enjoy my recent Huffington Post article: To Our Daughters, You’re Good Enough Just The Way You Are

Here’s my October column: Crazy Perfect Life, Finding Simple Pleasures In Ordinary Life, in Forsyth Woman Magazine.