Resolutions

One good thing about being Catholic . . . or retired Catholic, in my case . . . is the opportunity every year to have a "do over" in regard to New Years' resolutions.  Observing the Forty Days of Lent, a religious-yet-secular right of spring I refuse to forego, gives Catholics of all stripes a chance to regroup and recommit to those January 1st promises and challenges.  Until then, I have created, like millions around the country and aroud the world, "The List."

 

Some folks hate resolutions.  Some, like my father, even make a resolution not to make resolutions!  Though I have some gargantuan goals and challenging challenges, my list this year is short and sweet.  I resolve to live my life with these three things in mind: abundance, authenticity, and fulfillment.

 

Abundance:  For many of us, last year was a bear.  And I mean that in the metaphorical sense and the stock market sense.  Though the market began the new year with a bang last Friday, many of us still are feeling a bit slapped around after losses on multiple financial fronts: home, job, retirement accounts, investments.  I think I’ve worn out the minus button on my calculator!  While it is important to remain constantly connected to all things related to personal finances, money is but one small aspect of abundance.  Abundance includes physical health, intellectual growth, and connection with friends and family.

 

Authenticity:  Last year made many of us look at what is truly important in our lives.  This year I have drawn a line, and on one side of that line is all that is important to me.  I have labeled this side of the line “Truth.”  And on the other side of the line is all that is meaningless to me or that which is detrimental to my abundance.  I have labeled this side of the line “Crap.”  Living an authentic life means spending time on those things important in my life: reading, hiking, writing, teaching, expanding my business ideas, spending time with family and friends, and doing those things that increase my abundance.  Things that made the “Crap” list include: watching television, drinking, worrying, and going out to eat excessively.  I believe that living an authentic life means spending a lot of time around a dinner table.

 

Fulfillment:  We are all busy, so most reading this can relate, but I have a lot of balls in the air, and, as such, I have a lot of loose ends that need to be wrapped up, and, well, fulfilled.  Fulfillment means, literally and figuratively, finishing and completing.  I’m one of those guys who always has five books around the house, with bookmarks one-third of the way through. Can you relate? This year, I am fulfilling the many promises I’ve made . . . mostly to myself . . . and getting rid of the bookmarks.  Though I’m not a Bible thumper, and I really don’t like to quote Scripture for fear of sounding preachy, one of my favorite passages is 2 Timothy 4:7:  “I have fought the good fight.  I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.”  In the next twelve months, Timothy and I are going to finish a few races.

 

This year, I resolve to live an abundant, authentic, and fulfililling life.  Care to join me?

 

Comments

[Jim Mc Mahon]

Joel, great post-one of your best. One of the better adjectives to describe it would be--PRAGMATIC- That is one of the reasons that I like rent so well-I quit eating so much so often/ I need " A Lent" 365 days a year.

Good work Joel, real keeper.

Dad

[The Hiker]

Thank you, Ms. Schmid. Glad it resonated with you. Have a great '09!

[Laura Schmid]

What an inspiring post! I resonated with this immensely. I have been thinking along these lines for the new year - really watching where I spend my energy, to put focus on things that lead to feeling fulfilled. You put it incredibly eloquently and succinctly (as always)!! Bravo!