Looking for something to read over break?
As 2015 comes to end I am driven to reflect upon the year. Additionally, as 2016 approaches I am reminded of what is yet to come and how many new years "resolutions" I can think of for myself. Of course most of these include improving upon something from 2015. I notice that as I reflect on 2015 I automatically think about the missed opportunities, or failures, or miss steps that I have taken in life, which largely guides my new years resolutions to "do better". I wonder how many of us often take the time to recall the successes of the past year, or the ways in which we have grown, as well as the work we have all done not just professionally but personally. Do we ever recognize the risks we have taken? After all failing requires us to take a risk or to try something new or different. Do we stop and think about the small ways we have grown over the past year, or do we only consider something to have "success" if others identify the ways in which we have developed? I do think it is important to acknowledge the good and the not so good from the past year. I just hope we are all able to take the not so good and do something with it. Although we cannot change the past we can change our perception around the past.
What if we experienced the not so good this past year as part of being reminded of the good. What if we looked at both rather than either or? I know for me the biggest and most rewarding lessons I learn in life are from the "not so good times". These moments have often been my most difficult ones as well. Yet I wonder would I be where I am today or even who I am today with only having experienced the "good" moments of the year? I think it is great to experience good things in life but my guess is that we all have experienced some type of challenge this past year, or some type of struggle. Perhaps making it through the year was tough for you or finding peace or gratitude has been difficult. Whatever the struggle has been I wonder if we are able to see the struggle as something we have lived through and overcome? Rather than only seeing it as something not so good?
Therefore as 2016 enters I wonder what it would be like for us all to take a moment to remind ourselves that we are "okay" or that we can just "be". Rather than striving to "do more" or "be more" this year, I hope to actually do less. For when I slow down in life I am able to enjoy the present moments even more. I am not saying we should all not have goals, I think goals are good and important. However, I wonder what it would be like for us to not only extend compassion to others, but also extend it to ourselves? Truly if I don't get an A in a class or if I don't loose 10 pounds, will that impact my life or others dramatically? Yet if I don't slow down to listen to or hear the people around me or if I don't extend compassion to those around me, that could have more of an impact on the world. What would it be like if we simply gave ourselves five minutes a day to listen to our own story or hear our own voice. Likewise, what it be like if we slowed down to give someone else five minutes to share their story or to hear their voice?
As you look to perhaps engage in some self-care over break by reading a book or two, I hope you are able to not only gain perspective and understanding of other people's life, but also be able to gain insight and understanding into your own life.
Please see the great books tab to find some thought provoking books! I hope there is room for some compassion for yourself as 2015 closes and 2016 opens.
Again please see our calendar of events page to join us as we continue to grow personally and professionally this next semester!
