There is no doubt in my mind about what constitutes my number one priority in life.

1. Family

As a wife, a mother, a daughter, and much more, the wellbeing of my family is my greatest priority.

Now, the hard part is ranking the rest of my top 10 priorities in life….

2. Self

I think it is important to attend to my own well-being and needs. This means doing basic things such as eating well, exercising & getting enough sleep. But it also means working towards my goals, and setting aside some “me time”.

“Me time” is exactly what the name suggests - time to be just me. It is a chance to reconnect with myself and have a sanity break from the demands of life. I might go for a walk, write, go shopping (for myself, of course), read a book, luxuriate in the bathtub, or linger over a glass of good wine or a great cup of coffee.

3. Friends: Old and New

Where would be without friends? They offer support, comfort, companionship & fun. My friends are very dear to me, and I although I may not see some of them as often as I should, they are never far from my thoughts. Lately, I have found certain social networking websites a blessing as they provide a very easy way to stay in touch, and a great way to reconnect with old friends.

4. Writing

I love writing, and feel driven to do it …but I don’t write as much or as often as I should.

It is important that I acknowledge writing as one of my top priorities in life, and start to give it the time and effort it rightly deserves.

I think some of that “me time” will come in handy!

5. Reading

I have loved reading ever since I was a little girl. (And now my own children are growing up to be voracious readers, which pleases me no end.)

I will continue to be a reader - while I also enjoy my fair share of television, I think the written word informs and entertains in a way that TV and movies cannot.

Plus, it has been said that readers make the best writers… one can only hope!

6. Fun, Fun, Fun

The years pass by. Responsibilities increase, routine sets in, the fun in life…. well, it seems to just taper away.

Having fun is one of my priorities in life. I think it is very important to maintain a sense of humor, to be silly once in a while, and to keep laughing. If I haven’t laughed for a while, I feel withdrawal symptoms set in! That’s when I seek out funny TV shows, movies, books - anything to tickle my funny bone.

7. Finances

Money can’t buy happiness, but it can provide peace of mind and security. I have no great desire to be ridiculously wealthy and rolling in money. I am, however, interested in having enough to meet my family’s needs in terms of food, housing, health care, education and transport. Of course, it is also nice if enough can be set aside for things such as entertainment and travel.

8. Travel (for Recreation)

Isn’t it wonderful to have a break away from home and everyday life? I enjoy short trips and long trips. I enjoy trips to favorite, familiar places, because I know what to expect. I also enjoy the opportunity to travel to places I have never been before and encounter new sights and sounds - to “broaden my horizons”.

9. Caffeine/Coffee

Each day at around 10 a.m., the consumption of coffee becomes one of my priorities. Ideally, it is in the form of a cappuccino or latte. Often it is instant coffee (I am not a fan of the filtered stuff). Why do I need my coffee? I need it to wake me up and make me alert. Without it, I go through the day feeling half asleep and mentally sluggish. Is this a sign of dependence? Probably. But I am not too worried about it.

10. Care for the Environment

I believe we human beings need to be much kinder to our planet, and becoming more environmentally conscious (being more “green”) is one of my priorities.

I still have a lot of work ahead of me, but I do try to “reduce, reuse & recycle” wherever possible.

So there you have it - a list of my top 10 priorities, at this point in my life. Hopefully, it has inspired you to think about your priorities too.