Lifelines & Deadlines

"Nothing is certain except death and taxes," wrote Benjamin Franklin - no "but" in the original format, I've learned...also it was written in French, not English; but that's not the point.  For more on that story, I'll refer to my source of the same knowledge:  
http://www.thisdayinquotes.com/2010/11/nothing-is-certain-except-death-and.html

Okay, back to the stuff of lifelines and deadlines...  It's nearing the end of February as I stand typing, and beside my keyboard there are two folders filled with tax-related documents awaiting attention as the deadline of 15 April approaches.  My filing cabinet contains more documents I'll need to face and forage before submitting my tax filing for 2018.  This morning's workout included a reminder that got my heart-rate up while my head became heavy with thoughts of the tasks before me.

We have deadlines in life.  Some are flexible and others are not, but they mandate and motivate us to act upon things we might otherwise disregard out of dodging discomfort.  Deadlines hold us accountable, which is good, since most of us are doing our best at "adulting" with results like eating soup with a fork - messy at best.  

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? - the game show franchise that originated "across the pond," allows contestants to utilize three "lifelines." 

• Ask the Audience: When selected, each audience member takes up a voting pad, and votes the answer that they believe is correct for the question. Once the vote is tallied, the contestant is shown what the result of it was, displayed in percentages for each answer.
• 50:50: When selected, the game's computer selects two wrong answers for the current question and eliminates them, leaving behind the correct answer, and one remaining incorrect answer.
• Phone a Friend: When selected, a friend of the contestant is rung up, and tasked with providing assistance to them on the question. They are given only 30 seconds to provide input, with the time beginning the moment the contestant begins telling them what the question is, and the four possible answers for it.

See www.MillionaireTV.com for more details, of course.  My particular favorite is "Phone a Friend," because the recipient of the phone call is often helpful, and others are, well, not.  Conversations and questions between friends in daily life often involve quagmires and conundrums, but seldom are they on on the time limit the game show requires.

I'm thankful for the friends with whom I can discuss and whom I feel comfortable to divulge the various questions life brings.  I'm thankful to consider them lifelines.  There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother, Proverbs 18:24 states; and that Friend who is our ultimate Lifeline is Jesus, our High Priest to whom we can bring any quandary and all our cares, whose sympathy is endless according to Hebrews 4:15.

My friends this morning and my folders beside me made me aware of my deadline for taxes.  These same friends have been lifelines in so many ways.  Both deadlines and lifelines keep me "on the straight and narrow" when my meandering mind would otherwise stray.

Jotting with Johnna
Do you have accountability partners, lifeline friends to whom you can take your life questions?  To whom do you go for wise counsel?  What tools (pro-con lists, journalling, brainstorming, mind-mapping, or others) have helped you make good decisions?  How might this apply to your wellness overall?

Remember:  if you are the "average" of the half dozen or so people you connect with most often, you must be mindful of the fact that you are so very worthy of the discretion, discipline, and discomfort it may take to find suitable companionship, mentorship, and accountability moving forward into your best life - they are, after all, actors on stage with you as you live out the Wellness Script in your hands.  Ensure your lifelines are not actually dead ends.

Stay tuned.  Stay focused.  Stay well.