Last year when I returned from winter break, my RA gathered all 30 girls on the floor and gave us all a number of announcements and who knows what else for several hours. One of the things she had us do was take a crayon and a piece of paper to make a list of goals. I was annoyed at the elementary idea and wrote ridiculous things down like “play piano” (haha – check) and “smoke more cigars” (oh my – not so much but that’s okay). (In retrospect, I was not happy in Missouri…now that I go to a school I like, it has become very clear)
While I generally hate the idea of declaring resolutions or goals, I always do it. The thing about resolutions though is that no one keeps them, or at least no one really expects you to keep them. One year I resolved to read my Bible every day and was told within a week by someone at church it wasn’t going to happen. (It did. That’s not a resolution I’d make again because it became a habit instead of a one-on-one learning time with God…however, it should be done every day. Basically, the intention and motivation needs to be in the right place. It became almost a chore at that point in my life – yet still substance that was needed. Now, I’d like to read the Bible every day, but because I want to and need to read it each and every day. I’ve digressed, anyway, that was a resolution I kept.)
This year, unlike many other years, I’m claiming a resolution and sharing it with the public. It’s one that covers the vast number of improvements I’d like to make on my life. 2009 Resolution: GROW. Okay, so it’s broad. Whatever. This year my goal is to grow each day is some way (other than physically maybe – I’ve haven’t grown in height since eighth grade and I’d really rather not grow width-wise).
To some extent this could mean anything, and I really appreciate flexibility. There are rules though. This growing cannot be obligatory (i.e. reading for school does not count). It cannot be repeated more than two days in a row, however can be done three or four days in one week, it just has to be varied. Or, it can be done every day of the week if I want it to, but then something else needs to be done in addition. Ways of growing include but are not limited to: musically, intellectually, athletically, emotionally, socially, personally, da-da-lly, da-da-lly, da-da-lly……… The list does not particularly include spiritually mainly because that is a all-time goal for everyday and should be the constant. This growing is separate (well, it could be incorporated), it is an addition to spiritual growth.
How is this growth measured? I’d like to hope that it will be exhibited in a way that is noticeable to others, however it is my measurement of growth that needs to be met and no one else’s. At the end of the day, I plan to spend a little bit of time evaluating my day and figuring out how I’ve grown in that day. It might be worth writing down each day, but then I may be less inclined to keep up with that. We’ll see though. It would be really cool to be able to read each day how I’ve grown.
Lyrics from Brand New Day by Joshua Radin.
