Happy New Year! 2014
It was after midnight in
downtown Atlanta. A friend’s mother was in ICU and we had ventured
out to check on them.
After midnight
tends to make me reflective...
After midnight, in a hospital, sitting with
some friends whose mother is fighting for her life, makes me want to scream!
“Wait! Stop, Hold it! This chic needs a do over!
I always begin my year with a
word. A mantra of sorts. Not a resolution, but just an awareness. Driving home, leaving that hospital, it
occurred to me that I had found my word
for 2014……Enough
Enough:
· With the excuses.
You and I
both know that if you really want something badly enough, you will make it
happen. I am coming to the realization that it is time
to quit justifying my decisions. It is
time for action. Do it, don’t do it, but quit excusing it.
· taking my health and my future for granted.
This year marks 5 years since my aneurysm. What have I done to make the world a better
place, or to make Niki a better person? I still eat like I am 20 and that whole
exercise thing is a farse. I was given a
second chance, why do I get to waste it?
· of living every moment for social media…
Posing for pics, retakes, and just
the right shot, Instagramming and Facebooking everything to show the world how
fabulous we all are. We are fabulous,
but not because the world clicks a “like “ button.
Now, I am
not saying that I am going to close accounts or get crazy and start deleting
stuff….just a conscious effort being
more aware that the moment is always more important than the photo or post
about it.
· bullying…
Even in my
own home, with my own little girls. Somehow I got the idea that mom and sergeant
were interchangeable. Barking orders, issuing
decrees all for the sake of “Parenting.” When,
in all honesty, it is more about my being proud... than them doing the right
thing.
· with what’s next…
Why is there validation in martyrdom? Overdone
schedules seem to be a badge of honor.
Talking about all we have to do in the name of “ life” seems to be the
topic of the day. Let’s face it-
Everything we do or skip, we choose to do so.
I choose to do. Saying there is not enough time is just not true. There is time for exactly what I make time for.
I am tired of living and still missing life.
The
cruise control is set on such a high speed we don’t seem to know what to do
when we slow down. We had a rare day recently
where we chose to just do nothing. Do
you know how hard it is to just do nothing?
For people who define success with activity, the participation in a slow
day can be terrifying.
· of beating myself up over unrealistic expectations.
So, the house isn’t perfect, the
papers took longer to get graded than originally thought, I forgot something ( which is a really big
deal for me) , the kids make mistakes, they are not perfect- I am not perfect either. I can be the enemy or perfection can be the
enemy . Not both.... I don’t really want to be an
enemy.
· Excess...
It is astounding. I guess I figured this one out in all of our
travels. I no longer even pack in
suitcases, but more often in huge storage containers. I said it is just easier, but the truth is,
they hold more stuff, and we like stuff.
· With caring more about what others think...
than
God. I think we can honestly say that
time seeking other’s approval is far greater than most of us spend seeking
God’s approval. My boss, my husband, my
family, my friends, and these kids, all determine worth and value instead of
the ONE who created worth and value. This must change.
I do not have a handle on how this is going to
look just yet. I am not sure what to do about all these areas. I can only take it one day at a time. I guess I am going to just have to depend of
God daily to show me the changes needed to make.
Let me challenge you to search yourself and
find your word this year. Keep it as you
focus on the daily. Write it somewhere
where you will be reminded.
Because…..
This year, my word is ENOUGH
I have
enough, I am enough, because HE is enough for me.
