Happy New Year 2019! It’s never too late to say “Happy New Year!”…At least I hope that’s the case. January 2019….how can that be? Another year already…I think it’s true that time goes faster as you get older. I remember my mother telling me that and I see it now. Of course it’s not faster I am just more aware of the passing of time as I get older. I do love the holidays and as anxious as I am to put up holiday decorations the day after Thanksgiving, I am equally anxious to take them down…December 26th. It feels good to have our house back…it almost feels calmer once the decorations are stored away until next year.
For most people, including myself, the New Year brings with it thoughts of resolutions…eat better, exercise more, put the devices down, connect with people…so many things run through my mind at lightening speed. Along with all the ideas comes the desire to really do something this year…something that really matters to me and something that makes a difference in my life and hopefully, the world.
I was reading an old January copy of the Dallas Cowboys Star magazine (I do love the Cowboys and the fact that they finally won a playoff game!) and a writer, Josh Ellis, said something that really struck me. He said, “We set New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, or save money, or read more books, but those are goals – not the means to achieve those goals. What we really should think about when we set those resolutions is the road to reach them. In truth, these are mindsets. We should instead resolve to be more self-disciplined, or to make smarter decisions, or to invest more time in ourselves” (STAR magazine, December 31, 2016).
A mindset change…a new perspective…an opening to something new, different…
So this year my mindset is compassion…compassion first…beginning with myself because that comes the hardest to me. Compassion for myself involves three things initially…to feed my mind, feed my soul, and feed my body. Compassion begins here for me because it involves really caring for myself, recognizing my needs, acknowledging them, and meeting them. Then turning to others and asking, how can I feed the souls, minds, and bodies of those close to me, others I come in contact with, and in my interactions in the world? Hmmm… these are my starting points this new year. What this will look like or what may grow from this or what changes may occur because of a shift in my mindset…I have no idea…but I am eager to learn…well, mostly eager. ☺
Kai Raines 