A Fresh Start
What is it about January 1st that gives us the freedom to reflect and realign our lives? It was interesting talking to friends, reading Facebook, and even listening to my own thoughts yesterday. There was a great deal of reflection: what went well last year, what was challenging, what did I learn? I also witnessed a lot of dreaming and vision for the new year: setting goals for who I want to become and what I want to accomplish.
Honestly, I felt it too. I woke up at 5 a.m. with an excitement and sat on my front porch early yesterday morning as I smoked a pork shoulder in my new smoker. I experienced a freshness and the peace that comes from finishing a chapter and the excitement of what is ahead in the next - both for the things I am looking forward to and the challenges that I know I will get to face.
There is something fascinating about the New Year that I hope you take the time to appreciate. If you haven’t yet, invest 30 minutes today, maybe with a piece of paper or with a friend, however you like to process thoughts.
Take the time to think through 2019.
What were the highlights for you?
What challenges did you face?
What did you learn?
Looking ahead to 2020, we enter into a new year and a new decade. I want to encourage you to think about a few things.
You+10
First, what do you hope You+10 looks like? Let me say it another way. Picture yourself 10 years older than you are today. Get past the number as quick as you can, and just dream about who you will be. What do you hope will be true? Think about your relationships with your spouse, kids, family and friendships. What about your career? What do you want to be doing or have experienced? Go through the same thought process with your faith, finances, health, etc. - whatever is important to you.
For me, thinking about Nick+10 yesterday, I had a mental picture of my life that created a mix of emotions. I will turn 43 that year. Miss Val and I will have been married for 21 years. My oldest son will be graduating high school, I will have two teenage daughters (this is the point when I got emotional, haha!), and our baby will be in the 6th grade. I pictured myself holding a 20 year anniversary wooden plaque from Simmons. I saw a man who still enjoyed farming and taking care of the land and cattle that God blesses me with. I envisioned continuing to make good music with some great friends and bringing joy to anyone who listens. I pictured a healthy man who continued to grow and take care of himself spiritually, physically, mentaly and emotionally.
Once you have clarity of the vision of where you want to end up, then you are able to begin to look at what it will take to get there. I think we often get ahead of ourselves this time of year writing out New Year’s resolutions. We set goals, but we havent really identified what our desired future is that we are aiming for.
Goals Must Start with Why
I love goals that have a clear “Why?” Two years ago, Dr. Johnson at the Simmons Clinic told me I was on the edge of being pre-diabetic and needed to lose some weight. I set a goal to lose 25 pounds and went hard after it for a few weeks and lost steam. A few months later, I was reading a great book by Simon Sinek, Start With Why, and it transformed how I think about a lot of things - including goal setting.
I had to ask myself, “Why do I want to lose weight?” Well, I want to not be pre-diabetic. Why? I want to be healthy and enjoy a long life. Why? Because I want to be able to get down on the floor one day and play with my grandkids. Bingo.
I’ve lost 40 pounds in the last two years because I have clarity of my why. I can visually picture myself on the floor, wrestling and tickling my grandkids - AND able to get back up off the floor! That one picture has motivated me to eat better and find ways to exercise (mostly fixing fence and weed eating!).
The Obstacle is the Path
Don’t be discouraged if you set a dream or vision, and challenges come your way. Which is worse? Setting a vision and facing obstacles along the way, or, never chasing after dreams and getting to the end of your life having simply drifted. You are going to face setbacks. Plan on it. Set your mind and heart on the reality that in this life you will face challenges to acheiving your goals and even the calling that God places on your heart. Don’t be discouraged when they come, but expect them and deal with them prayerfully with courage and humility. Build trusting relationships with people so that when you hit an obstacle, they will walk with you and remind you who you are and who you are becoming.
What are You Dreaming About?
One vision for Nick+10 that came to mind yesterday on my front porch was that I want to be someone who God would use to help people see themselves the way He sees them. To be someone who comes alongside others and helps them to pick the lock to their potential, their dreams, and even the dreams that God has for their lives.
It’s amazing how quickly God gives you opportunities to live out these visions when they point people to Him. I was at Walmart yesterday morning checking out when I met Donna. She was behind the register and said, “Happy New Year!” I responded, “Donna, what are you dreaming about for this next year?”
It wasn’t awkward like you would think. It was an immediate change in her countenance as she looked up and smiled and said, “I am working hard so that I can retire in June and enjoy camping and fishing with my husband. We’ve worked so hard and I just picture us sitting on the bank with our bobbers bouncing and holding hands watching the sunset over the lake.”
I don’t know about you, but I don’t have many connections like that, especially at Walmart. But I promise you that I am going to ask more people that same question, because everything changed when she remembered why she was bagging those groceries.
What are you dreaming about? What are you going to do in this next year, in this next decade, that will help you get closer to that dream becoming reality? If you are an external processor and would like to talk to someone about this, I would love to connect with you.
Happy New Day
One final thought for today. The freshness and renewal that we feel when we hit New Years Day, is not something that God desires for us to have only on January 1st. His desire is that you would actually experience this every day. Here’s what God’s Word says in Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT):
“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.”
I want to challenge you to accept each day as a gift. Live every day of 2020 with purpose. On those days that you fall short, drop the ball, and even fall into sin - you have a gracious God who loves you. He has a hope and a future for you. You can find forgiveness and peace in Him. Learn everything you can from the valleys. They can often be our greatest teacher. And in those days where your dreams become a reality, or you get a glimpse of God’s hand at work in your life - be thankful. You have a gracious God loves you.
Today is a gift. You have never lived it before and you will never get the chance to live it again. Make the most of it. Blessings to you today friend. May you experience everything God wants to give you, grow in you, and accomplish through you in 2020.
SIDE NOTE: The pulled pork turned out amazing if you were wondering. If you ever want to join me on my front porch one morning, you are always welcome.