Happy New Year
by sadams2
The year 2011 had me living in reaction. And while it was an eventful year, and maybe one of the more growing seasons of my life, it was filled with mistakes and way too many people and projects. I feel like I lived on planes and gave half efforts to books and blogs and conferences and movies. I had a vague notion of what I wanted to do with my life, but really just went where the wind blew. I’m hoping 2012 is different. I want to live more wisely, stick to my values and ethics, live a much smaller, slower life. I also want to surround myself with people who have integrity, who can help me become more healthy, pillars who are grounded in reality so I know where I am and what life is really about. None of this is going to be easy … But I’m going to give it a shot. [Source]
Donald Miller’s passage above sets up perfectly the things I’ve been thinking about the New Year. (Seriously, how does this guy speak so deeply and so clearly into my life? Get outta here, Miller!) Last year was definitely a period of growth and challenge, but 2012 has the potential to be twice that. At some point, my time with IJM Uganda will close, I will leave the friends and coworkers that have made Uganda home for two years; the recent process of booking my return flight in July has made my six-month timeline all the more concrete.
Despite this looming unknown, I’ve started 2012 with an inexplicable positive attitude. I’ve shed all the drama and stress of 2011 and found myself refocused (thanks in part to my awesome Turkey trip) and ready to go. While I’m looking ahead for my next adventure, I’m giving thanks for getting to live in a paradise like Uganda and do work that I love.
Soon enough, I will be job searching, resume refining, and (hopefully) interviewing. Soon enough, I will move to some new… something. It could become a trying year, but I’m granting myself time to deal with stresses only when necessary. The future is scary, but for some reason I’m overwhelmingly optimistic.
I’m looking forward to a truly happy new year.
