Getting Back on Track - Discovering What Really Matters in Life

We all desire joy and happiness. The challenge is staying on the track that leads us there. Setbacks, derailments, and diversions can all cause trauma, sorrow, and even tragedy. How can we be certain we are on the right track and moving forward? Quigley describes experiences he and his family had that could have easily derailed them. Life is not easy. An alcoholic grandfather and a scoutmaster who abused a son nearly derailed his family. Was it luck or something else that kept them on track? Quigley describes the journey he traveled to determine how his family thrived despite setbacks and sorrow. The result of the journey is described by ten things that matter most. He examines each through vignettes based on a cast of characters who shaped his personal and professional thinking about what matters most. You will gain insight into what shaped his family's values, goals, and views of life, and what lessons were taught along the way. He offers a principle for each and describes a simple statement that sets the bottom line - that is, when all is said and done, why does it matter?

My future depends on the choices I make. Some choices are more important than others. I need to understand the consequences of the choices I make. I need to set both short-term and long-term goals if I am to stay on track and reach my desired destination. I need to keep a focus on what matters most. I need to assess where I am heading and what track I am on, and I need to be honest in that assessment.

I am creating the story of my life. Others will be reading my life story as I live it. Family and friends can often gauge if I am headed in the right direction by telling me three or four things that they believe matter most to me. Their honest take on how I am living my life will tell a story of what I am prioritizing and what I find most important. If that story differs from the one I desire then it is time to reassess and make changes.

So, what matters in life? My list includes ten priorities and their associated principles. Three examples include:
1. Family First: Actions that emphasize family first reward more than just my family.
2. Personal Integrity: When I live a life that demonstrates personal integrity, I gain credibility and respect in my personal and professional dealings.
3. Humor: When I use humor appropriately, I can relieve the pressure of a tense moment, lift myself and others from a depressing thought, and improve the atmosphere of a dreary room.

I determined the track I wanted to be on, and I will continue to do so. I determined what matters most in my life. Once I decided on that, the challenge became balancing those priorities and putting my time, energy, and resources into them. Life got easier once I knew where I wanted to go. Choices got simpler and complexity lost its challenge. I emerged happier and more complete, and others joined me to celebrate my success.

Bottom Line – If I balance my time, energy, and resources between what matters most in my life, then I will find happiness and fulfillment. If I consistently exercise faith and hope, then my actions and choices will lead to my desired outcomes, and I will find happiness and fulfillment.

Principle – Staying on track requires that I care for my physical and mental health, balance my priorities, and stay focused on what matters to me. I don’t let the distractions of the world derail me. This is my train; I select the track I want to be on. I take responsibility to stay on that track.