As a new year begins ( 2018...wow! This is like the book "1984" and tv show "Star Trek" all rolled into one), I look back to see what we lived through in the old year. It was a year of ups and downs. Downs in that the president I greatly admired was replaced by someone whom I have no respect for. It was a year of violence and a year when mother nature seemed to be on the warpath with our nation. It was a year in which we lost my husband's sister to cancer which brought about the realization that we were not quite prepared for our own final plans. But with all of that, this was a year of joyful times. Our immediate family made it thru an entire year in good health. My oldest son received his DMA (doctorate) in music which he has spent a number of years working toward. My husband and youngest son went on the Honor Flight in September and it was a memorable experience for both of them.
There were a number of mistakes I made in the past year as well as before that I wish I could change (hindsight is a wonderful thing) but I have found that dwelling on those only causes more inner pain to me and that is something I do not have time for at this stage of my life. In this new year, I am focusing on looking forward and learning from the mistakes in my past. For that is the only way we refrain from repeating them. And as always, I look to my faith to help me.
"Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God's upward calling, in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)
2018 will be my year of Creativity...not only in the artistic sense but in what I can do to bring growth, fun, color and adventure to my small corner of the world. I do not need to try and send my creativity out into the whole world for validation nor compare what I am doing with what others are accomplishing. It is only the value of my creative offerings to me and mine that is worth measuring.
"Some of us will make tiny ripples and others will send waves crashing, but each one will forever change the surface of the water." (Robin Dance on incourage.me)
What will guide you in 2018 in your corner of the world?
