Living 2010 with Purpose

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately. How did I get here? Do I like where I am? Why am I so critical of myself? Is it warranted? Am I too hard on myself? What do I really wish I were doing at any given time? If today was my last day on this earth, would I have any regrets?

Deep stuff.

I think it is a combination of several factors… this time of year, for all of the pomp and circumstance that the media and enterprise like to infuse into the holiday season, it can be very depressing. At its very best, it is anti-climatic, don’t you think? All of the hustle-bustle and chaos leading up to one day and then? Well, pack it all away to do it again next year. Christmas never looks or feels like a Norman Rockwell painting, and it brings me much more strife and grief than I should allow.

Coupled by a severe case of PMS and guess what you’ve got? A hormone-imbalanced raving Scrooge! Not a pretty picture, let me tell you. I willingly admit to being a moody basketcase this holiday season but what’s a girl to do? Pop a Midol and grin and bear it, the best that I can and wait for it to pass.

In the meantime, I have been contemplating the Big Picture and asking myself some important questions.

I have thought and thought about it and have decided that I am NOT going to make any New Year’s Resolutions. I will admit, though, that I did keep some of mine from last year. I did eat better, I did learn how to operate my camera, and I kept my closet a lot cleaner than I had the year before. I gave away probably half of my clothes and shoes to charity and I tried harder to be nice… I prayed more, and after seven years, have decided to stop being angry at God. I read several more books than I had the year before and I found a job that is perfect for me and I love it.

I really achieved most everything on my list, well, except those pesky 10 lbs. I plan to tackle those this year, but I am not going to make an official list of silly little goals that come February, I am libel to forget altogether. No, instead, I am just going to try and do the following:

Live simply,
Love fully;
Be gentle to myself;
And kind to others.

Be grateful,
Humble,
and always remember to give thanks.

And more than anything, I want to move through my days in 2010 wide-awake, conscious and aware of everything around me and the miracles and beauty that are at my fingertips. I don’t want to move through any moment of my life as if I’m half-asleep. I will live the year ahead with purpose and awareness, confidence and determination!

What about you?