New Year’s resolution

A New Outlook Must Follow Leaving Behind

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Photo by M.A.D.

As a new year starts, a time for reflection continues, and new beginnings, new goals emerge. New plans are taken into consideration, and a new array of possibilities. For many of us the start of a new year represents a new slate, an exciting journey. We plan, we dream, we ponder, reconsider, and evaluate. We measure ourselves throughout the year left behind. Sometimes, we chastise our self, and other times, we are very pleased with our performance. It is also a time to reflect and leave behind that which does not fit us anymore – the old self that we have been carrying around for years for whatever reason, sometimes, even unaware of its presence. The shadow that once was but remains in our subconscious.

The old self manifests in old habits that don’t serve us anymore, dislikes that we force ourselves to like because we once did, old hobbies that we do not seem to enjoy anymore but think we do, objects that are meaningless to us but we keep, and even beliefs and frame of thought that does not serve us and that we have outgrown by time and experience but seem to have lingered in our lives and mind. Whatever it may be, material or unmaterial, it is better to leave it behind, and make room for new experiences. Sometimes Old Self is heavy and tiresome, even adding mental and emotional weight and clutter that we certainly do not need if we want to live a good life.

As I have pondered and evaluated over the past few weeks, I have found many things that are just not fit for me anymore, material and not, even just present in my life by habit through the years, but not serving the person I am today.

Your life, your space, your mind, should reflect the person you are, not the one you were or even the one you aspired to be once but are not. Life is ever changing, evolving, and sometimes, it turns out better than what we planned for that Old Self. Other times, we might feel that we have not measured up to our expectations, and regret might set in. When that happens, I am reminded and uplifted by this beautiful scripture. It is not critical, judgmental, or demanding. It is simple, sweet, and full of hope and possibilities.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Mathew 5:16

The Greatest Gift – A Simple Call

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Christmas is just around the corner, the best season of all. Even in darkness Christmas makes everything better. The true and only meaning of Christmas happens to be the greatest gift of all – Jesus Christ the Lord. It is the reason for celebrating Christmas. Many might advocate for a “christless” Christmas but there wouldn’t be a Christmas without Christ. When I think of all the gifts that I have received throughout my entire life, and even the ones that I will receive during my lifetime, there is nothing that would compare or be better than the gift God gave us because of His immense love – salvation through redemption, and that can only be done by believing in Jesus Christ. When you and I believe that Jesus came for you and me to give us the eternal life (and benefits) that was stolen from us in the beginning, our closeness to God, and that He sacrificed his life for you and me, thus paying the price for us, and when we accept that sacrifice in our hearts, with repentance and desire to start anew, that is all it takes to be a part of God’s family again, and be closer to Him once more. God’s love is that huge, but it is also simple. Believe in Jesus Christ, be truly sorry in your heart, and you will be restored. Many might want to make it complicated, full of human pomposity, restrictions and requirements, but God made it straight clear so you and me could come back to Him. Jesus doesn’t equal religion (a most misunderstood concept). There is nothing on this planet I can compare to the love of Jesus Christ, and there will never be anything like it.

So why am I getting all “holy” on this post? Because soon it will be Christmas. So this Christmas, while we celebrate the season with our loved ones, think about this amazing gift, and see if you find space in your heart to accept it. It is a gift exchange between you and Him. It is a simple call.

Many blessings to you and your loved ones. Merry Christmas and a beautiful Holiday season to you all. I will be back blogging next year.

A New Page

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New Year, new page. The arrival of a new year is an exciting time. It signifies a new beginning, a clean slate, a new page, a new opportunity to do the things we could not accomplish the past year; it is a chance to do better. We reflect on the past year and make new goals, new plans. Dream new dreams. Look into the future. A new year is full of new expectations and good wishes. Overall, we welcome a new year with a sense of hope and joy. There is something special about receiving the new year – a sense of renewal. I thought about it the other day, as I looked back at all this year brought into my life, and also, at what it took away. I realized that every single day offers this same opportunity of renewal. When we first open our eyes each day, it is a new slate, the chance of a new beginning, to do better than yesterday. Until next year.

Happy New Day! Happy New Year!

Inkspeare

Photo by M.A.D.

Outlook

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Outlook – A place where something can be viewed. The view seen. A point of view or attitude. Prospect, expectation. – American Heritage Dictionary

As the new year starts, many people have looked back and reviewed the past year, their dreams and goals, where they are now in life, what was, what is, and what will be, and have set new goals, and embraced a new start; it is the tradition. Starting the year with a new outlook is not a bad idea. It renews hope, and refreshes the spirit. The end-of-year rituals prepare us for a new beginning, and new expectations. From our place or point of view, we take in the view – what was, is, will be – and we embrace a new attitude in the new year. So many things to do, to act on, to live, and to observe – 365 days of wonder, of outlook, of being, and of will be, of life.

To live each day like the only day. Many of us have heard this adage. It is beautiful, deep, insightful. However, I ask myself, “how would I live my only day?” To answer this requires outlook – consideration of where I am, what I see, attitude, and even expectation on this “only day.” If it takes an only day to live like that, why not a lifetime? Why not?

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” 2 Peter 3:8

My best wishes to you for 2018.

Countdown – Happy New Year

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English: Bratislava; New Year 2005; FireWorks

Image via Wikipedia

With this poem that I wrote sometime ago I wish you all the best New Year ever.  Cheers and until next year!

Countdown

5-4-3-2-1 …

New Year

Parties and champagne …

The blackboard erased,

A new count starts

For the everyday man.

 

Dreams, plans, and dissertations

Things left to the imagination,

New loves, old loves, memories that are gone.

 

Time anew

The curtain opens

Good days, bad days …

The race starts all over again.

 

365 … what a big number

265 … today I feel somber,

165 … everything’s fine

65 … I don’t even have a dime

25 … Christmas is here

5-4-3-2-1 … parties and champagne,

The New Year is here.

The Candle of Love

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Bundesarchiv Bild 183-S93535, Neujahrsfest

Image via Wikipedia

It is a new year and many of us have many resolutions and goals.  We celebrated the end of 2010 and the spark of receiving a new year brought hope of better things to come and new beginnings.  Once the New Year rolled in, we woke up to find out that the same routine was there.  The question is, “Did it bother you?”  “Did you feel uninspired, disappointed?”

Sometimes we take away the joy ourselves; we let the candle of Love diminish, dim, and we don’t breathe on it to keep it going.  This can be applied to any areas of our lives – work, friendships, marriage …  It is easy to fall into a routine and stop appreciating what we do, what we have … Many times there is nothing wrong with it, but we have stopped blowing the candle to sparkle its fire.

This year I set many goals, but one for sure is to continue blowing on my candle to make it sparkle just enough to appreciate my life under its light.