Merry Christmas!!!
I can’t begin to express how excited I am that this time has finally arrived. Not because it’s Christmas, I love Christmas by the way, but mainly due to the fact that the kids and I get a little breather.
The constant hustle and bustle of the morning rush, a full work day and an equally full night of homework tends to wear you down after a while. It’s kind of nice to get some time to refresh and recharge. And trust me…we need it! 
****
2013 has been both an amazing and a challenging year. As I look back on the year, I think about what went well and what didn’t in many areas of my life. I also think about 2014. What do I want it to look like? What do I want to accomplish?
As of today, we only have 8 days left before the new year rolls in without any hesitation. Whether we are ready or not, here 2014 comes.
To be honest…I welcome it. 2013 was a really good year (way better than 2012), but as always, there is room for improvement. First though, I have to think about what I’ve learned in 2013 which will lead me to what I can improve and focus on.
A few lessons come to mind immediately…
ALWAYS EXPRESS GRATITUDE. Towards the end of 2012, I was not happy with the employment I had at the time…every day was a struggle. There were many moments of frustration, unhappiness, impatience and complaining. It felt like I was suffocating. Like I was always trying my best to breathe, but I was just gasping for air. So at the end of 2012, in the midst of this around the mountain experience (a lesson I’ve had before, but now failing), I was reminded that if I wanted my situation to change, I had to be thankful for today…no matter what it looked like. Yes, I know…that doesn’t make sense. How can you be thankful when you’re miserable?
Lesson: It’s easy once you realize that you get more of what you speak. If you complain, you’ll attract more in your life to complain about. If you express constant gratitude (no matter what your situation looks like), you’ll receive more to be thankful for.
ASK FOR HELP. I cannot begin to explain to you how difficult this has been for me. I’m so used to being in control, self-sufficient and independent, that asking for help just doesn’t feel like part of my genetic make-up. But after going around the mountain a few times, I think I’m finally getting the picture.
Lesson: I don’t have to deal with my problems alone. When issues arise, just speak up and ask for divine help . It’s ok. The ability to admit you need help is actually a sign of strength.
RELAX. This was about as difficult as asking for help. Relax? What does that mean??? I’m too worried about how I’m going to solve this problem. There is no time for relaxation. I’ve got to continue running scenarios in my head to figure this out. If I’m not thinking about this problem, it’s not gonna get solved, right? Wrong!
Lesson: Slow down, take a few deep breaths and trust. Trust that if I express gratitude for where I am now and ask to be divinely inspired, that the answer will come. It has too! I’ve experienced this too many times. At first it felt like a coincidence, but after a few mountainous journeys, I now know better.
So how was that employment problem solved? After I let go, I was able to find another job within one month’s time that met all of my requirements: pay, location, and the type of work. To tell you that I was amazed is an understatement. I FINALLY got it! FINALLY!!! 1- Always Express Gratitude, 2 – Ask for Help/Guidance, and 3 – Relax and Trust.
***
Theme for 2014
I have some lofty expectations for 2014. So, to keep me inspired, I’ve come up with a theme that I will use as my foundation for achieving my goals. I’ve chosen the year of action. I have a bad habit of over thinking everything which has a way of paralyzing me in indecisiveness. The indecisiveness then leads to my goals not getting accomplished. *sigh*
Throughout next year, there will be a few different areas of focus, but the main one will be growing PFN. There is much work to be done…
That’s it!
Now, it’s your turn…
What about you – what lessons did you learn in 2013? What is going to be your theme?
Click here to share your answers in the comments
###
Image by kevin dooley