The Year of Living Earnestly: Day 1

Five hundred, twenty five thousand, six hundred minutes…525,000 moments so dear. Five hundred, twenty five thousand, six hundred minutes…How do you measure a year? How about love?

—Rent, Broadway Musical

Monday, December 31, 2018: Today is the last day of the year, and as I reflect upon the year at its end, I set out an intention, a purpose for myself. I intend for 2019 to be The Year of Living Earnestly. Just how I’m going to do that will have to unfold and reveal itself along the way.

The emotional current for most of 2018 has been rather gray. Tom, {The Hubster}, and I have had a difficult year financially, which, of course, bleeds “difficult” all over other areas of our lives.

Earlier this year, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She valiantly freed herself of the disease, only to be diagnosed with A-Fib. We found out in the emergency room during an episode of impending cardiac failure. Thank God we brought her to the hospital!

There were other struggles, which is normal in life; trials and tribulations as they say. And as the year comes to a close, I’m left with the notion that many of us felt the same way about 2018. At least according to social media memes, such as:

• 2018 Sucked! Bring on 2019!
• Is it just me, or did 2018 kick everyone’s ass!
• My Goal for 2018: Get it over with!

And, to some extent, I agree, however…

2018 WASN’T ALL THAT BAD

There were wonderful moments as well, and thankfully this list is much longer. Or, it could just be my Glass Half Full mentality:

• I finally released the pain, shame, remorse, betrayal, and defeat from being fired after 10 years of documented impeccable service.
• I stepped forth in earnest and confidence with my Blog efforts and my writing.
• Scored my first two freelance writing contracts.
• And a transcription contract; sort of an offshoot of the one above.
• I got a part-time job as a ticket agent for a cruise line (not so monumental but for some reason, I find this hilarious).
• I “put myself out there” and found two wonderful Blogging Business Buddies for the daily dose of encouragement we all need to plug along.
• Tom and I are making positive strides toward financial well-being.

I’M GOING BACK TO SCHOOL!

• FINALLY! My acceptance letter is in and my first course will start in 2019.
• Writing again has brought me immeasurable joy. That joy, in turn, has bled into other areas of my life, thankfully so.
• I’ve taken risks. Some have proven fertile. The ones that haven’t worked out? I’ve learned from those as well…

• I’m losing my overall sense of “fear”.
• I’ve released a lot of mental crap. Having done so has left me feeling like a newborn – alive and full of promise.
• We made it to Wisconsin! It might not seem like much, I know, but Family is Everything. At my son’s behest, we took a family trip to visit his girlfriend’s family for Christmas, and we 385’d the heck out of it!
• Tom finally grew a beard. Listen, after 25 years of trying to persuade him to do so, I don’t take this lying down. Well, sometimes I do, but that’s private. (chuckle).

Taking stock of the good stuff in your life can illustrate how wonderful life can be.

In order to move forward, to love life, love the journey…I'm consciously choosing to find solutions, rather than stew in despair. Share on X

It’s not that easy to do, I know. The not-so-good things in life have a way of worming themselves into the psyche with more impact, sadly, than the good stuff.

I could spend countless hours ruminating over that depressing fact, or just get over myself, and choose to focus on the positive, Happiness is a Choice.

This newfound lens through which I’m actively prescribing to live my life has filled me with expectation and hope, rather than “loss” which focuses on the negative aspects of life, and I want no part of that.

With that in mind, I have declared 2019 to be…

THE YEAR OF LIVING EARNESTLY

I choose to live with intent, not just let life happen to me; to live aware, wide-eyed and bushy-tailed. I want to actively think about my options and make the proper choices for my desired results. And, hopefully, leading by example, I will inspire my husband and children to do the same.

I’m entering 2019 with newness already: new blog, new jobs, going back to school, and I intend to add a new health routine and lose 40 pounds by this time next year. I also wish to add a spiritual aspect with purposeful meditation, yoga, and volunteering.

Lofty goals, I know, and I may not achieve all of them in 2019, but, as I alluded above, it truly is about the journey, not the destination. Simply taking the steps in 2019 is enough for now.

During my Year of Living Earnestly, I look forward to 525,600 minutes of all this year has to offer: daybreak and sunsets, cups of coffee, laughter, tears (we can’t escape those), growth, triumphs, strife (handling it in a healthful way), and above all, LOVE; lots and lots of love…

Love for my family, my friends, neighbors, town, country, the planet, and most important of all, love for myself. Share on X

Be Well!

Cynthia
385Life
Live · Love · Learn

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