-Mahatma Gandhi
Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the holiday season. I certainly did. And now begins a period of mourning as I say goodbye to my vacation.
Sigh.
Ok, enough of that. I can't start out the new year with such negativity. That is definitely something I will continue to work on. Staying positive.
But no, I won't make that a New Year's resolution.
In fact, I am not making any New Year's resolutions. Not because I am lazy or unmotivated. But I just don't think making resolutions is the way to go. You don't wake up on the first day of the new year and suddenly change your mindset or behavior. Change is a process. Evolution is a process. And it can be a slow one at that.
That being said, I do have goals that I am working towards and will continue to work towards. I will continue to evolve. That is what we hope to do as humans - to evolve over our lifetimes.
I train in martial arts, and before every class, we get down on one knee, bow our heads, and say a personal prayer. Each time, I ask God to help me become a better person, to conduct myself with dignity and honor, and to show love and respect to others. I also ask for guidance in being a good wife and mother, teacher and student. This is a lifelong goal for me. To become the best person I can be.
I think we are all trying to become the best people we can be. Our entire lives we strive to be better. It isn't a quick or simple process. And much of this process is two steps forward and one step back. Sometimes we stumble and fall. That is when we have to get up, dust ourselves off, and move on. We change and then change again. Or we're forced to change. Either our thinking or behavior. Or our environment. Or our job. Or the people we keep close. Sometimes everything and everyone around us changes and we have to adapt. Change really is the only constant in life.
I know I've come a long way in my personal evolution. But I still have far to go. I continue to make mistakes. I still overindulge in food and drink and self-pity at times. I sometimes hurt and disappoint those I love and care for. I am still slightly disorganized and forgetful, and can be irresponsible with my time and money. I'm still not where I want to be professionally.
I don't expect to ever be perfect. But I know that I can be better. I want to be better. And I'll keep trying to be better. I'll keep learning and growing and adapting.
I also know all of you are trying to better. (Well, most of you anyway) I know all of you have your own personal struggles and occasionally stumble on your path to becoming a better human being. Maybe you've already written a list of New Year's resolutions and you're determined to keep them. I'm not saying you should crumple up that paper and toss it, along with your intentions, in the trash. No, you should set goals. You should work towards improving yourselves and your lives. Just remember that like change, failure is a part of life. It is a part of learning and growing. We all stumble. We all fall. So if you don't lose those ten pounds or organize that closet in the next few weeks, it's not the end of the world. Forgive yourself, face the problem, figure out what happened, and then move on. And remember everyone else is trying, too. Be forgiving with others as they try to evolve.
Despite anecdotes of overnight success (think J.K. Rowling), there is no such thing as overnight success. People who became successful had to work hard to get where they are. And they had to put a lot of time into their work. Hard work. Dedication. Patience. The ability to get past mistakes and failures, and keep trying. That is what we all need on our path to improvement. That and a little bit of love. Love for ourselves and love for others.
I wish you all the best in the New Year, and on your own evolutionary path.
