I have to say this is one year that I will be glad to see coming to an end. Now don’t get me wrong, while I believe every day is a blessing, there are just some times you just feel, o.k., let’s move on. As with most of you at this time, there is a bit of reflection on what was good in 2015 and what was not so good.

If I had to do a divided chart with good things on one side and not so good on the other, I know the good would definitely out do the bad. However, as we say good-bye to one year and look hopefully towards a new one, we do make promises to ourselves to do better.

I say I don’t do New Year resolutions because I guarantee, before the sun goes down on the first day of the new year, I have always broken at least one of them. And then I start to feel bad, thinking I am already failing and then start forgetting to do what I promised myself to do. And I find myself in the same place as I was before my endeavor.

So what I am learning to do is to just say, I will strive to be the best I can be and do the best I can do. No pressure, no punishment, no regret, and certainly no disappointment in myself.

Here are a few ways I will choose to live a good life:

• I am not going to set out to lose those 15 pounds of unwanted weight, but rather I am going to make better food choices and get up and move. For when I set a weight loss goal and fail to meet it, the bottom inevitably drops out and I stop myself in my tracks. Or if I say the word diet, I become like Pavlov’s dog and start salivating at the mere mention of barbecue chips or french fries…..heck, anything fried. But if I make better choices and get up and move a bit more, that cannot help but to propel me forward. And as I go forward, I will continually find ways to make better choices.
• I am moving Social media to the back burner where it belongs. Being retired can sometimes cause isolation, be it self-imposed, or just the reality of being at home. While I love Social media, it has its place and purpose. I am choosing to pick up a good book and leaving my IPad in its place…on the shelf. Intentionally having more face to face contact is my endeavor and I cannot wait to see how this will evolve, whether it be getting out more with friends, volunteering or just setting up more face to face contact time with others around me.
• While I am happy with my connection with God, I know it can continue to grow deeper, as almost any relationship does. I am so grateful to start my day with alone time with the Lord in prayer and to pray conversationally throughout the day. For that is satisfying for me to know He is always there. However, I cannot wait to see the spiritual journey He has in store for me in the next year. You know we don’t always see things coming, but I what I do know, in loving the Lord is, He is always revealing Himself to us. He has a purpose and a plan. And I am absolutely not going to tell Him what I am going to do in serving Him but rather, I am going to listen to the guiding of the Holy Spirit and see where He leads me in obedience, in faith and in worship. I want to be completely in tune with where He orders my steps and be faithful in following him. You know He often asks us to step outside our comfort zones but what He asks is not impossible, for He equips us and guides us. And if we are obedient, we are far better people as a result.
• Finally, I am going to do more things that make me happy. Right now the sky is the limit. Or in other words, I do not have a plan or a list. But rather, if I want to do it, I am going to make it happen. If I don’t want to do something, I am going to feel comfortable saying the word “No”, which I sometimes have a problem with. I am going to say “No” and feel O.K. doing so, without explanation, without apologies, and without guilt. And that I know will be a continuous working project.

So welcome 2016. I am confident the best is yet to be!