This morning as I was sitting having my quiet time and pondering the past year I had a quick though skip through my mind. Why do people get so excited about the new year? I mean if we really think about, it is just a repeat of the same circle we have been going through for the past 2,017 years or so, right? We make the same resolutions (that last about 24 hours), have the same birthdays, restart the same diet and workout plans (That we give up on a month later...) , ect. Yet people get so pumped about the new year. I don’t know if I see the big deal? Now that is the slightly negative and skeptical side of me. Of course I know for many people the new year is a symbol of (surprise) New beginnings. We can put last year behind us because, “Hello my sweet, fresh 2017.” But here is what I am really thinking… Why are we living lives that leave us crawling out of the old year and desperately grasping for the New? I have met way too many people that say things like; “I am just so ready for this year to be over!” “Thank God for New Years! I never want to go back to last year” “Finally I can start fresh!” I mean I get going through difficult times, and life has it’s challenging seasons. It happens to everyone of us. But is that any reason let our whole year be a bust? Yes I did say “Let”. Because reality is, we have the control and the freedom to choose whether or not we are going to live in a moment of difficulty and frustration. Or take a step forward and let the Lord give us a breathe of fresh air in the exact moment we need it. I am all about fresh starts, thank goodness for them! But don’t wait for 2017 or whatever the next year is to take advantage of that fresh start. If you are in a funk, your fresh start is waiting right around this next minute. It doesn’t have to be tomorrow, Monday , February 1st or 2018, It’s seriously right now. Don’t get me wrong, I am so so excited about 2017, There are so many great and wonderful things that are waiting ahead. But the only reason I believe that is because I let last year be a year of fresh beginnings every single day. And if anybody knows me well, they know that I cannot stand to see people not living each day to the fullest.( It kinda actually drives me nuts!) We cannot possibly be living life to the max if we are allowing the troubles of yesterday block our view from the potential that lies directly in front of us. I get so excited when I see people who are passionately pursuing their lives with excitement. Living with the knowledge that great and wonderful things are right here in this moment that they are living and breathing right now. And that is the reality for every single one of us. So get excited for the new year! Not because last year was a bust and you want to forget all about it. But because you know that the potential for every moment of your life from here forward is that of Joy, adventure and excitement, an opportunity to live to your fullest potential, living with the expectancy that God has greater things planned for you than you could ever imagine. So here’s to a bunch of crazy excited passionate people, running with excitement in 2017! |
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