As the Christmas holiday quickly approaches, amidst the chaos and all the noise, I try to take a moment to reflect on the life I have lived in the past and the life I want to live in the future.

We all have made mistakes and we all have had great moments in our lives. I am grateful for the people who make up my life in any small or grand way, and I am thankful for the opportunities that have been extended to me with my education and in my career. I love the people closest to me who know my true heart and who understand the intricate details of how my mind works.

I have never rested on my laurels because there is always another mountain to climb or a challenge to surpass. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t feel compelled to look forward to the future. I don’t like sitting still, watching life pass me by, as others make things happen because I want to be part of that whirlwind that is living.

As I enter a new decade of my life in 2010, I hope to make time to challenge myself to do the things I said I always wanted to do. And since I seem to compartmentalize the years of my life into phases, this next phase is about growing in a different direction, exercising my creativity, and doing the things I have always been afraid to do.

• I have always wanted to be a writer, so I started writing again. I want to continue crafting my writing skills
• I would like to live a healthier life, so I can have the opportunity to lengthen my existence and enjoy the things that healthy people enjoy, such as traveling and exercising
• I have always wanted to take a cooking class or a few to increase my culinary repertoire and become familiar with new and exciting ingredients
• I want to save more money. There comes a time when we know we have everything, so why do we keep buying more stuff?
• I want to soak in the simple things and try not to stress too much over things that don’t really matter
• I want to be good to those around me and appreciate the impact they have had in my life
• I want to put myself first. This one is a hard one. I don’t really ever do that, I take care of everyone else, but I have a hard time taking care of myself

So, hopefully, 2010 is about accomplishing those goals. I always feel hopeful about new years because I get a sense of starting anew with a blank slate and I don’t know what it is about new decades that make the possibilities for change even more endless. I don’t want to become irrelevant or obsolete, I want the years I have lived to matter and to be my solid foundation for what comes next.

It’s healthy to get nostalgic, to learn from the past to help us move forward, and it is great to have this sounding board to pour my thoughts into. I hope we can all find a quiet moment to soak in the beauty that surrounds us and to reflect about a brighter tomorrow.

~A