This is the first “working” day of 2013.\u00a0 I have looked back.\u00a0 I have looked forward.\u00a0 I have set my intentions and<\/p>\n
established my goals\/intentions\/visions.\u00a0\u00a0 In that process, I discovered this essay that was a reflection on what I’ve learned<\/p>\n
as if this were my “last day.”\u00a0 I hope it inspires some reflection of your own.<\/p>\n
If I knew this was my last day –\u00a0 I would share\u2026
\nThat each decade of my life I learned my lessons from my obstacles and my joys.\u00a0 I collected them in writing.
\nIn my twenties I wrote my longings: these were foundational\u00a0 to my life manifestations.\u00a0 Create. Write. Inspire. Serve. These days that\u2019s called the law of attraction.<\/p>\n
The ancients said and I saw it as true \u2013 our lives become what we think about. Or, \u201cwhat you feed, grows.\u201d
\nIn my thirties I gathered my intentions:
\nLive with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Laugh. Play with abandon. Practice wellness. Continue to learn.<\/p>\n
Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Lead or follow a leader. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.
\nThese became my measuring stick for the actions of my life.\u00a0 Have one.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t have one, get one. Otherwise, how do you know what to say \u201cyes\u201d to? (Or, \u201cno?\u201d)
\nIn the next decade those \u201clessons\u201d that I thought would always stick sort of slipped past me when in the press of a challenge.\u00a0 So when I had an \u201caha! moment\u201d I wrote them down.<\/p>\n
Write yours down. And put them in a place that you can see them everyday.
\nReminders:
\nMost of the things that seem so significant \u2013 aren\u2019t.\u00a0 Don\u2019t take it personally \u2013 it\u2019s not usually about you. Pay attention. Know when to leave.\u00a0 Curiosity takes courage.<\/p>\n
The most important promises are the ones you make to yourself. Appreciation lasts longer than complaint. Being nice isn\u2019t always best.\u00a0 Surprise is as powerful as consistency.\u00a0 Listen to your inclination.\u00a0 There\u2019s a difference between protecting yourself and defending yourself.\u00a0 Your eyes must not determine what you see. Play more. Stand tall. Imagine.
\nAnd today \u2013
\nTrue friendship is the thing that trumps everything.\u00a0\u00a0 Mutual self interest often masquerades as friendship \u2013 discern the difference.
\nMove. Dance. Walk. Do anything to trick yourself into movement and stretching.\u00a0 Fiercely seize health.
\nLearn new skills. \u201cGetting it \u201cperfect\u201d isn\u2019t as important as \u201cgetting it.\u201d
\nMany priorities bang on the door of your day.\u00a0 Remember what truly matters to you?\u00a0 Do that. Realize your \u201cNo,\u201d becomes someone else\u2019s opportunity for \u201cyes.\u201d
\nThe only opinion about your life that matters is yours.\u00a0 Apologize. Act on core values. Choose.\u00a0\u00a0 Don\u2019t dilute your endeavors with justifications or explanations.<\/p>\n
Own your actions. Allow others to own theirs
\nWhen you say, \u201cI\u2019ve had enough of this,\u201d mean it.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t intend to change the circumstance, then don\u2019t complain.
\nPractice pausing.
\nMean it when you kiss someone. Play more. Laugh long.\u00a0 Rest deep. Take care of your knees. Write what you know. Remember what\u2019s important.
\nThis is not the second half of your life, or the last two thirds of your life.<\/p>\n
This moment is the fresh start of your life and it\u2019s the only thing that you can be certain of.<\/p>\n
Life begins when you do.\u00a0 – mary anne radmacher\u00a9-\u00a0 for my work see appliedinsight.net<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This is the first “working” day of 2013.\u00a0 I have looked back.\u00a0 I have looked forward.\u00a0 I have set my intentions and established my goals\/intentions\/visions.\u00a0\u00a0 In that process, I discovered this essay that was a reflection on what I’ve learned as if this were my “last day.”\u00a0 I hope it inspires some reflection of your…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[667,703,704,10,701,145,702,695],"class_list":["post-1315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-daily-joys","tag-appliedinsight-net","tag-goals","tag-intentions","tag-mary-anne-radmacher","tag-new-year","tag-priorities","tag-reflections","tag-resolutions"],"yoast_head":"\n