Embracing the ‘Now’

“Don’t take life too seriously. You’ll never escape it alive anyway!” – Elbert Hubbard

Can you remember the highlights of this year for you? What happened last year that gave you a sense of fulfilment, took your breath away or made you laugh till your belly ached?

How about grabbing a pen and writing down something memorable (or not so memorable!) for each month of this year? Notice what it looks like and whether it is something you feel proud of – or wish that you had done differently.

Think about what you may like to change for the coming year, and why. Perhaps you set some goals and achieved all that you set out to do; maybe you set some, but like 61 per cent of the under-20s or 86 per cent of the over-50s – they fell by the wayside – maybe you didn’t set any at all and you found yourself thinking like Mitch Hedburg who said: I’m tired of following my dreams. I’m just going to ask them where they’re headed and catch up with them later!

New Year’s Resolutions or not?! That is the question.

There’s an expectation among many that the “New Year” is the only time to reset our GPS and focus on where we want to be going. Isn’t this a load of rubbish?

Shouldn’t we be plotting our course on an ongoing basis – checking in regularly whether we’re on track for what we want to achieve or not? From my little knowledge of sailing, it would be unwise to plot your course and then sit back and ignore it because so many things can change: the winds may change in direction and force, which has an impact on your boat and the course it’s heading and the way the seas present.

If planning your life isn’t your thing, maybe the simple answer is to commit to one thing this coming year, and that is to enjoy “this moment” NOW!

As we become conscious of what we are doing and how we choose to tackle each task every day, it is our attitude that makes the difference.

By appreciating what we have and realising what we don’t want for ourselves, we can enrich our choices and our direction and focus more on the life we want.

As the old cliche goes, at the end of our days, “no one is going to wish we spent more time in the office or doing the housework!”.

So check this out: If you were to die tomorrow, could you honestly say “I’ve lived a great life and have no regrets”?

That’s not to say there aren’t more things you’d like to do, but have you done enough?

Have a great New Year’s and remember: Be accountable!

Find yourself an “unreasonable friend” who won’t be sympathetic to your excuses. Instead, they will turn them into opportunities for you to get where you want to be.

What seems like the right thing to do could also be the hardest thing you have ever done in your life.