Eyes that see the good in things: Dec. 30, 2019

It’s under the tree, but who’s around it.” That is so true, isn’t it? I hope that you had a great Christmas and that you had enough of the right people around your Christmas tree to celebrate with you and make your spirit bright.

Now, we are looking to the New Year, contemplating the year behind us and wondering what the future holds for us. Looking at the year that is stretching out ahead of us, we realize that we are being given a gift… an opportunity to pursue happiness and fulfillment.

Do I plan on making any resolutions this year? I’m still not sure. Will you? I kind of gave up resolutions a few years ago. However, I do have some life changes to choose from, like being more mindful and taking better care of my health in 2020.

Another possibility came up one night while I was enjoying my nightly cup of Sleepytime Tea and the lights of my little Christmas tree. I was thinking about the people from my past and remembering some of the happy memories I’ve had with them; they are people I enjoyed a great deal but who have somehow slipped out of my life. People naturally come and go from our lives but it is also nice to reconnect.

We lead such busy lives these days and I marvel at other people’s energy. My niece has four kids ranging in age from 1-15. She keeps track of and attends their activities, has a demanding job and she’s gone back to school. She has more than enough to keep her busy but she’s happy. While I am not looking to have a life that busy, it’s important for all of us to feel like we’ve had a constructive day, to have something to look forward to. We get the opportunity to create our own lives and determine which things are most meaningful to us.

Listening with an open mind and heart is something else that could be on my resolution list. Opening myself up to learn something new. The older I get, the more I realize I still have to learn.

A few years ago, I was feeling overwhelmed with too many things to do and not sure how to get them all done. At that time, I found that all I had to do was just one thing. That motto helped me to get through that time. While I still remind myself of that from time to time when I am busy and leaning toward overwhelm, I have found that, by borrowing a credo from Al-Anon, most of my daily life can be handled by living just for today.

Okay, I just made my decision. I won’t be making New Year’s resolutions this year either. Instead, I am committing to live just for today. I will strive to live through this day only, without setting too many far-reaching goals to overcome all at one time. We know that we can endure a lot when we know that it is only for 24 hours, we can endure things that would certainly overwhelm us if we thought that we had to keep doing it, every day, for a lifetime.

So, just for today, I will be happy. According to Abraham Lincoln, “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” For me, I choose not to dwell on thoughts that irritate, anger or depress me. I have the power to chase them from my mind and replace them with happier thoughts. I can choose to see the good rather than the bad.

However, on other days, my thought will be that just for today, I will force myself to adjust to what is. Those days, my motto will become, “It is what it is, but it will become what I make it.” On those days, I will face reality, accepting the things I cannot change, having the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

I will commit to improve my mind, just for today. I will force myself to read something that requires effort, thought and concentration. I will strive to read things with an open mind that allows me to see things from someone else’s perspective.

And yes, just for today, I will do something positive to improve my health. I’ll make an honest effort, just for today. I will probably get to know my medical provider better. The changes can be made one day at a time, when I do it just for today.

Just for today, I will make the conscious decision to be agreeable. To speak softly, act courteously and not interrupt when someone else is talking because I think what I have to say is more important. And I’ll try not to improve anybody… except myself.

I will follow my own program, just for today. I may not always follow it exactly and I give myself permission to change it at any time, but I will have it. Having that plan will help to save me from the pests of procrastination and hurry and will also help me beat indecision and uncertainty. That program allows me to summon my courage to do what is right and take responsibility for my own action. Just for today, I will remember that most of the time, happiness is an inside job. It begins and ends inside of me.

And, just for today, as we begin this bright, shiny new year, my only true resolution is to encourage myself with the gift of appreciation. To daily appreciate the beauty of the world around me, and especially to appreciate those people who love me and to appreciate the life I have been blessed with.

So, dear readers, 2020 is right before us. May it be the best year of your life. Of course, it won’t always be easy or free from aggravation or pain, but I wish you peace and joy throughout it all.

We would love to share local stories about the good things your eyes are seeing.

Stop in to share your stories with us, give us a call at 947-2417 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Or send a letter to Eyes That See the Good in Things, c/o Allison Lindgren, The Transcript 6 8th St N., New Rockford, ND 58356.