Generally, January is a time of holistic reflection, readjustment, rededication, renewal…basically, all the “re” words you can think of. We see the end of a year and begin to go down the list of everything we DIDN’T do and vow to not let it happen again the new year. This was particularly true for the end of 2019 and emergence of 2020. Not only were we leaving a year, we were embarking on the beginning of a new DECADE! So not only was 2019 in review, but all of our choices from 2010 – 2019 were under intense scrutiny. We ruminated over past relationships, remembered those we lost, and relived joyous memories. We vowed to eat better and get healthier, we promised to save more, we pledged to read more, and the list goes on and on and on.
As I took my own trip down Memory Lane and Resolution Circle, I began to wonder…”Why just January?” Why should our meter of success be limited to how well we keep to ideas we held 12 months before? Are we not allowed to change our minds as the days pass? Are we forever beholding to the feelings we felt 364 days prior? If your life has been anything like ours, you know that life is ever-changing. Things happen, our needs change, our desires evolve and these changes necessitate adjustment to our plans.
Now, I want to be very clear. Am I saying not to plan? Am I saying live this life by the seat of your pants? NOT IN THE LEAST. Successful and fulfilled lives require a level of planning and goal-setting. We have to have an idea of where we are, where we want to go, and how we are going to get there. I am saying not to get stuck on the way we map our journey. Just like when we’re driving, most of us try to take the most direct route to get us there in the shortest amount of time. However, sometimes there will be unexpected events on the way and we have to take a detour. We may have to take a route that delays our anticipated time of arrival. We may have to take what seems to be the long way around.
The same thing can be said for our lives. We all had ideas of where we wanted to be at our current age. Some wanted to be rich, some married, some single, some parents, some wanted to travel…the possibilities were endless. We had it all planned out, how we would achieve all of our goals. One day, we looked up and realized that life happened. We missed opportunities, we dropped the ball and gave up. Deviations in our driving route can be annoying and irritating, but we get over it. Deviations in our life journey, however, can lead to hurt and disappointment in oneself. These deviations and detours are frustrating, yes, but are not indicators of defeat. They are stepping stones, to propel you to the end of your journey. Every setback, every letdown, and every blow is fuel toward your destiny.
I don’t want this to be another uplifting “beginning of the year” post. I don’t want this to inspire you for the week and become an afterthought. I want this to be a constant reminder that you have to keep going. No matter what you may experience in this life, reignite your fire each day. Will you experience disappointment? Yep. Will things not always go your way? You bet. Will you want to give up and throw in the towel? Most definitely. But, in those times, dig deeper and face the journey with more determination than ever
This is just the beginning of your journey to forever!
Journey to 4ever 