In the past, I take this time to reflect upon where I've
been and where I want to go. When I was younger,
I used to write down a list of goals for the future. To prove this point, I selected a journal
from my box of journals to see if I could find any New Year resolutions, goals
or lists. The first journal I picked up included
an entry from January 4, 2007 which concluded with a rudimentary handwritten
chart:
2007
More
|
Less
|
Writing & Reading
|
TV
|
Healthy Behaviors
|
Fear
|
Understanding
|
Anger
|
Compassion
|
Sugar, Fried Foods
|
Financial Stability
|
Bullshit (internal & external)
|
Family Time
|
|
Meaningful Relationships
|
|
Fearless Living
|
Having lists to help us reach our goals can be helpful but
we gotta keep these lists in check. Keep
lists in their place. There have been
times when my life felt like a series of lists that I kept constructing and
destructing. It feels good to cross things off of a long list. Of course, I would then create a new
one. It is a way to move oneself
around in the world and to feel deeply accomplished or like a friggin failure…all
because of a stupid list. Truly that’s a
recipe for mania.
Man cannot live by lists alone.
As I said before, we just gotta keep lists in their
place. Lists are very helpful when I’m
at work and have too much to do. I need
a little list to write down things that need to get done that day or within a
short period of time. Lists are also
good for the grocery store. Without a
good list, I could end up with almost anything.
I've been collecting books by my numero uno main squeeze author
James Baldwin. I put the list of 5 books
I currently own in the notes section of my phone. Last week, I wandered into Second Story Books
in Dupont Circle (Washington, DC) and found a Baldwin book. I was so excited and headed to the cashier. I remembered my list and was shocked it was
already on there. I couldn't believe
that I had forgotten that I had this book when I just put this list in my phone
less than a week ago. So lists are also good
for people like me who are a bit loopy.
Our lists are often based on our goals - but we also have to
keep our goals in check. Goals will
change based on our needs, wants and state of mind. Sometimes they are valid and sometimes they're not. I may have a goal that is based on a need. Here’s an example that many can relate to. There was a time when I had marriage on my
list of goals. Now, I desire meaningful
relationships. I figure that if marriage
is really that important for my journey then all of the cosmic forces, Jesus,
Buddha, Allah and everyone else will come together and make it happen. I see no reason to expend my creative,
spiritual, emotional and intelligent energy on trying to make something like that happen. Fortunately, I live in a day and time where I
have enough freedom and opportunities to do what I want without being legally hitched
to someone. I don’t need to be
married. However, I don’t think I could
make it without the support of friends and family. I need meaningful relationships. Developing meaningful relationships has become
a guiding principle for my life.
So what does all of this mean for the new year? It’s
ok to have a list or two of things to accomplish to help you organize your life
but they can’t be your life. Try to
have guiding principles by which to live your life and then put them in
practice. These can be simple things
like to be more loving, compassionate or creative. If you miss the mark you can just try again. That’s the hope that comes with a new year.
Wishing you peace, blessings and all good things- Karen
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