2017 went out with a whisper, giving way to the bang of the new year. There is a fire that greets us in the dawn of newness. Brimming with promise and possibilities, the new year fills us with a fervor to begin again. With this comes resolutions. I admittedly have shied away from this concept; noting that often it serves as nothing more than a list of broken promises. It is most evident on the gym floor. The new year brings a chorus of “resolutioners.” With the best intentions they commit to their health and bodies. With shiny new gear and gleaming determination, they brave new routines; stretching their physicality to regions unknown. Until April, that is. The newness fades, the monotonous rhythm settles in and the resolution fades into the wind. A glib outlook I know, but true.
For me this year feels different. I turned forty and feel fabulous. The fire of this new year in particular feels hotter than the rest. I’ve tucked away my reluctance in resolutions for the moment to embrace the idea of change. Change is ever present and unavoidable. In my years I’ve found it more palatable if embraced rather than scorned. It is with this sentiment that I am sharing a few of the objects of my resolve.
With great resolve, I am absolute in my commitment to movement. My body was born to do so and to settle in any other way would be a contradiction of nature. With that I plan to continue on with the normalcy of my six day workout regimen. It simply feels right for me. In this space I hope to be a goodwill ambassador; welcoming and helpful to the new and bewildered. We all deserve to be there in the betterment of ourselves. There will however be a variance in approach. I’ve decided to return to dance. It is like breathing for me; a gift from God. Life and time have managed to place a wedge between the art and my schedule. But never in my heart. I always seem to find a way back to it and now is seemingly a perfect time to rediscover my first love again. I’m hopeful it will welcome me back into the fold and make my heart smile once more.
With great resolve, I am committing to grander acts of self care. Self care for me is inclusive of time alone and that which is void of the responsibilities of doing for others. I’d like to devote a corner of my day to reading more. In many ways the small act will grow me into the writer I hope to become. In the same vein, I long to create daily. A thought to build upon: a recipe to share. I am inherently a creator and am of the hope that my Creator uses me in a way that others may see Him through my inventions and deeds. Some were born to teach while others were born to lead. I was born to create and create I must.
With great resolve I am dedicated to fully embracing forty and all that follows. The year leading up to my birthday Was wrought with bits of unfounded fears and worry. Worry about where I was and where I’m going. Then I started to reflect over the landscape of these forty years and realized something profound. Though my journey has been inclusive of valleys, at every turn I have been showered in His glory. Why would forty be any different? As I studied each chapter, my story has unfolded in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Nothing was as I thought it would be, but better. I have been blessed with not only provision but excess. And while there is still a whisper of trepidation, I have been steadied enough to be still and know that my story is already written. Life before this moment has been a beautiful overture. A magnificent prelude to a more substantial movement to come. As we stand at the dawn of the new I’d like to share my encouragement with you all. Perspective is everything and it is my hope that we all are able to walk into this 2018 with great resolve and an elephantine sized determination to make them so. Happy New Year.
