as an owl

A full page, that's what usually consists of my new year's resolution. January 1st is always a day full of hope and motivation for me, apparently. However, December 31st is always a day full of disappointment. I come to realize everything that I wished to accomplish, but failed. I see what I had planned for my year and I get discouraged. You can't plan out your life. You can't predict the future. Man, that's so frustrating! The control freak in me cringes everything I realize this truth.

Something that I have learned through my little journey this year is, no expectations are the best expectations! Humorously, I've been known to say, "Keep your standards low and you'll always be satisfied." Though in all aspects of life, I do not support this statement, when it comes to the future, the unknown, I can identify with it.

That's why I got excited when I noticed a trend coming into this New Year. It is the fading out of formal "resolutions" and the introduction to a different outlook on the year. While I believe that every day brings new opportunities there is something so satisfying about starting off a new year. Though the past years are not negated, they are used as fuel for knowledge on what to do (or maybe what not to do... ouch). It's the perspective that you can make whatever you want out of the year, and that is something I fully support in every day life. But back to the new trend: one word projections for how you wish to grow during the upcoming year.

This drew my attention immediately for the fact that I adore focusing and devoting a specific part of yourself to growth, but consequently, the incredibly indecisive gene within me began to have a panic attack. How am I supposed to only choose one adjective, quality, or attribute that I so often desire?! Upon careful consideration and mostly sleep deprivation, I thought of everything I wish would come easier for me, everything I strive to be, but may fail often. Among such are kindhearted, grateful, graceful, honest, loving, hopeful, and trustworthy. And I have to choose only one? After mentally reviewing these, I came up with a category that would assist me in better developing these attributes: wisdom.

For if I strive to be wise, I will know HOW to be kind, WHEN to be grateful, WHO to show grace to, and remember to ALWAYS be honest, loving, hopeful, and trustworthy even in difficult situations. A loophole! No, but something that will definitely benefit my outlook and everyday life in the upcoming year. See, this past year was full of, well, less than wise decisions and because of those, my year was, well, less than enjoyable. I fully believe that if I had strived for wisdom and making the most out of my year, it wouldn't have been as terrible.

Do I believe that I will fully achieve wisdom within 365 days? Goodness gracious, absolutely not! Do I wish it still believe it is possible? Of course. However long it takes, no matter the winding roads I face, it is my desire to make the wisest decision.

Through prayer and meditation, through seeking counsel, through remembering my purpose in life, I believe with everything in me, wisdom is possible. Though, no, I do not think I will be the next Buddha (sorry to disappoint), I know that through the proper advances, the life I live can be lived to the fullest.

What would be one word to best describe your potential growth in the next year?

Whatever it is, do not limit yourself, do not dream small, do not play it safe.

It's a good life. Live it well.