Intentions for the new year
Scrivener December 31st, 2007
I was talking to a friend the other day and she mentioned coming up with “intentions,” rather than “resolutions,” which as we all know end up mainly being yet another excuse to beat up on ourselves for our supposed shortcomings, and really, I’ve had quite enough on the pointless self-flagellation to last me a life-time, thankyouverymuch. So I’m stealing her idea and using this new beginning as yet another opportunity to make my life more intentional, or one might use New Kid’s term for next year’s goal, mindfulness.
I didn’t write about it at the time, but a few days ago I got to have a meetup with George, who is every bit as thoughtful and cool as those who have read his blogs (back when he was blogging regularly…) would expect him to be. He gave me a preview of his three-word resolution for the new year: “let it go.” Those three words connected with a lot of what I’ve been thinking about, talking about, and writing about for the last weeks and months. Later that day, I talked to my best-friend A (who will hopefully be getting solid news about how her treatment for breast cancer is going in a couple of weeks, so far she’s hanging in there and doing ok), and again a lot of our conversation revolved around letting go. And then two more conversations that day where friends ended up bringing up the idea of letting go finally made me stop and say to myself that all this synchronicity needs to be attended to. All of which is a long-winded way of saying that my A-number-one intention for the coming year is to practice letting go, in all sorts of ways and in all sorts of areas of my life. All those things that don’t affirm life and love, all those things that once may have served a purpose but are no longer working, all those ways of thinking that keep me where I have been, I’m going to do my best to be more aware of them and to take steps toward just letting go of them.
I don’t expect that I’ll perfect the practice this year, but I am hopeful that I can make myself more aware of the deadweight that I hang onto and at least ease my grip on it.
My other intentions for the new year? I am going to keep trying to learn how to be gentle and accepting with myself. I want to learn to hold onto myself–when I can listen to myself and trust myself, I’m capable of amazing things, but too often I have lost sight of my own needs and desires because I was focusing too much of my energy on others. I have gotten some very powerful lessons recently about how dangerous that pitfall can be for me.
And I will continue to work to practice appreciation and gratitude.
What do you think, will those intentions be challenging enough to keep myself occupied for the coming year?
I think those are wonderful intentions for the new year…inspiring, even.
A friend lent me the the book “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff’–I only skimmed the book, but a lot of it boils down to “let it go”…something I could work on, as well.
Happy New Year! May 2008 be easier on you than 2007 has been, and may you find happiness and peace in your new life.
Good luck in the new year, Scriv. I wish you all the best. I’m sure this will be a wonderous year for you. Thanks in advance for sharing it with the rest of us.
With some of the things that have been thrown against you I’d say that you’re definitely challenging yourself with your intentions for the new year. Good luck and Happy New Year! Drop a line if you need another ear or even just want some meaningless chit-chat.
Awesome intentions, and they would be enough to challenge me for a lifetime. May 2008 hold hope and fulfillment for you, Scrivener.
That sounds like greatness. Much love to you, and happy new year!
Letting go is a perfect motto–a good one for all of us, I think. I worked for a greeting card company and we had a card whose cover said, “Let go! Go on!” Only the go on part was printed a little too close together so it looked like goon. My co-workers and I used that as a lighthearted way to relieve stress. When one of us seemed to be obsessing over something, another of us would say, “Let go Goon!” Then we’d laugh. Mr. Geeky and I still say it to each other every once in a while. If I find that card, I’m sending it to you.
Yes, I think these intentions will keep you busy in the best of ways. Many blessings as you keep an ear to yourself. I applaud the wisdom of “let it go”–and I like that one for myself, too.
I have just written my new year’s post and I think if i had read yours first, I would have described my resolutions as “intentions,” also–a much kinder and more flexible term. But I will try to remember to think of them as intentions, and not as an excuse for self-criticism.
Thanks for your kind comments.
RDM: I don’t know that book, but a lot of that idea of letting go for me is coming from Pema Chodron. I suspect that all of us could use practice on letting go.
J: Thank you. I appreciate your very nice, supportive messages.
NHJ: Good to hear from you! I will drop you a line soon–my correspondence has been, uh, spotty for a while now, but I will write you.
Simpleton: Thank you. And I look forward to that Sigur Ros song, and to figuring out a good way to make that exchange.
P/H: Thanks for your kindness.
Sarah S: Oh, I’ll go check out yours too. There have been so many good new year’s posts this time around, I think.
Haha, Laura, I’ll keep an eye out for it…
That is an awesome theme – I could use it for myself. Good luck learning to let it go! If you find ideas that work, share them — a lot of us would benefit!
Excellent intentions. I hope that 2008 will be a year of many blessings for you and the girls.
Definitely let stuff go. And be gentler with yourself. Sending my love for a terrific 2008!
wonderful intentions. best to you and yours!
A year? Those are intentions that will challenge you for a lifetime! A
Oops, hit the submit button too soon. I was starting to say, A year is a good start on them, though.