Dear Me 2012

Dear Me,

It is with earnest joy I write to you this year. It is the time of year I look back to reflect on the year past. How many of those resolutions and goals did I honestly hold true to and accomplish?

Though I could have in all actuality have done a better job with a few, I accomplished them all! Wow! I'm not sure how you'll beat that record other than do a better job of each goal reached this year.

And now without further ado, let me begin by telling you I began this letter last November. It is one of the things I do for myself every year without fail. It helps me keep my focus as I go through the year. It inspires me to do better each year with self commitments and commitments to others who are important to me. It allows me to be honest with myself. It allows me to be myself no matter what anyone else thinks of me.

Each year my list of goals seems to expand. In November, 2011, it was beginning to look as if this would be the longest list ever. And then came December. My whole outlook on goals for 2012 changed in a second's time.

I was preparing to deploy to Kuwait as a dispatcher for a fire department located at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. Within a couple of weeks of departing, I was still packing some items to be stored while I am gone. Having finished packing family heirlooms and items most precious to me, I am about to load the box in the back of a pickup for transportation. The box got overbalanced and in one heartbeat, so did I. I fell five feet onto the ground crushing my tibia plateau. All of my thus recorded goals for 2012 changed.

WIPE THAT FROWN OFF YOUR FACE! You still have everything to smile about. Yes, you went from having two good jobs to none and zero income at that moment, but God was watching you the entire time. He knows your needs and will sustain you. It would do well, for that to be your first and foremost resolution this coming year:

Increase your faith. Be still and know that God is God.

The position in Kuwait was filled by someone else, but who's to say there won't be a better one after your leg and knee heal. Thus, your next goal to strive for will be:

Find the positive in every circumstance; flee from the negative.

During the past year death claimed several friends and mentors. One was Sticktalker who would give me honest and knowledgeable reviews. He offered solutions to my problem areas of writing and always encouraged me, kept me laughing and pushed me further than I was willing to push myself. I encourage you to make this the next resolution to live by:

Don't forget to tell those you know and love how much they mean to you and the depth of your appreciation for them being a part of your life.

Don't be so hard on yourself. If your pain keeps you from writing, read, pray, or just rest. Your objective is to heal.

Be thankful for shelter, food, and clothing. I realize your goals have always been loftier, but with zero income and savings gone, these will be transformed into luxury items. Treasure them.

Increase your knowledge, thereby increasing your skills in your writing, reviewing, mentoring, dispatching, first responder, EMT medical abilities, and security specialist skills.

Revel in the love of that precious granddaughter who holds your heart within her tiny toddler's hands. Laugh with her, play with her, read to her, nap with her, swim, run, and love every second with her. See the world through her eyes!

Those are your goals for this year. I am aware they are less in number than usual. They are more in importance. Quality over quantity. If you abide by them, your writing will become more accomplished, your heart will become more compassionate, your faith will become stronger, your family and friends will cherish you on a higher level..

Thank you for remembering your EMT training after that nasty fall and thank you for not giving up until someone could reach you. Remember I love you that you may love others. I realize you are competitive, so though your goals this year may not be as elusive, creative, or grandiose as those of other people if you hit the bulls-eye of each target that still makes you a sharpshooter.

All that I am,
Me

P.S. I am thrilled we share so many of the same passions: ,,,,,, and last, but never least, . They say a picture is worth a thousand words so reflect often on this image:

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