It’s well into a new year. Outside the rain is pouring down, creating
patters of water flowing down on the windows. It’s nice to be inside.
I was thinking about this year ahead. Last year had many ups and a lot
of challenges, and my constant question was: “where is life?” I don’t think we’re
meant to live without challenges or problems or even crises; but in the midst
of whatever we are going through, I believe there is life to be found. I
believe we were created for more than just surviving the next storm. We were
created to live.
And so as I look at this year
ahead, which promises many challenges and changes and unknowns, I want to start
off knowing what brings me joy and seeking it out even when the storms are
raging.
Joy isn’t the same as happiness. Happiness is a temporary state of
feeling “up”. Joy is so much deeper. Joy can be found at the deepest pit. Joy
isn’t circumstantial... in my opinion anyway.
Wanting to live fully. Wanting to be alive every day and not just wait
to get through to another season when it’ll be “easier”. Wanting today to be a
day that counts.
And so I was thinking about what things give me life. How can I
practically posture my life and my time to be more alive and live more fully?
I know it’s a popular time of year to make New Year resolutions, but I
think I just want to make a list of things I enjoy and resolve to do them more...
and maybe at the end of the year discover that I lived more in 2014 and
consequently loved more from that place. The Bible says to “love others as you love yourself.” How can I take
care of myself and love myself this year? (Not at the expense of loving others,
but to fill me up to love other even more!)
So here’s my list. My list in the pursuit of more life and joy. It might
seem simplistic and it’s definitely incomplete. But maybe, just maybe by
starting simple it’ll launch me into discovering more that can bring life, not
just to me but to others as well.
v
Read more
books (I signed up for a 52 books in a year challenge with Goodreads and am
loving it so far). I love reading and haven’t done it enough recently.
v
Take more
moments to savour sitting down with a cup of Earl Grey and do only that.
v
Pay attention
when I am walking outside and notice my surroundings but also the people I pass
by.
v
Cook more
and enjoy the process.
v
Say “no”
to more things and not get caught up in other people’s urgencies.
v
Take the “not
important and not urgent” items off my to-do list.
v
Choose to
not allow busyness and stress mean the same thing, but walk from a place of
rest when things are busy.
v
Not focus
so much on the mountain of “to-dos” but on the one thing I am doing, and seek
to make it enjoyable.
v
Keep my
schedule less packed and have time for the unexpected.
v
Not worry
so much, but trust that God really is in control. He always is!
v
Always look
on the bright side of life (as good old Monty Python so eloquently put it).
v
Intentionally
encourage someone as often as I can.
v
Be
thankful. It’s funny how when you start being thankful for the mundane things,
your heart and eyes get opened to how incredibly blessed you really are.
v
Complain
less. My mum always said: “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say
it.”
v
Choose to
enjoy exercise (and find ways to make it more enjoyable) because the time spent
taking care of my body ultimately will give me more energy to do other things.
v
Procrastinate
less. Make “why do tomorrow what you can get done today?” my new motto.
v
Spend less
time churning things over and over, and more time talking to God about them and
leaving them with Him.
v
Try new
things.
v
Always
have fresh flowers in my home (wherever that is at that time). Just because
they are so beautiful.
v
Search for
beauty.