Out of common courtesy and to remain multiculturally respectful to my friends and family I would like to wish a Happy and Safe Holidays to everyone that is reading this Christmas edition post. As you take a break from the hopefully festive festivities I would like to give my two cents on why this particular holiday should not be the first time you reflect and appreciate your good tidings, but also why we all should be rushing to get our Old Years resolutions in order to make this upcoming year better than the last.
No matter what your religious or personal belief system, I think we all can agree reflecting on our lives is a valued practice that can allow us to celebrate our past accomplishments of the year and correct course on journeys and practices heading ourselves in the wrong direction. This article is not here to serve as a guide towards judging yourself on what you have done right and wrong in the past, or what corrections you should make in your future. If you are looking for that guidebook please look towards the book of your faith or the elder with whom you seek wisdom. Experiences are something that cannot be taught and therefore must be lived in order to grow from its fruitful lessons.
Anecdotal evidence isn't rigorous evidence at all, but it helps us understand a certain perspective or rule so we may integrate or understand how it is applicable into our own lives. That said, I'll share this year’s tale of a friend of mine who had a passport and the finances to travel abroad outside of the North American continent. When I initially spoke with her she planned to go to Costa Rica in the future and sought a partner to join her on this journey. This particular day as we were conversing, she spoke of wanting to travel abroad again, but stated her futile pursuit of a partner had left her journey-less and in the same rut she began. At this moment, without scrutiny I offered her the option of having a travel partner and a trip that would most likely be a memorable one.
Without hammering on the details and gossipy aspects of this story I would only like to state that this conversation happened 3 weeks prior to our trip in June/July and now the aforementioned lonely passport (virgin to all foreign immigration officers’ inquisitions) has now had the pleasure of entering 8 countries so far this year. The old saying is “do something today instead of putting it off for tomorrow”, but our silly minds that have seen the sun rise day after day constantly believe tomorrow is a better and possibly brighter day to take on some of these tasks in our lives. This blog was born of the idea that instead of making resolutions for some far off tomorrow that may exist, why not build urgency into the things that we deem important enough to be contemplated and enthusiastic about? As the year is ending and a new one approaches, why won't we take the time to think of the rights and wrongs of the years and enact policy changes in our old lives before the new year begins?
When opportunity presents itself, we must leap from our seated and stagnant positions to acquire what may lead to a bountiful future. There will be failures and there will be triumphs, but once again there will be another holiday season, birthday, life changing event, birth, death, wedding, illness or personal conflict in which we will have the opportunity to once again reflect on all that has happened and reset our course to hopefully a more promising one.
There are only 6 days left in 2013 for all of us to change something to better our lives, to lead us to a place where we deem happiness to exist, to revel in our old accomplishments and do what we must to make tomorrow a better and easier day. But in all of this, don't ever forget that when a friend or family member is looking and searching and you know the way, to simply extend a hand and help them move forward in their dreams and goals. Though anecdotal, I can honestly say making someone else's dreams come true and supporting a friend was one of my biggest 2013 accomplishments and hopefully before the year is out, I can conquer this dream of reminding everyone out there to help others as they help themselves.
Till then.
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