There’s something about the cold white light of midwinter sparkling off hoarfrosted windows that’s always seemed a bit otherworldly and magical. Today, it seems to have slowed the tumult in Wallingford to a thick syrup, like some white sorceress spell. It’s left us a bit contemplative, reflecting on the past year and thinking about the next.
We’re not one much for resolutions, really, but the turning of the year, reinforced by the proximity of our birthday, does provide a timely marker for self-assessment and adjusting course.
So, at the risk of boring you with navel-gazing, we offer you our aspirations for the new year. Maybe you’ll share yours in the comments section below.
- Don’t Wait, Do: We’re pretty good at motivating ourselves, but we still find ourselves spending a lot of time thinking about what we ought to do rather than doing it. Sometimes, it’s out of fear, perhaps of failure, perhaps of success, or perhaps just of the work involved, but it often means lost opportunities. This next year, we hope to put one foot in front of the other more quickly and decisively. Into the fray!
- Listen Better: Often, when we hear opinions and ideas from others, we interpret them into the beliefs we already hold. This prevents us from taking a new perspective and fundamentally changing our mind. We want to be better and stopping, listening to others, saying to myself “What are they really saying? If I don’t agree with it, what if I’m wrong?”, and then taking the time to let that thinking unfold.
- Use Time Wisely: We have a lot of balls in the air: family, Wallyhood, Pathable, bees, chickens, and life. There’s not enough time to do everything and do it well. This next year, we want to more mindful about how we use our time, making decisions about where to spend it. Rather than letting our hobbies and responsibilities take they demand, we’ll make sure they get the time they deserve.
- Go Polar Bearing: Because we totally wimped out last year.
What about you? Any thoughts, reflections or resolutions for the new year?
It’s my 70th b’day. going to the spa! Going to travel more to see old friends this new year.
Happy Birthday, Judy!
This year I’m going to change my attitude. I’ve been homesick for eastern Washington since moving here six months ago, and rather than mourning the past I’m going to embrace the future.
I intend to have the courage to do the things I know I need to do, have the strength it will take to sustain my efforts. May I stay focused and determined. May I succeed. I intend to do my part in making 2011 a meaningful, productive, transformative year for all of us. I’m grateful for this blog. Aloha!