"The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little." Thomas Merton

We've all had to settle at some point in our lives for countless reasons, which even if we now regret, at the time seemed worthy. Living exacts a toll on everyone and settling is one of them. Sometimes it's just plain easier, or the situation didn't seem to merit the effort, to give up what we wanted. It's a bit like weeding—there are always a few we overlook. But if we give up weeding altogether before long our yards are no longer recognizable. It's not a personal crisis to have a few weeds in our lives—in fact it's inevitable. The lesson for us as we move thoughtfully into a new year is to not be tempted into letting them take over because we have convinced ourself is not worth the effort.Allowing time to figure out what we truly desire helps us create a life that doesn't feel overwhelming and out of control but nourishing and supporting. We each have hopes and dreams that we should never settle on. Because if we do it means we have convinced ourselves that what our heart wants no longer matters and the weeds can have our life.That is a crisis.