Inspiration comes in many ways. Some would ask why are you looking for inspiration? Why can’t you just live? Do you really need a list? The
short answer is yes, I need a list and if I want to live my best life, I need to
be inspired.
Let’s face it January is when
we get serious about resolutions. We clean up our act or at least make a list
of desires for a good outcome this year. I think it’s safe to say most people
don’t stick to their resolutions. That doesn't stop people from
declaring a plan for the upcoming year.
It is popular to find a word or a phrase of the year. I like
this idea, something that can guide you or pull you back on course as you get
further away from your goals or from what you want your life to look like.
I typically feel compelled to come up
with some ideas at the beginning of the year that I intend to follow. A
guideline to a successful year, or my intentions. I may just be trying to avoid the term resolution. This year I will choose joyful, that may have been last
years word, but then again the word might have been focus, we all know how that went.
I love the word joy and joyful feels like it is doable. If allowed a secondary
word, I am going with determined. I am determined to be joyful.
I follow many podcasts, one of my favorites is Happier with
Gretchen Rubin. You may be familiar with her Four Tendencies or the Happiness
project. The Happier podcast with her sister includes a yearly plan of intentions, 18 for 18, 19 for 19, etc. I like the different ideas they come up with all intended to make them happier throughout the year. They review them at the end of the year,
honestly reporting how they did with their list.
I find that when I try to live with intention, I do the
things that I really want to do, the things I maybe should be doing (cleaning
out the storage room) get left behind. There is joy in a neat and organized
storage room, but the task seems daunting. I have two options, two days of taking
everything out, throwing, giving away and reorganizing the things I need to
keep. Or muddle through another year of trying to get organized. I have not
decided on which method will fall into my joyful year but organizing the
storage room is back on my list.
The entire 20 for 20 list is set. There are some lofty intentions, but I am ready for the challenge. I am sure there are a few
things that will remain on the list undone. That’s fine, it doesn’t have to be
100%. I will give it my best effort.
I hope to find joy by sticking to my plan. The clean closet,
the writing I will get done. The simple pleasures are just what make up the
moments of life. At the end of 2020, I
hope I can reflect back and be pleased with my progress. Excited about living
for the day, using the list as a guideline but removing the stress of feeling
like things are not completed. I am ready to dive in for a joyful year. January
will be the reset. Let’s do this. Happy 2020!
For more on the 20 for 20 listen to the Podcast
Unpredictable, you can find it on ITunes, Stitcher and SoundCloud.
