New Beginnings

With the stress and joy of the holidays almost behind us, we stand on the cusp of a brand new year. 2009 holds the glittering promise of a slate wiped clean, a new beginning, a chance to leave the past behind. For many, the past year has been rough. Jobs lost, loved ones buried, weight gained, old habits repeated, mortgages not paid. It’s an unfortunate part of human nature to dwell on the heavy, negative things, to note the shortcomings before the victories. So, we make resolutions to lose that weight, mend our bad habits, and just generally try harder to be a good person.

The problem is, by March, we’ve usually failed. And, the disappointment in our failure to change is more paralyzing each year. We hang our heads, go about our business, and wait patiently for the next year to try again. Seventy-five percent (75%) of New Year’s resolutions fail, according to PsychCentral.com.

This year, instead of adding a host of impossible tasks to my to-do list, I am asking a different question. Instead of what do I want to accomplish, I’m asking who do I want to be? Too often, I measure my self-worth in jobs accomplished. The problem is that while I’m working hard to check off items on my list, my son is wishing I’d sit and play legos and my daughter wants to snuggle for an extra 15 minutes at bedtime.

As I reflect on our journey this last year, it's tempting for me to focus on the bumps, the weeds, the cracks in the sidewalk. But, if I look closely, if I put aside the nagging self-doubt and inferiority complex, I can see bright spots, flower petals lining the trail, moments of strength and peace.

Who do I want to be?

Who does God say that I am?

What are the things that went right this past year?

These are the questions I’m asking to ring in the New Year. I wish you the very best as you wipe your slate clean and begin again…..

Happy New Year!!