A New Year Post

I have a lot of really great friends, and people in my life that I dearly love. Friends, family, strangers I've encountered that have impressed me, and so forth. All of these people are different. Some are loud, some are quiet, some are wise, some are street smart, some are book smart, some are positive, some are negative. Isn't this what spices life? Variety. I have learned though, that there are certain attributes of people I love, and love to be around. The people who find simple beauty in the world around them and in others, are the ones that I admire. The people who constantly find the good, and truly, wholeheartedly cherish life and the great gift that it is, are the people I love to be around. I need my dose of sarcasm and light laughter, but the people that have had the greatest, and longest-lasting influence on me are the people that enjoy life and see the beauty all around, in everyone and everything. This is the person I want to be. 

In 2008, a lot happened, but not a lot happened. Things changed around me, for me, and within me, and I'm happy for the year that I have had. 2008 was a busy year, for both of us, but it was great! 2008 is finished, and 2009 has begun (with serious sickness!) and I still haven't settled on some goals/themes for 2009. Tonight as I've been sitting here thinking about some of the things that have made me crazy this week (and last...), I think I've decided what I want to focus on in 2009. Toward the end of 2008 I've realized (as many have before) that life happens in stages. As much as I'd like to wish this stage of life away, I feel the need and desire to enjoy it, not just endure it. I also have felt that I want to stop and see the beauty all around me, in others, and in the world. Yesterday, I pretty much had a meltdown/breakdown and was near my wits end, yet all it took to turn it around was a simple walk outside. I left work and looked toward the sky. It was beautiful. The clouds were dusted in gold and the Sun's light was streaming through the patterned clouds. It was beautiful. In the middle of a week full of snow, and snow, and more snow, there was one day that reminded me there is golden Sun even in all of the wintry clouds. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE snow! I like to play in the snow, I love the way snow looks, I love how it frosts everything, and bathes the world in a blanket of purity. I just don't like to drive in it. So in my suddenly insignificant unhappiness and dissatisfaction with my day, there was that moment that turned me toward the beauty-even in the clouds. Thus, the second part of my goal/theme of 2009. My goal for 2009 is to Enjoy the beauty in everything and everyone. To me, "enjoy" doesn't allow for "rushing through" anything. To enjoy everything, I want to slow down enough that I am fully aware of all that is going on around me and still find the joy and beauty. I want to be aware of the things that are not fun, and yet find the good in it. I want this for 2009, and if I can do this for a year, I'm hoping it will become me, it will be who I am. My goals are not so much to lose weight, not to always have a spotless house, not to be top in my classes, not to be employee of the month, but to enjoy others, to enjoy life, to enjoy the stages of life I'm in, even if it's a particularly difficult stage of life. I think if I can accomplish that, other parts of life will fall into place. I want that beauty inside and out. I want that joy. So I ask you, help me to find the beauty. Enjoy the beauty with me, and let's have a peaceful, relaxed, and joyful 2009.