A New Year

I always do this. I always get extremely reflective on the last day of the year. I think a lot of people do. This year I am going to do something different. I am going to write down what I am reflecting on. I write it down not only because I do love to write but also, more importantly, I never want to forget what I am thinking in these moments. I will pull this note up frequently to remind myself of what is of utmost importance for my life. Not for your life. You should have your own set of reflections. These thoughts are for my own toes.

1. I want to be more honest. Not that I am dishonest, I don't mean that. I mean that I want to be able to tell others exactly what I am thinking and feeling without offending. Is that possible?
Wouldn't it be great if we could express our true and real feelings to others without fear of rejection and judgement? Realizing that we all have different stories? Being able to walk in someone else's shoes, to TRULY put ourselves in their shoes and feel their pain? Or their joy?
I want to be able to do that. And I want to surround myself with people who will do that for me.

2. I want to share my faith with others in a way that always sends a message of love, not hate. Love, not misunderstanding. When I "take a stand" on Christian issues, I want to do it in a way that brings peace, not more confusion. How do I convey the message of Christ in a way that will soften other's hearts, not make them roll their eyes and think that I am just another religious fanatic who loves to quote Bible verses and condemn those who are not like me? How do I make them see that we are just the same? That it is grace and grace alone that frees us all?

3. I don't want to be a deep thinker anymore. I want to give it up for a while. I want to live simply and laugh a lot. I want to be more spontaneous and less organized. Get rid of my calendar. Stop writing EVERYTHING down in it. I'm tired of planning. I'm exhausted trying to figure it all out. Not gonna do it anymore. From now on, it's one day at a time. I need to keep remembering that LIFE is what happens while I'm busy making other plans.......

4. This is not a resolution. I refuse to make resolutions. But I want to take better care of myself. I want to eat more healthfully and move my body more. That's it. I will not make ANY food off limits and I will NOT become obsessed with exercise. I will maintain a healthy balance. I hope to do this for the rest of my life.

5. I want to share myself more with others. While I do believe that all of us need some "alone" time, I have a tendency to retreat into my own little world at times and I am aware that this practice is not healthy. I need you. I want you to need me. It is the right thing. It is what is supposed to be. Sometimes it overwhelms me to think about all of the wonderful people who are in my life. And I do mean wonderful. It's amazing.

6. I need to keep reminding myself that I am on a journey. Sometimes it seems like the now will last forever, but it will not. For NONE of us, no matter who we are or what we believe. This journey for me on Earth seems long at times, but in reality it's very brief. I want to make this gift called life count. It's the only chance I get. I want to say the things I need to say and do the things I need to do. I need to keep reminding myself that my life is a round trip. It's been quite an adventure so far. I'm not sure how long it will take me to get back, but I am on my way to the place where I came from. I am on my way home.


Happy 2010!I always do this. I always get extremely reflective on the last day of the year. I think a lot of people do. This year I am going to do something different. I am going to write down what I am reflecting on. I write it down not only because I do love to write but also, more importantly, I never want to forget what I am thinking in these moments. I will pull this note up frequently to remind myself of what is of utmost importance for my life. Not for your life. You should have your own set of reflections. These thoughts are for my own toes.

1. I want to be more honest. Not that I am dishonest, I don't mean that. I mean that I want to be able to tell others exactly what I am thinking and feeling without offending. Is that possible?
Wouldn't it be great if we could express our true and real feelings to others without fear of rejection and judgement? Realizing that we all have different stories? Being able to walk in someone else's shoes, to TRULY put ourselves in their shoes and feel their pain? Or their joy?
I want to be able to do that. And I want to surround myself with people who will do that for me.

2. I want to share my faith with others in a way that always sends a message of love, not hate. Love, not misunderstanding. When I "take a stand" on Christian issues, I want to do it in a way that brings peace, not more confusion. How do I convey the message of Christ in a way that will soften other's hearts, not make them roll their eyes and think that I am just another religious fanatic who loves to quote Bible verses and condemn those who are not like me? How do I make them see that we are just the same? That it is grace and grace alone that frees us all?

3. I don't want to be a deep thinker anymore. I want to give it up for a while. I want to live simply and laugh a lot. I want to be more spontaneous and less organized. Get rid of my calendar. Stop writing EVERYTHING down in it. I'm tired of planning. I'm exhausted trying to figure it all out. Not gonna do it anymore. From now on, it's one day at a time. I need to keep remembering that LIFE is what happens while I'm busy making other plans.......

4. This is not a resolution. I refuse to make resolutions. But I want to take better care of myself. I want to eat more healthfully and move my body more. That's it. I will not make ANY food off limits and I will NOT become obsessed with exercise. I will maintain a healthy balance. I hope to do this for the rest of my life.

5. I want to share myself more with others. While I do believe that all of us need some "alone" time, I have a tendency to retreat into my own little world at times and I am aware that this practice is not healthy. I need you. I want you to need me. It is the right thing. It is what is supposed to be. Sometimes it overwhelms me to think about all of the wonderful people who are in my life. And I do mean wonderful. It's amazing.

6. I need to keep reminding myself that I am on a journey. Sometimes it seems like the now will last forever, but it will not. For NONE of us, no matter who we are or what we believe. This journey for me on Earth seems long at times, but in reality it's very brief. I want to make this gift called life count. It's the only chance I get. I want to say the things I need to say and do the things I need to do. I need to keep reminding myself that my life is a round trip. It's been quite an adventure so far. I'm not sure how long it will take me to get back, but I am on my way to the place where I came from. I am on my way home.


Happy 2010!