Let’s be honest, last year, 2020, was not the best year that we collectively enjoyed very much. Actually, it was extremely trying and right down scary. From the very top of the ladder to the very bottom, it was chaos. Fortunately, most of us survived it. Unfortunately, there were many that did not. So the question bears asking, How will I walk in this new year? Will I be slumped over in despair or will I be trying to keep my head up and see the good in anything? I want to encourage you on this 6th day of February 2021 – lift up your head and see that there is still good to relish. So sit back, have your favorite hot beverage near and let these suggestions take hold in your mind and heart.
First and foremost, it starts with you. It’s time to rid yourself of anger, fear, despair in spite of your circumstances. I am not blind to some of the tragedy that is reality, but even in the worst situation – the sun still rises and warms your skin. Today you must choose to consciously push away negativity from your mind. Every thought that pops into your mind – you have a choice on how you will respond. Seriously, it’s up to you. There isn’t a single person on earth that can capture your thoughts and remove them from your mind. That’s your job.
Once you get that far and trust me that is no small feat, it’s time for some positive thoughts. We live in such a tech world that we have noise invading our space nearly 24/7. Once again it is your responsibility to filter all those noises. It could be those you in your personal circle. The internet and all it’s trappings, and the list can continue, but you get the point. Give yourself a break. Step away from the noise. There is beauty in silence, but only for a while. Take in a beautiful sunrise. Walk through the crunching snow. Sing in the shower. Read some uplifting words that will feed your soul. Finally, find yourself a word, phrase, or even a song that you can repeat out loud or scream inside your head to bring you back to some sort of peace. This can help you so much when your are in situations that bring in negativity.
Next, pay attention on how you treat others. If you want people to like you, be civil with you, and enjoy being around you, then it will start with how you treat them. We all usually react to others the way they treat to us. Simply, if you walk up to a co-worker and say, “Did you get those copies made? I told you I needed them yesterday. What’s your problem?” Stop! Look at the co-workers face. They are crushed simply by your attitude. All they want to do is throw the papers in your face. You aren’t even sure if they are done or not – you’re just reflecting your anger on them. Now both of you are upset with turmoil boiling inside of you. The rest of the day is totally blown by you, and it will remain that way unless you change it.
Finally, how will you invest your time. There are specific times for everything we do; such as work, sleep, play, and relax. Each one of these things need to be a part of our lives. Yet, many of us tend to focus on the first two and forget the other two. Being a work-a-cholic is so easy to fall slave to, but to be a happy person who invests their time wisely, you will need all four to make life complete. It would serve you well to take inventory of how much time you spend on each aspect and see how you balance out. Believe me, if you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed – you are probably out of balance.
Whether this new year gets any better with all the world chaos, doesn’t mean you can’t have some sort of civility in your own bubble. Follow these few steps and see if things start to look up. They won’t fix everything, but it will certainly give you something to work toward. Remember, you can’t blame others for all of your problems – sometimes the problem is you. So fix it!
LaDonna Fridenmaker~Writer 