Who do you love?

1. (1) : the quality or state of being prior (2) : precedence in date or position of publication —used of taxa b (1) : superiority in rank, position, or privilege (2) : legal precedence in exercise of rights over the same subject matter

2: a preferential rating; especially : one that allocates rights to goods and services usually in limited supply <that project has top priority>

3: something given or meriting attention before competing alternatives

Does our priority affect our character or is our character what shapes our priorities?

Is it more about our personality or our family of origin or our lived experiences or whatever we have chosen in the past, that defines this moment in time?

For example: Pets

Where do pets fall in your priorities?

How do you decide where to spend your time and energy?

Most current pet owners said they would hold on to their spouse or significant other (84 percent), but a sizable 14 percent picked their pet, according to an AP-Petside.com poll.

About six in 10 adults (57 percent) have had to give up a pet at some point in their lives, with current pet owners (64 percent) a bit more likely to have done so.

The most common reasons had to do with the pet’s health: 69 percent said their pet was too sick to live on, 52 percent too sick to be cared for at home. But there are other reasons as well, including about one in 10 (9 percent) who, like Rosenthal, said their animal was too dangerous to keep.

One-third (34 percent) of current pet owners said it would be “extremely” or “very” difficult if they were forced to choose between a pet and a family member who became allergic. Another 20 percent would find the choice somewhat difficult and 46 percent said it would be “not too difficult” or “not difficult at all.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/25/pet-partner-poll_n_813563.html

Who is your best friend?

 http://www.bestfriends.org/theanimals/pdfs/dogs/dogresources.pdf

Do you invest time and energy in understanding what is best for what you value?

Does your parenting roll over into your pet rearing?

Who would have guessed?

Karen Pryor, the author of Nursing Your Baby,

a staple in the world of motherhood, has transferred her priority to pets.

She and her daughter, have authored Clicker Training.

Desires ( passions) dictate our priorities and our priorities shape our choices ( purposes). Those choices are personal. There is more than one right answer, more than one solution to any situation and probably more than one right priority. It is fluid. But, there have to be a limited number. We are more successful when we focus our energy on a few things we attend to, such that we tend to do those VERY WELL.

Is our purpose at one with our spirituality?

Are our priorities in line with our purpose?

In commitment to authentic community living: utilizing teamwork to accomplish goals
In genuine friendships that emphasize grace, transparency, and authenticity By connecting with our co-workers, neighbors and friends to form genuine life-giving relationships. By valuing fun and humor……………

http://www.villagelifechurch.org/about-us-a-church-in-broad-ripple/purpose–priorities

There is no more satisfying activity than aligning people, priorities and purpose in support of a worthy project, partnership or organization. Success depends not only on articulating a purpose, laying out a few priorities and gaining the support of some people. Progress and success depend on the alignment of the right people behind the appropriate strategic priorities in support of a singular, motivating purpose. Articulating and aligning these three elements provide the momentum for success.

http://www.strategicvitalityllc.com/aligning.html

We believe the real business of learning, growing, and loving happens in the context of friendship. ( Village Church, Indianapolis, IN)

Integrity- We keep our word and are who we say we are.

We do the right thing for the right reason- we have our priorities in order.

Courage- We dare to take the risks to live a genuine life of purpose.

Deepak Chopra, in The Path to Love, states, the sense of delight, uniqueness and blessing felt by lovers has its own reality, but you must find it within. Romance and spirit are both states of inner truth.The dramatic psychological shift that occurs whenever we fall in love is actually a temporary state of spiritual liberation, a glimpse of who you really are. The ecstatic feelings that flow between lovers, their sense of being uniquely cared for and protected, their belief in a timeless state of being- all these are spiritual realities. The path to love replaces separation and suffering with peace and ecstasy. The freshness of life is love and nothing else. When two people can grow into that knowledge, the promise of lasting happiness becomes real.

The Latin poet Ovid said, “To Love, Be Loveable” . A lovable person is someone who is natural, easy with himself or herself, radiating the simple unaffected humanity that makes anyone truly attractive.

What we love shows. Who we love should know.

Adele, 54th Grammy Winner for Album of the Year, 21

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGzoCyggOh0&feature=related

Where you spend your time, is where your heart lies. Where are you investing your heart and soul? Who are you investing it in? What do you expect to be the results? Are you enjoying the fruits of results now or do you hope to in the future?

 Wikipedia – Valentine’s Day 2010- 15 million e-cards, 190 million cards, roses, chocolates, diamonds, and expressions of love.

Find the words- find your own way to express your love today!!

Happy Valentine’s Day