Fireworks & New Year’s Kisses!

It’s that time of the year!  Parties, goodies, traditions, and planning for the next year! Tears of jubilation at how great the year was or tears of relief that it’s over!

The end of the year use to be a big deal to me, and it’s always been bittersweet, but it’s no longer a time for me to mourn all the things that weren’t accomplished.When looking back it was easier to see what didn’t happened, versus what did.  Thankfully now I’m more fair when looking back, and it’s necessary, so I can move forward more effectively and efficiently.

Reflecting over the past year can be highly constructive, and feel overwhelming at first.  When I make my goals for the year, then month, etc., I use these sections:  God, Family, Acting, Physical, Finances, Writing, Social, Personal, etc.

So I’ll be using the same categories to assess the past 12 months, as well a few more: obstacles/ setbacks (overcame and still working on), successes/wins and lessons learned. I will also pull out goals from the top of the 2015 to compare.  All of this to learn…

What worked, what didn’t, and are there any patterns?

And a lot of that question is answered in assessing the alignment between, what I said, and what I did.  And then ask, why or why not “it,” was done or not.  And I must answer the question that the beautiful and brilliant Elaine Williams would ask during acting class…

“Are you really doing what you say you’re doing, or are you just pretending?”

Goals need to be altered sometimes too.  For everything there is a season.  And if you’re about to have a melt down about life, do not despair.  You’re still here, and for a perspective shift, given to me from a wonderful blessing in my life, my mentor,

“Look at your life from a point of gain, not lack.”

We have to get real with ourselves, not compare ourselves with others, or think that someone else’s success is somehow our loss.

It’s almost the end of 12 months, a lot the hours, days, and weeks, of how we divide and measure time is almost done for 2015.  It’s a great measuring tool, but not the end all be all.  And entering this “new,” year with new goals and expectations, I will ask God this question, “Lord what do you want?”

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” – Proverbs 19:21 NIV

“And the Lord answered me, and said, ‘Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” – Habakkuk 2:2,3 KJV