New Year Potential
Welcome 2016!
I am glad you are here. Of course, I don't know what you'll be bringing, but I suspect it will be a mix of highs and lows, good and bad, stop and go.
That's O.K. Variety seems to be your job.
2016 you are vast and unknown, but you'll come to the world slowly, one minute at a time. That, I can handle.
Still, I want to keep my vision focused and view every day you offer through the lens of potential. I want to make intentional decisions about how I spend the year, so I have to have a plan. Fortunately my strategy unfolds neatly around the idea of potential.
P - Pay Attention
Phone down. Eyes up.
I know you have moments in store which I don't want to miss. I'm going to show up and pay attention.
O - Keep Open Hands
I don't own things, money, time, I just use them for a little bit.
I know you'll bring me lots of opportunities to be generous if I keep my hands open.
T- Talk
Of course I love to talk, but do I use my words well?
I want my words to speak encouragement to others...always. Even in challenging conversations, I want to speak life-giving words and listen even more intently than I speak.
E - Experiences
This year I'll choose experiences over stuff . I will give a wide berth to shopping and stay off the wide road of consumerism.
N - New
Give me the chance to explore and do something new and I'll say yes. Does it make me uncomfortable? Then YES in all caps. Shonda did it and she's an introvert. How hard can it be for my extroverted self?
T - Teach
When I learn, I will teach. There's no point in hoarding information, so I'll mentor others and spread the nuggets of wisdom which come my way.
I - Intentionality
2016 you aren't sneaking into my life, so I have no intention of letting you surprise me. I know you want to run the show, but that's not happening to me. I refuse to pick up my feet and float down stream. Instead, I will own my decisions and refuse the path of passivity.
A - Attitude Check
I get to decide how to respond to whatever is on tap this year. 2016 is the year of no complaints. (And yes, I realize it's an election year.) Challenges are opportunities to learn things like humility, service, and how to love people with whom you disagree.
L - Love
Speaking of love... 2016 isn't going to be amazing because of what I can take, but how well I can love. Above all, I will ask the question, "What does love require of me?"
2016 is P.O.T.E.N.T.I.A.L.
Plain and simple, but not easy.
Still, that's the plan and I can't wait.
Happy New Year!!