2017.
Happy New Year!
Oh my, how quickly the years pass. In the blink of an eye 2017 is upon us and we are faced with the notion that this year MUST be better than the last. Pressure much?
Late last night I found myself focusing on the negative – Shit Sam! It’s nearly the 5th of January and what have you achieved? Apart from some serious Christmas weight gain and an addiction to sweets you just can’t seem to shake. Ha! Focusing on “Goal Setting” and “New Year Resolutions” had sent me into a rather downward spiral.
What do I want to achieve in 2017? what are my short term goals? what are my long term goals? do I even have any goals for 2017? of course I do but the pressure to define my intentions for 2017 within the first week of January was keeping me awake.
Too much emphasis is placed on “New Years Resolutions” and the definition of “Goals”. Our intentions for growth are fluid. They change with circumstance, oppurtunity and drive. Being pushed to define goals and aspirations based on the time of year can have an adverse effect. I made a decision somewhere between 1-2 am that I am going to celebrate what made 2016 such an amazing year. Since our launch on December 14th I have received emails from women expressing their thanks, expressing their desire to connect and be connected. 2016 was humbling and inspiring.
Don’t get me wrong, 2016 had some immense downs; the loss of a much loved family member, starting a publication in the middle of building a house, daft. Some people spend the better parts of January, February and March trying to make-up for the previous years perceived failures, rather than living in the moment and enjoying the now.
It’s rather easy to lose sight of your achievements when society is always asking you to improve or grow, all in the first week of a New Year no less. I implore you, don’t sweat the small stuff. By all means set goals, intentions and plan. Grow, change and evolve. Just don’t subscribe to the notion that it should be done within the first few weeks of January.
Learn from your mistakes, make some more and learn from those too. But please, for the sake of your sanity do not dwell on the negative, I promise if you learnt from the mistakes or “failures” of 2016 you will not carry them with you into 2017.
Peace & Love – Sam