The Adventure of Saying Goodbye to 2013 and the Girl in the Red Bug

I truly believe that people and moments are put in our lives at certain times to deliver a message to us. This is the time of year where many of us are assessing the soon-to-be past year and what we hope our new year will become; my moment and message came at Kirklands Home Store, while picking up a picture frame.

The sales associates that were assisting me we’re asking how my Christmas was and if I have any new year’s resolutions. Most normally, I would have had the pat answer of workout regularly, lose weight, etc. etc. But, I have been really thinking about my 2013 and what I want my 2014 to look like; so my response, “To be more participative in my life.” I received a somewhat inquisitive look, I went on to explain (to these complete strangers), that my 2013 wasn’t bad, but that I felt like it was just flatlined. I was not an active participant in my life, but yet just a passenger in the year of 2013.

One of the sales associates shared her own story with me, she had lost her job at one of the larger banks, and through that, she took the time to join a gym, get herself healthy, and made decisions on where to focus her life. And there, friends, was my message, right there in Kirklands, provided to me by a complete stranger. What an absolute gift! Don’t you love it when those moments happen?

I have been pondering 2013 for the last several months. I had high hopes at the beginning of the year, I had solid goals, in which I followed the KISS methodology (Keep It Simple Stupid), so that I could actually accomplish them; but low and behold by February any goals, motivation, joy; pretty much everything went to hell in a hand basket (a phrase I have never fully understood, but seems appropriate when discussing 2013). I watched, as I just sat back and became apathetic to my life; I experienced depression, stress, horrible neck and back pain. This is not to say that I have not experienced these emotions, or physical ailments before in my life, obviously life happens and and we all experience highs and lows, but I found myself less able to shake it off, or to have the ability to kick myself in the butt to move forward. Challenging needless to say; but an opportunity for a lesson, no doubt. I have learned many lessons throughout the year and now it is time to apply those lessons. I hope to share my journey with you throughout 2014 in this blog.

So, no lofty goals, or big resolutions for 2014; just three very simple things to focus on,

• be an ACTIVE participant in my life
• if it (whatever “it” is) doesn’t bring joy to my life, or those around me, REMOVE IT!
• celebrate, uplift, and fully those in my life

I wish each of you joy beyond what you can imagine in 2014. Be active, celebrate, uplift and LOVE!

Until the next time,

The Girl in the Red Bug