New Year Revelations

The BBW does not make New Year's Resolutions because a life reset is not something that can only happen at the beginning of a calendar year.  A life reset can happen at any time, so why resolve to change on January 1st as opposed to any other significant day in your life, such as a birthday, anniversary, or the last time you drank too much?

In all seriousness, there is value in examining the year as it ends and then looking towards the year ahead to see what you can do differently.  But I call these revelations, not resolutions:

Revelation #1 - I cannot change the people around me, but I can change how I react to their foolishness.  God put me here for a reason, and all I need to do is to figure out how best to thrive.  As somebody once said, bloom where you are planted.  Whether that is at the side of an abandoned road or in the middle of a meadow, bloom. 

Revelation #2 - I can always try to be a better friend.  I am not that busy (I know, right?)...I can call every now and then.  Skip a meeting or two.  Listen.  Empathize.  Initiate plans and actually get to the appointed place ON TIME. 

Revelation #3 - If I believe in myself, I have the power to make things happen.  A friend was in a stage version of "The Wiz" recently, and as you know, TBS airs "The Wizard of Oz" a lot this time of year, so I have had a little time to reflect on the meaning of Dorothy's dilemma.  She got caught up in circumstances beyond her control which then deposited her in an unfamiliar place.  She did not want to stay where she was, so she was advised to seek the help of someone who supposedly had the power to fix her situation.  Along the way, she met a few folks who had issues of their own but after meeting her, they decided to join her in order to make changes in their circumstances as well.  Upon reaching the appointed place and after getting an audience with the One who might change their circumstances, he sent them to deal with an even greater challenge.  Dorothy and her friends faced and conquered that great challenge.  They returned to the One, only to discover that he was just a man with issues hiding behind a grand illusion.  Ultimately, Dorothy discovered that she had the power to change her circumstances.  Thus, I have the power to change my circumstances, I just need to believe...and a pair of ruby slippers.

Revelation #4 - I waste too much time feeling under appreciated, thinking that folks do not recognized my talent and intelligence.  Well, how can they if I keep them hidden?  And if I am honest, people do recognize these attributes in me, which is part of the reason why I am so busy.  I have done a poor job of making these attributes work for me, often at my own expense.  So the next time I feel overworked and underpaid, I need to ask myself if it was my choice to be in that position, or if I allowed someone to hoodwink me.  I work for me; no more freebies!

Revelation #5 - Things will not always go as planned, and I should just take it all in stride.  The person who is putting that barrier in my way might be diverting me to another path that might reveal even better possibilities.  I cannot count the number of times that I have had to reboot and redirect my energies because of someone else's nonsense, but in the end, I gained new skills and insights.  I lost a job this year over some stupidity, but I am not going to trip...I can use what I learned from them to bless my next project.  They simply cleared my schedule to make room for the next adventure in my life.

Revelation #6 - Let it go.  This, I am pretty good about, because I am not a person to hold grudges (but I can always strive to do better).  I am forgiving, and in hindsight, that has kept my burden lighter than most folks I know.  Too many people carry crap around for years that long ago ceased to be worth the effort.  People make mistakes, and sometimes people intentionally do bad things.  Let it go anyway and heal yourself.

To my fellow BBW sisters out there, do what you have to do in order to make it from day to day.  If 2010 sucked, look back, examine why, and make the effort to avoid those same pitfalls in 2011.  If you must draft a list of resolutions, at least make sure that they are inspired by the mistakes and disappointments of the previous year. 

Bloom and believe.