Retrospect, Gratitude and a Happy New Year

Alas, we have arrived at that pivotal time when we review the various events that took place this year and evaluate how they affected us. We cannot brood over how tough our storms were, but celebrate just how miraculous we navigated through them. When you think about those times you felt like you were in the eye of a tornado, remember how God turned the situation into a gentle breeze. When you think about the torrential rains and dark clouds that filled many of your days, remember how you watched as the sun broke through those clouds and the rain turned into a soothing shower. When you think about your life being shaken up like a violent earthquake reaching the highest range on the Richter scale, remember that you weren’t crushed to death by falling through the cracks.

Last year, I challenged readers to create a “Gratitude or Thankful Journal” for each day of the year. The objective of a Gratitude Journal is to keep thankfulness in perspective. You must write at least one entry in your journal every day, no matter how you feel. That’s at least 365 reasons why you are grateful each year. You could be thankful for good health, an unexpected gift someone gave you, a raise on your job, grateful that you didn’t get into an accident while driving to and from your destination, or that God kept you and your family safe and sound. You could also be thankful for the opportunity to get another step closer towards your goals.

In retrospect, we think about the past and adopt new ways to make things better. In gratitude, we live passionately, with purpose and continue dancing to the music even when no music is playing. For a happy new year, we adjust our attitudes to be an asset, instead of a liability, to humanity.

With continued peace and abundant prosperity, always celebrate life with your head held high, love in your heart and a song to continue dancing to. Happy New Year everyone!

http://www.kymgmoore.com/

2010 New Year’s Thanks-olution!

As we embark on this final lap of 2009, may we reflect on the goals we accomplished, the progress and contributions we made, the lessons we learned, the people we helped, the food we fed our spirits and the way we renewed the fire of our gifts. So often, we fall into a trap of making New Year’s Resolutions that we rarely manage to keep after the first week or two of the New Year.

I am in favor of setting practical and obtainable goals, not just at the beginning of a new year, but throughout the year. Is there something from 2009 that you would like to change and make better in 2010 and beyond? So often, we seek to improve our finances, lessen our debts, take more vacations, find a better job, lose weight or get a better education on January 1st. Our failures thereafter, are sometimes attributed to a lack of vision and “discipline.” Your goals require activation in order to work.

If you are the consummate resolution maker and breaker, here is something slightly different that I would like to suggest. Create a “Thankful Journal.” This thankful journal needs to have at least one daily entry. That’s at least 365 entries for the year. Everyone has something to be thankful for, whether you acknowledge it or not. You could be thankful for good health, an unexpected gift someone gave you that day, grateful that you didn’t get into an accident while driving to and from your destination, or that God kept you and your family safe and sound for that day. Also in your Thankful Journal, you could include how appreciative you are to make a progressive step towards a goal you want to accomplish during the year.

As you go about your daily routine, remember to exemplify your nine fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. Remember to be thankful that you are able to make a positive difference and impact in your part of the world. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. We had yesterday and have the present moment. So live life passionately and with purpose. Don’t forget to dance to the music, have fun and laugh contagiously like a child.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Wishing you abundant peace and blessings, now and forevermore.

From Behind the Pen,
Kym Gordon Moore