“And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision and make it plain upon the tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie; though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
The New Year is not the time for you to wallow in regrets of what ifs, cries of if I would’ve, could’ve, should’ve, or self-pity. It is time for you to claim and affirm that you are moving forward and not looking back. It is time for you to celebrate life, along with the continued opportunities for change and growth. The year 2020, as are all of the years preceding it are over! Yes, it is important for you to look back every now and then, to glance back, because there are some fond memories that will reside in your heart until the end of your existence. On the other hand, it is imperative that you don’t get caught up with ‘how bad’ your previous year was, instead of focusing on ‘how great’ your New Year can be and will be, with God’s help, grace, mercy, and direction.
As I took down my Christmas decorations, it was clear to me how quickly the holidays flew by. It seems as if it was just yesterday when my decorations were retrieved from storage and I engaged in the excitement of putting up the tree, putting on the lights, and putting up other decorations. I smiled with glee and excitement regarding the upcoming holiday season, although different from any Christmas I have ever celebrated in my life. The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic came in like a thief in the night, putting extra meaning to the Grinch’s attempt to steal Christmas as it had stolen the emotions, minds, spirits, physical being, economic status, food, shelter, and other aspects of the lives of trillions of people in the world.
I decided like many of you, I was not falling prey to my Christmas being stolen. During 2020, I was reminded that through my prayers and my belief in God, even with the loss of so many souls that were taken from this life during the year, along with all of the pain, sadness, and sorrow of so many, that as my mother used to say, “this too shall pass.” I am reminded that just as the holiday season came and went, so too will the challenges and the tests you had to face in 2020. They, too, will pass! As a matter of fact, many of them are already behind you!
Instead of focusing on making your yearly New Year’s resolutions, I challenge you to take some time to meditate, reflect, coordinate and develop a written plan of action that you will post in a conspicuous place, where you will be able to read it and touch it on a daily basis. You will make your vision plain and post it as a reminder of what you are working toward. Too often, you might believe that your vision, your mission, and your goals have to be long, drawn out, and confusing. Get to the point! Make them specific and ask for what you need and what you want, and say what needs to be said in as few words as possible. What’s for you is for you and no one can take away your blessings! Don’t wait for days and weeks into this New Year for you to write your mission statement, your vision statement, your goals with an action plan and action steps, as well as your contingency plan. Do it now!
I am keenly aware that 2020 has been very difficult for so many of you, but it is time for you to take a bold stand without shame and without regrets to review the year from beginning to end, allowing yourself to recognize your mistakes and your errors. Don’t waste a lot of time on the losses and errors, by putting your foot in your butt, beating yourself up, engaging in regrets, self-blame, and depressive emotions. I give you permission to move beyond your falls, your falters, and your failures of 2020, by standing tall and speaking aloud your daily affirmations of I CAN, I WILL, I AM! In the midst of the negatives, there were also positives that stood out. Celebrate them and give thanks for them. Here is your opportunity to reform, reframe, refresh, and restart your projects, your relationships, your goals, your direction in life, as well as your life as a whole.
You will not be able to celebrate 2021, as long as you are stuck in 2020. Let go of last year and give yourself permission to celebrate this year. During your review of 2020, don’t just focus on the negatives; also take stock of your accomplishments and the positives. You want to ensure that in 2021, you continue on the paths of success and accomplishments that you traveled in during 2020, without being stuck in the past year.
As you review 2020 and celebrate 2021, remember the Serenity Prayer: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” Review, reflect, redo, and renew on the year 2020, in preparation for your celebration to commemorate what’s ahead for you during the entire year of 2021!
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