As many already know, I don't believe in New Year's resolutions. I admire people who set goals and strive for them and it doesn't matter what time of year it is.
I'm the kind of person who can never complete my goals. I give it a go for a while, but after a few days (or a few weeks, if I'm extra determined), I give up. I'm the kind of person who likes instant results. Unfortunately there aren't very many dreams or goals that provide that luxury, if any.
The weird quirk I told you about last January is going to come again this year, except I've simplified it immensely. Last year, my "goal" was to find out who I am. What I discovered was that you cannot find out who you are, you can only be. If you're trying to figure out who you are, you're probably only trying to change yourself because you are not satisfied with who you think you are. Sure, you can fix some less-than-desirable quirks, you can change your physical appearance, and you can wear a mask. But you are who you are.
You are you and that's the truth.
I have named this year: The Year of Today
Strange name, right? Here's my thinking. Long term goals usually fail. I would venture to say they fail about 95% of the time. (That may be false, but whatever. How many long term goals have you actually accomplished?) That's a lot of failure.
As much as I agree with "living in the moment" or "living for today", that's not actually what I'm getting at. I usually set up camp in the land of tomorrow, and to an extent, I think that's okay. It's good to reflect on your past, and it's good to plan for your future. But the problem comes when there is excess. Both living in the past and living in the future cause you to miss out on all the delightful and exciting things happening in the right now. All the amazing things God has for you TODAY.
That was a bit of a bunny trail. Let's loop back around.
What are some of the most common New Year's resolutions you hear about? Lose weight? Exercise more? Eat better? Quit a bad habit? Read your Bible everyday? Serve God more? Be less selfish?
What the Year of Today means: trading in your long term goals for TODAY goals and your New Year's resolutions for TODAY resolutions.
I will love God TODAY
I will read the Word TODAY
I will eat better TODAY
I will study effectively TODAY
I will think positively TODAY
I will exercise TODAY
I will not bite my nails TODAY
I will not complain TODAY
You don't know what tomorrow brings, so let tomorrow speak for itself. In the words of Anne of Green Gables... isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?
Until next time,
au revoir mes amies
