Well, it happened. We’ve officially made it into 2012. And I’ll be honest; it snuck up on me and truly felt as if it came out of nowhere! It turns out that yes; in fact January does ALWAYS come after December. J In all seriousness, as 2012 approached and then happened I found myself feeling a little discouraged. It took me a little while to really identify the feeling and then try to figure out why I was feeling that way.
Maybe it’s just me, but I have a hunch some of you may have similar experiences. All of the hype regarding a new year is designed to make us feel like we have a clean slate, a chance to do everything we didn’t last year. For me instead of offering a chance, it served as a reminder of all the things I didn’t do, for whatever reason. I’m reminded of the goals I have yet to meet, the people I meant to see or call but didn’t, anyone or thing that I’ve lost, etc. It is in moments like these that I remember, it is easier to be miserable than it is to be happy, but I am the only one who can control the way I feel. If I throw a pity party for myself, you better bet your ass I’m going to wallow in it all day. It will not be until the moment that I decide that I will not feel sorry for myself that I won’t.
It isn’t always easy to pull yourself out of these feelings, but I’m pretty sure most of us have the tools to do so. When I was 19 I joined an organization in college that provided me with a creed of sorts to live by. To this day, I can read that small paragraph of words and feel uplifted. In this instance, one particular line struck a chord.
‘To work earnestly, to speak kindly, to act sincerely, to choose thoughtfully that course which occasion and conscience demand; to be womanly always, and DISCOURAGED NEVER…’
Instead of feeling discouraged come next January, I want to look back at 2012 and be proud of all the things I did do, whether I met all my goals or not. I want to feel confident and excited about my life and the things to come instead of being preoccupied with the past and things that I cannot change. For me, much of this will come in practicing surrender and serenity. As I release my need for control I have a feeling life will begin to unfold right in front of my eyes. What will it be for you?
With that I affirm that… As this adventure of life unfolds, I will not shy away from it!
- Erica
