Happy 2015!

Happy 2015!

It’s a brand new year and many of us view it as an opportunity to set new goals, strive for new achievements, and to find redemption and renewal. There are so many different ways a new year can bring hope, and yet, sometimes we start off setting the bar so high, we can never realistically hope to achieve our goals. I happen to be one of those people who set the bar so high I can never find a ladder tall enough to reach the dang bar in the first place! So here are some of my resolutions for this year. If I am actually learning from my past mistakes, these will make meeting my goals fun and exciting this year, and if I haven’t learned anything, then the first blog post for next January ought to be a real hoot!

Resolution 1: don’t take it personally

Every week, I am left feeling hurt by encounters with people. There are opinions and comments that, although not directed at me personally, leave me feeling as though I have been personally attacked by people. For example, last night someone told me they never saw the point of reading a book. For them it was a waste of time that could be used to actually accomplish something, and I was devastated. The person actually said they didn’t mean to put me down, but for them to imply that I was among those who “waste” their lives in pages of books left me feeling angry, hurt, and not just a little betrayed. This person meant no personal implications, but I couldn’t help but find them, and I know this will not be the last time, but I resolve to remind myself to step back before I take personal offense to something and to determine if a comment is meant as a personal jab, or just a general opinion.

Resolution 2: try to forgive

This year I realized there are many things I’ve told myself I have forgiven people for, but when I really sat down and thought about it, I haven’t. Once someone has hurt you it is very difficult to trust that person again, and in the cases where multiple hurt has been inflicted by one person, there are very strong walls, and a very deeply rooted mistrust. I am not sure what this journey will look like for me, but this year I resolve to begin forgiving. This does not mean I will accept mistreatment, this does not mean I will trust certain people, nor will I allow them to return to my life, this only means, I am choosing not to punish myself by holding on to the hurt. I will love myself enough to learn how to forgive, and I will grow stronger for it.

I’m going to stop my list here for now. Knowing myself, new resolutions will spring up as I progress through these two and I can’t wait to share this year with you! Thank you faithful readers, I truly appreciate your dedication to my blog and I look forward to writing more for you this year!