A Fresh Start

It's a new year; a time for planning, hoping, and maybe a little strategizing. At the end of the year we don't just pack away the holiday decorations to make the room look clear and organized again, we also put up a fresh calendar. We like starting with a clean slate; at least I do. New year ... new hopes ... new ideas ... new plans of attack on how to hopefully accomplish them.

We all have our share of challenges, anxieties, pressures, and responsibilities. Many of us will probably look back at 2019 and think, 'Wow! How did I get through that?' But guess what? If you're reading this, then you did. Don't be so surprised; you're stronger than you give yourself credit for. I know that 2019 was pretty rough for a lot of people; illnesses, finances, relationships ... you name it and I probably know someone who's been dealing with it (or for that fact, still is).

The thing is is that the challenges and the pressures won't always change or go away or even get temporarily resolved, but HOW we choose to deal with them can. We can decide to not let 'it' consume us, whatever IT is. We have the choice to make a change or take a different approach. We get to start fresh if we want to. Every month or every day if necessary.

Who doesn't like the occasional fresh start?

• a new house
• a new job
• an improved body or mindset
• a new haircut
• a new hobby
• a new challenge
• a new goal

Pick the one that speaks to you and choose to start fresh. Start small and test the waters or be bold and jump in with both feet and arms flailing. What have you got to lose? Absolutely nothing.

How am I starting fresh this year? I'm trying to be more diligent with my blogging. I hope somewhere, someday someone reads one of my posts and is impacted and shares it or shares a positive comment. But if they don't that's okay too. I'm blogging for myself and some days that's more than enough. It's my voice, my thoughts, and I can actually hear myself think as I type. That's worth it in itself.

What does your fresh start look like?

Re-envisioning Your Goals

We all have hopes and dreams; things we've thought about maybe since we were little kids ... getting married, becoming a doctor or an astronaut or an artist or a musician. But how many of us have seen those goals become realities? Some accomplishments are easier to achieve; others require a lengthy journey. When the process takes longer we sometimes need to remind ourselves over and over exactly what we are working towards. Our reasons for wanting to accomplish a certain goal will probably evolve over time and that's okay. The want or need may still be in our heart, but the desire and importance will change as we grow and reset our priorities. When we finally achieve our goal it will be all the sweeter.

Are you still working toward winning the marathon or having your photos displayed in a gallery? Are you still dreaming of finding the 'one' that makes you feel whole? Are you painstakingly working toward getting your own place or establishing your business? Do you continue to strive to raise a family? Do you still desire to write or paint or sing, reaching total strangers with your talents?

Don't give up. Goals don't have deadlines or expiration dates (unless we put them there). If you hope to lose weight before you turn a certain age, that's a good start ... but don't give up if you are 3# short. Re-envision your goal, celebrate what you have accomplished so far and set a new goal. Keep pushing forward. Keep being creative; finding new ways to get there. Hold on to the hopes and dreams you have on your heart. They belong to you and no one can take them away from you.

Life will surely throw us curve balls and try to steer us off course, but it's up to us alone to get back on the horse or the bicycle or the track (whatever works for you). So what if our goals get temporarily postponed? The important thing is to NOT give up on them. Sure, we can make excuses and convince ourselves 'it's just not the right time' or 'some day I will make it happen'. But we can also tell ourselves 'maybe today is the day I take the big step' 'maybe today is the day I have faith in myself and make it happen'.

What is the goal you won't let go of?

What is holding you back from completing it?

What are your responsibilites?

What are your responsibilities? Are you a spouse? A son or daughter? A parent? An employee? A Christian? A survivor? Depending on the question, your answer will probably be different.

As a parent you have the responsibility to feed, cloth and provide shelter for your children. You should love, protect, and encourage them.

If you’re blessed in today’s society to be employed then you have the responsibility of giving your job 100%, showing up on time, having a positive attitude and being productive.

If you’re a Christian you should be living in the Word and sharing your faith through your voice and your actions.

And if you’re a survivor, you should be celebrating! You may be a survivor of an addiction, of an abusive relationship, or a deadly disease. Like anyone you have a right to share your triumphs and your roadblocks, but as a survivor you have a responsibility to share your hope. Not everyone is blessed with a support system when going through something tough. Whatever your situation has been, whatever obstacle you’ve been fortunate enough to overcome I would ask that you share your inner strength with someone who needs it. They could be a family member, someone at your school or church, the cashier at the grocery store, or the neighbor down the street you never stop to talk to but only wave at when driving by. Everyone needs someone. I urge you to be there for just one person today. Then start again fresh tomorrow. Let’s make 2012 an awesome year.

Be a People Builder

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up ..."


~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Summer is nearly over ... the new school year will be starting soon ... the kids' backpacks are ready ... but the grass is still green and flowers are still blooming in brilliant shades of red, yellow and purple ... we look around and see that things are still growing. Relationships can be looked at with the same perspective. They are something that needs nurturing. There needs to be support just the same as a plant needs to be watered or the grass needs to be cut in order for them to not only look their best, but be the best they can be.

God designed us to be in relationships with other people and I think He would want us to help each other grow. Not one of us can reach our highest potential by ourselves. We all need people in our lives that can encourage us, just as we have a responsibility to encourage others and help them to reach their potential. The word “encourage” translates to “give courage, hope, or confidence to; embolden; hearten; to give support to; inspirit”.

I’ve heard it said many times that we see in other people what they can’t see in themselves. We are able to be objective and see their strengths and their talents, as well as their weaknesses and barriers. We often see that God has a very definite plan for them using the gifts and specific talents He gave them. Yet sometimes because of difficult situations and lack of support, some people don’t see that same picture. Never assume that they see or believe the same things about themselves that you do. Take a moment and encourage someone today. It could be with a nice word on the phone, a hand-written note, or even a pat on the back the next time you see them. It might be something as simple as cutting out an article from a magazine and passing it along, but it might be just the thing that reminds them of a hope or a dream they had lost sight of.

It’s way too easy for any of us to give up on a goal. An important part of achieving one’s goals, hopes and dreams is attitude. I once received the following quote in a card from an acquaintance I have in South Carolina. I believe it’s worth sharing. “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than success, than what other people think, say or do. It is more important than appearance, gift or skill. … The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past … The only thing we can do is play on the string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you … we are in charge of our attitudes.” ~ Charles Swindoll

Take the time today to encourage the people in your life to not give up, to know the importance of a healthy and positive attitude and to keep moving forward. Let them know that the faith you have in them is unlimited and unconditional. Be a people builder and support them in their hopes and dreams, perhaps enabling them to reach their potential and be who God intended for them to be.

While you're at it think about the goals and dreams you have (or had) for yourself. Give yourself permission to try doing something again that you always loved doing, but maybe forgot about or gave up on. What do you still dream about doing with your life? Because you'll wake up tomorrow means that there is still time to try again. Think about it.