Out with the Old

“Wherever you go, there you are” – likely, you’ve heard this line before. It’s one of those statements that sometimes brings about eye rolls because it states the obvious; some may even dismiss it as a deep thought that doesn’t go deep. Regardless of how you think about it (or not), there’s room here for a conversation about what we take with us when we leave anything.Most recently, all of us left 2014 behind. Or, maybe better said, all of us have the opportunity to decide what did (and didn’t) serve us well in 2014 and, where possible, to make the necessary adjustments and/or repairs in order to make 2015 the best it can be. What a gift to be able to take charge of our intentions and, ultimately, our lives in these ways! We certainly can’t control everything, but of the things that we can, why not make a go of it? Life isn’t easy and human beings are flawed and there really is no such thing as perfect, but scars can become muscles, fear can turn into courage, and your heart can be broken open to loving bigger, bolder, deeper…and smarter. The decision of how you want to go forward, backward, or nowhere different at all, is yours. No matter your decision, there will be people who support you and people who don’t; you will experience successes and failures; and, despite the inevitable hardships, you’ll wonder why you didn’t take charge sooner. Don't beat yourself up about the latter.  Just be grateful you're where you are now, and enjoy it.  The point is this: change is not linear. If you’re growing, you’re not staying still.As you think about what you’ve carried with you into this New Year – the good, the bad, and the ugly – ask yourself “why?” and then ask yourself if that person, place, or thing, is adding quality to your life (the kind of quality that would be considered healthy in most circles). Let that answer guide you. It’s your one-way ticket to a kind of freedom you can’t begin to know unless you dare to let go of what’s holding you back.