New Year's Revelations

I'm not big on New Year's Resolutions. That's not to say I haven't made more than my fair share over the years but, given that they've generally all fallen through within a few days of their conception, I haven't really benefitted from the exercise. So - I don't make resolutions.

Instead, I use the end of the year as a time to reflect on the many great teachings of the previous year. What did I achieve? What did I learn? What changed for the good or the bad or, more importantly, what started out bad before goodness crept into it? How did I expand my energy last year? What did I create? Who was I and what am I poised to become?

These are all good questions for me to look into and I am fortunate to have a variety of journals that help me sort it all out. My gratitude journal, my health diary, my affirmation journal and even my daytimer all pitch in with the tidbits of my life last year that help me stitch together a comforting quilt of personal growth.

I've had a great year!! I know that sounds crazy as I continue to deal with my DD's recouperation after 4 months of hideous illness that has left her with permanent vision damage and other ongoing problems but I have learned so much from her and from this time! I feel confident in the strength of our adult relationship and what we will endure. I trust my family and friends to care for me when I need them. I can ask for help! I don't have to do this or anything else alone. I can make the changes I want in my life. These are things I have learned through this and I'm blessed to have been taught them.

I had some great physical achievements this year as well. Running a full marathon when once I couldn't run to the end of my driveway will remain an ultimate high point of my life. Returning with my DH to a favourite wilderness park from our early married days and canoeing for a week more than 100 kms into the backcountry is another achievement. Healing from injuries without losing my focus, without succumbing to depression, without throwing my hands into the air and diving headfirst into a bag of chips - this resilience is new to me and it's an achievement all its own. So much to celebrate.

At the end of August, I was ready to change my career path - get out of management and back to helping people in a more direct way. I made some decisions about what I would do then got sidetracked by Gill's needs. Today I stand poised to begin my new life - classes start soon and I'm ready for it!

So, here I sit on January first looking back and marvelling over what I've been given in learning and opportunity and what I have done with my portion of the abundance that is available to each of us! It was, as I said earlier, a great year.

So, there won't be any resolutions made today. Instead I intend to open myself up to whatever this year plans to reveal to me. I am making change to my life and I have some physical, intellectual and emotional goals I hope to reach this year but I can't plan ahead on what this year will choose to offer me! I will simply get up every morning with the intention of doing the best I can for myself and be open to what is returned to me.

I'm already pretty sure it'll be great!