"It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it." Somerset Maugham

I'm of the instant gratification generation. I'm the type who used to be susceptible to commercials and magazine ads and the latest fads. Wanting to have something quickly instead of waiting to make sure that what you want is really what you need is almost a disease. Something shuts down the reaction time in your brain where reason would come in and you get this adrenaline rush. I didn't realize until just recently how much it affected my quality of life. Every job that I have been offered I have accepted. I never, before this year, took the time to consider if it was the best thing to do. This year has been our biggest transition year and one, after the deployments that Vic went through, that we have taken slowly and deliberately. What a difference it has made. While Vic was deployed there wasn't the luxury of taking things slowly or deliberately. We took what we got as we got it, sometimes we just didn't get, either way you learn what you really need to be happy. I'm so thankful for the insight that the past few years has given me. I'm 38 years old and I finally turned down a pretty fantastic job, one that paid well but would require alot of me. The reason I turned it down was because I waited and considered and prayed about whether it was the right thing for my family. The longer pause I took for my reaction time to kick in the more evident it became that this job wasn't what I really needed. Turning it down was hard, really tough to do, but looking back from where I am now I know I made the right decision. It is easy to accept whatever comes to you first instead of waiting for the best thing to come your way. I never realized that accepting the first thing instead of the best thing is a way of cheating myself. I've been cheating the kids too. I have been holding the bar too low for them as well. Now that we are taking this phase of our life slowly and deliberately, the standard that we have set for our children has risen as well. It has taken a few months, but the fruits of this new perspective are starting to show. My adrenaline, "gotta have it now" kids are willing to wait for the best and more importantly they are willing to push themselves to be better. That fantastic job that wasn't the best for me? I realized in the moments of consideration that I already have a fantastic job and the pay is incredible. My clients, my kids and husband are showing gains that were never expected in this family and the future is bright. My job is here, discerning what is best for this family and refusing to accept anything less. Funny thing is, when you demand the best, you very often get it.