It is hard – almost impossible – to believe we are embarking on the year 2024! Goodness me….that simply feels surreal.
As we start this new year, most of us have exciting plans to make this new year the best year yet. And yet, many times we have already broken our grand intentions by the second week of January! (Yes…. that is true:)! So, as we embark on 2024, 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 2024.
Just for today….I will live this day to its fullest…. meaning starting with centering prayer each morning, seeing and embracing each person who crosses my path, relishing the simple things of life, learning the hard lessons, and working hard to achieve my aspirations…. among others.
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 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.
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 overall a pretty good year, especially given the past few years (it is all relative!). I have made hard calls – mostly good, yet many were extremely difficult. Regardless of these challenges, all were learning experiences. And thanks to those decisions, 2024 has been positioned to be fabulous. I am sharing the questions that I have used every year since 2004, to help ‘give pause’ and stimulate our thoughts on this past year:
o How did I spend my time in 2023?
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 2024 than in January 2023?
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 2024 – and then we can take each day – one by one:
- What will be my primary focus in 2024?
- 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 2024?
- What may need to change? What are the first steps I need to take to make that change?
- At the end of 2024, where would I like to find myself? How do I get there?
- What is my intention for myself in 2024?
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.
AND – if you are interested in being a part of my FREE monthly webinars (which I have now been offering for the past 2 years) which have been enthusiastically received and well-attended! Join us! The January 2024 Webinar will be held on Thursday, January 11th at 11am CST. We will be sharing a few perspectives that will help Recharge, Reboot, Reignite, and Reinvigorate us for the NEW YEAR of 2024!! Simply CLICK HERE to save your seat!