It’s time for the obligatory “reflectingonthepastyearandmakingplansisweari’llkeepfornextyear” blog post…. :). In true “me” fashion, this will be a bit rambling and not all done in one shot, enjoy!
In late 2016 I decided I would embark on a “year of yes” .
As 2017 wraps up, it has been just over a year of consciously being open to new experiences and opportunities that came my way. A year of pausing before replying with the almost automatic “no” and replacing it with a “yes”, most of the time. It was good. I got out of my comfort zone more than a few times and stepped into my fears – and got through them.
It has been so good in fact that when the year was done, I made the choice to keep the sentiment going and really embrace this concept of saying yes. So there I was, patting myself on the back for having done such a good job of being so open and willing to say yes. Good job Lola.
So why then, do I feel like something still isn’t quite right?
Then it hits me.
Well, it doesn’t so much as hit me as it slowly sinks in as I sit reading a book about bucket lists. A book about 4 young men (from my home town even!) who sat down and made lists – and started making it happen (still are actually.. check them out here )
Being open and saying yes is all good, but it’s still passive. I may have been actively saying yes, but it’s actually being REactive. It’s passive.So while it was a great place for me to start – it’s not where I need or want to be.
It’s not enough to say yes to what comes my way…that’s only half the glass, so to speak. I need to find out and pursue – make happen even– those things that I want. Waiting for something to drop in my lap is a wonderful way to still have nearly zero responsibility for my own happiness.
Did I accomplish and experience some amazing things this past year that I would have not done had it not been my “year of yes”? Absolutely!
Am I reflecting over the past year and thinking of the things that I wanted to experience that I didn’t? Absolutely.
Why didn’t I experience them? Because I didn’t make it happen… because I didn’t speak up and get off my ass and create the opportunity.
Something that I wanted or needed didn’t come to me and I when I should have gone and went to IT, I didn’t.
And that’s not good enough.
So 2018 will be a year lived differently. Proactive and in pursuit of those things that I want – and need – for my happiness. With a healthy dose of unrealistic dreaming, just for fun. After all, what good is stretching outside of your boundaries if it’s not at least a bit challenging 😉
to be continued….
whisky sweet 
One comment