Jenny gave me this picture for my birthday. I love it hard. It encapsulates all my ideals of living a good life. She bought it for my new office but I decided to keep it at home for the daily reminder.
2016 has begun. This morning is full of possibilities. The slate is clean. I don’t have any regrets yet this year. I’m writing my first piece on my brand new Mac. I’ve got a great cup of coffee and 364+ days stretched out in front of me. The unknown shimmers quietly just outside my window. As the City of Chicago shakes off last night’s revelry and tries to coax itself awake, I’m already musing about where I’m going this year.
I’ve written out my list of broad goal areas with specific objectives in each. Although I feel the process is essential for me, it feels weirdly uninspiring and repetitive. I need to save money. blah blah blah. I need to optimize my health. blah blah blah. I need to balance my life. blah blah blah. In some regards, I feel like a broken record. The list isn’t completely a repeat of 2015 but the goal areas are basically the same.
I’m a list maker. I write out my list of To-Dos so I can cross them off. It gives me a sense of accomplishment to see a page of scratched off items. Here’s the thing… I never put ‘laundry’ on my list… ever. Yet, I do laundry every week. I have to do it weekly. I don’t have the pantie inventory to get to two weeks. Weekly laundry is a reality like ‘go to work’ or ‘brush teeth.’ My annual goals have that laundry vibe this year.
I believe it’s important for me to have annual goals. They serve as a guidebook for the yearly journey. It gives me direction. What I’m realizing is life doesn’t need to be so hard and focused. My personal objectives are good but my personal connections are better. Conversations are life altering events. A remark someone said in passing can be the impetus to changing my life course. “Would you ever move to Chicago?” “What about starting a blog?” “Do you have Amazon Prime?”
The comments and questions from people I love or people I hardly know open my mind to the possibility of something different. There’s an old Chinese proverb that says “To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.” EXACTLY! Yes, I need to ask questions, listen to stories and find my happiness in broadening my life experiences. My new journal is called Life is a journey. Live in wonder. That is my 2016 theme.