The New Year….what, if anything, will be Different?

As we start the new year, most of us have grand and exciting plans to make this new year the best year yet. And yet, many times we have already broken our resolutions by the second week of January! (Yes…..that is true:)! So, as we embark on 2017, I was intrigued by a few articles which focus on the concept of  “Just For Today”. I read an article, by of all people, Dear Abby, in which she highlighted a post from her late mother, Pauline Phillips, which she had adapted by the original credo of Al-Anon. I was touched by the simplicity of the ‘just for today’ approach…and thus, have taken my own ‘stab’ at what this may look like for me in 2017.

Just for today….I will live this day to its fullest….meaning simple, introspective walks with Lulu in the morning, embracing each soul who crosses my path, loving the moon and stars, learning the hard lessons, keeping a constant prayerful state with our Creator, and working hard to achieve my aspirations…..among many other breath-filled moments.

Just for today….I will do all I can to be and stay healthy…..pray, exercise, meditate, eat right, not drink too much, and get enough rest.

Just for today….I will be kind to all who cross my path, especially those who pass unfair judgment, the mean girls fed by jealousy, and those that wish ill upon others.

Just for today.…I accept my current reality with gratitude, play the hand I have been dealt, and change those things I can and accept those I cannot…..and choose to learn from them.

Just for today.….I will do all I can to improve myself…..read, learn, listen, shift perspectives, embrace change, healthy choices, and take full responsibility for my life – good and challenging.

Just for today…..I will choose love over fear. I will choose Faith over doubt. I will choose joy over sadness. I will choose hope over hatred. I choose to serve in all things and in all ways.

As I started today’s blog, each of us have the opportunity to ‘start over’ each year – and yes, our years are made up of 365 days….no more no less. So, in addition to focusing on EACH DAY…..Just for Today.….I also like to start a new year by recapping the prior year – what worked/what didn’t work relative to my life, my goals, and my intentions. Frankly, this year has been hit and miss for me. I have made hard calls – mostly good, yet many were extremely difficult. And yes, as with all hard decisions, there was fall-out. And, I weathered a very hard diagnosis from late 2015 and went through an extremely difficult treatment process for the first half of 2016 – and yes, have been declared ‘virtually cured’. Yet, regardless of these challenges, all were learning experiences. And thanks to those decisions, 2017 has been positioned to be fabulous. I am sharing a few questions to help ‘give pause’ and stimulate our thoughts on this past year:

o   How did I spend my time in 2016?

o   What were my greatest accomplishments?

o   What (and who) were my greatest disappointments?

o   How did these experiences change me?

o   How do I want to be different in January 2017 than in January 2016?

o   What am I tolerating? Why? What steps can I take to make a change?

o   What am I trying to force to happen? What would happen if I just ‘let go’?!

 

Now What?! A few questions to help plan for 2017 – and then we can take each day – one by one:

  • What will be my primary focus in 2017?
  • What do I really want? What is still holding me back?
  • What do I want to contribute to the world?
  • How will I hold myself accountable?
  • What is working for me? How can I have ‘more of that’?!!
  • What kind of partners do I want in 2017?
  • What may need to change? What are the first steps I need to take to make that change?
  • At the end of 2017, where would I like to find myself? How do I get there?
  • What is my intention for myself in 2017?

We own our lives. No one else does. So, what we decide to focus upon – in thought, word, and deed – will be what we create. So, print out this article, spend time re-learning about yourself, and determine what you want to manifest in your life and this next year…..and realize EACH day is the opportunity to start again! Let’s make this year the best year yet…..and live each day  – JUST FOR TODAY……after all….that is all we really have.