Gratitude is All You've Got (Twothousand15)

2015 is going to be the biggest year of my life. I'm graduating from college, hopefully finding my first job, starting my life as a real adult, and hopefully transforming my body. I don't want to put undue pressure on myself by using the word "resolution", but this year I'm aiming for four things. This is my vision for the year, you could say:

-To intentionally practice gratitude everyday. I have a couple ideas on how I'll do this, but I'll share them later.

-To be nice to myself. Not be so hard. Stop trying to keep score and hold things against myself or other people. Because no one who matters is keeping count. Life is not about comparisons and it certainly is not a competition.

-To not be ashamed of what I don't yet know or what it seems that I can't yet do. Making mistakes is progress and a step toward all that's good! And disappointment's not the end of the world! It's okay to not have all the answers, to have feelings, to come up short. You can't be prepared for absolutely everything that comes your way; you can't life-proof yourself. It's okay to be afraid, but whatever it is, just do it anyway.

-To not be so apprehensive of people and how they might treat me or respond to me. Interact with them enthusiastically and on purpose. Love them, share with them. Reach out and be the initiator sometimes, not ways the loner or the flake. Be willing to believe the notion that people are good, and that there might actually be people out there who like you a lot. Conversely, everyone doesn't have to like you for you to shine your light and treat them with warmth.

The title of this post is my theme for this year: "Gratitude is All You've Got." Additionally, below is the verse that I'm choosing to etch into my heart this year:

"Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to all people" -Zechariah 10: 1 (NIV)

This verse means two things to me. 1) Though I might try, I cannot make it in this world relying solely on myself, which means I have to ASK for what I need and want. I have to communicate. The answer may not always be "yes", but I'll never know if I don't say anything. 2) There is room at the table for everyone, including me. Somewhere out there, there is a place in this world for me. All the good seats in life have not already been taken.

Here's to wishing you all a phenomenal year, and not waiting for life to happen out of fear and doubt.  2-0-1-5.  Wow. We're living in that far-away Future that so many people before us only dreamed about. So let's do our best together!  Be Happy and God Bless.

Love,

Deela