I stopped making new year’s resolutions a few years ago when I realized that most of my transformations, whether they happened gradually or abruptly, never came on the exact day I wanted them to. Although I am filled with countless hopes, desires, plans and strategies, I can’t predict the challenges and blessings that will come my way over the course of this fresh new 365 days. So, rather than artificially constructing a list of ways to be better when I don’t yet know what I will be called to do this year, I have settled on the following. I think of it more as a mantra than a list.
I will respond to all hate with LOVE
I will understand that acts of meanness, inconsideration, hurtfulness, and neglect come from folks in pain. I will respond to all of them with LOVE
I will heal my own feelings of insecurity and doubt with my own LOVE
I will face the mounting work and seemingly impossible tasks with fierce determination and LOVE
I will meet every disappointment and rejection with LOVE
I will overcome the difficulties of releasing bad habits, old unproductive ways and self-sabotage with LOVE
I will move boldly forward with all plans without fear of failure but with LOVE
I will LOVINGLY remind myself of this: every new day, hour, minute, second, and breath offers an opportunity to clean the slate. to be brand new. to do over. to try again.
None of this will be easy. I will fall short sometimes. I may not always feel like it but I will, with LOVE, keep at it anyway.
much LOVE and happy NEWNESS to you all!
Amen, my sister! I am listening to Michael Beckwith in the car, everyday. This transition is kicking my a$$ left and right but the deep lessons I am learning are so amazing, meaningful and beautiful I feel incredibly humbled to have the presence of mind to learned them. So we move forward and try very hard to embrace LOVE over everything else. It’s always about love…..always
and as always……. I love you.
Thanks, my love! I so needed to hear that. I am sorry to hear that things are rough, but am happy to sense in your words a solid faith and resolve. LOVE, my dear, is what I am left with as the answer after a very up and down year. It is so clear to me that holding on to anger and being bitter is a cancer that slowly eats away at who we are. I am trying to practice patience and challenging myself to respond to everyone and everything with empathy. After all, I think Celie (or was it Shug?) from the Color Purple said it best “we all just want to be loved.” I think if we can remember that we can have so much more compassion for one another and move through our own personal pain to a place of collective healing. I miss you and I love you very much.
LOVE this! and you!
You are one brilliant lady!