Here we are. At the starting line of a squeaky clean, fresh out of the box, brand new year. Some people make resolutions. Some people don’t. Some dive head first into a new diet, way of living, or attempt to self help their way into a “new year; new you” thing. What about you? What do you do? Do you make plans or just see where the road takes you?

I have never been one to set goals or resolutions at the new year. I won’t keep them. Terrible. But true. Instead, I wait for inspiration strikes. I always have. I don’t like forced anything. I prefer a natural flow in what I do. But, greeting the new year does lead me to some reflection. I try to see what accomplishments I have achieved thus far. I try to remember to be grateful for my life and my experiences. I take stock. I am a list maker. Not only do I like to see  my accomplishments, I need daily reminders on what I need to do. But I also use it as my inspiration board. I write down things I feel inspired to do, learn, or grow through.  Though one thing  never seems to change. I always find a theme. I don’t know when that started or how it happened? One day I just noticed the trend. As I move toward a new year a theme starts to unfold. It is usually subtle at first. Just a tiny idea here or there. But as the weeks and months progress, so does that theme.  By the time I enter into that shiny, clean, and crisp year, I know what my theme is. Sometimes it is about health, other times it is about a way of living. This year’s theme for me is environmental. I want need to do more. The push is strong. While I am already very much about nature and the environment, I feel pushed into action. I don’t know where it will take me or what it will lead to, but I am looking forward to growing through it.

If you aren’t a resolution type and you aren’t a theme type, how do you greet the new year? Most of us have heard or read things about living our lives with, purpose. Dolly Parton said, ” Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” There is a book about it by Rick Warren called, The Purpose Driven Life. A life with purpose….. What exactly does that mean? Purpose is our intention. Purpose is our reason or motivation.  But not all of us have our purpose figured out yet. Not all of us know entirely who we are. I would say, a lot of us don’t have that figured out. So, how can we live a purposeful life if we don’t know it? I ponder that a lot. I mean, I sit in midlife still undecided about what I want to be when I “grow up”. How can I possibly live my life with purpose? I really used to stress over that. Until I realized that there actually was a way.  Purpose is intention. Purpose is meaning. I may not know what my purpose on this planet is yet. I might not have discovered what career I will land on.  I may not know my soul’s purpose on this plane. But that doesn’t mean I can’t move toward it, in a positive way. Instead of racking my brain, stuck in an endless loop of uncertainty, I can move forward freely, without the answer. Because I can live my life with meaning.

Meaning….. Hmmm. The definition says that “meaning” is implied or explicit significance.  Try sitting with that for a minute…. see how it feels. Meaning is also an important or worthwhile quality.  So, while I may not have my purpose figured out, I can still absolutely live my life with more significance and worthwhile qualities. For me, that means I am putting effort into it. No, there will not always be happy times. No, life won’t be easier. In order to grow through it, I have to go through it. But if I put some thought into my life; my decisions and actions, I can bring meaning to it. That is what I plan to do. It is what I have been doing. Each day I give a little more meaning to my life, to my soul, to my existence. In doing so, I feel slightly closer to my actual purpose. I still don’t know what that is. I am ok with that. But having meaning in my life brings me peace and joy and love and friendship. I stop focusing on my troubles and focus on my actions and reactions.  I find beauty in what is AND in what isn’t. I tap into compassion and kindness much easier when I live with meaning. I find peaceful moments and an appreciation of life when I live with meaning. Most importantly, I find happiness and gratitude when I live with meaning.

My hope for the world is that each of you greet this new year with kindness. Go through it so you can grow through it. Remember you are not alone. Each of us face our own challenges, lessons, and trials. Some of these experiences are easier than others. Some are messy. And some down right suck. Still, be kind to each other. Please? Find meaning; even just a smidgen. Because given the opportunity, that meaning can blossom and grow. It can unfold in amazing and awesome ways. May you all have joyous, peace-filled, and loving moments in this new year. ❤