Friends,

2015 was a very good year and I am grateful for the experiences, growth and wisdom. But this isn’t about looking back. This is about looking forward. Sure, looking forward always requires some reflection, but I am writing to draw my focus on what lies ahead, because the greatest adventure is what lies ahead. Right?

 

Welcome to 2016. What shall we discover in 2016? What are you looking for in 2016? What we find, I believe, depends greatly on what we bring with us for our journey.

 

“What the New Year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the New Year.” ~ Vern McLellan.

 

What am I bringing to 2016?

 

Greater wisdom. Through every life experience, my wisdom deepens. This is the awesome part of aging, for me. I am finally getting it, what life is all about. I try to control it less each year, and I enjoy it more each year. An ever-evolving level of wisdom I will bring to 2016.

 

Greater focus. It’s kind of funny because I didn’t realize that focus was an issue for me until the last few years. I thought that my ability to multi-task was a gift, all while I struggled to deal with my mom’s lack of focus, and defended my son’s ADHD, I somehow missed that I, also, couldn’t focus on any one thing for more than several moments and struggled to complete tasks. How did I miss this for decades? I bring to 2016 a greater understanding of this, continue to work on focusing my attention on the moment and completing one task before beginning another.

 

Greater patience. Just in the last three or four years even I have noticed the growth in my patience with people and things, especially those out of my control. Not much ruffles my feathers any longer. And I know now that when my patience is wearing thin, this is a sign that I need some down time, rest, and rejuvenation. Yes, I admit it. I require down time, rest and rejuvenation. This is a part of the growth in wisdom, which leads to greater patience. I bring to 2016 more patience than I have started any other year.

 

Greater love. I love hard. Always have. So how do I bring “greater love” to 2016? By spreading it around a bit. My inner-circle of loved ones is small, but mighty, and where I love the hardest. This I will keep, and loyally shield, however, I know I have enough love to share outside of my inner-circle. In 2016 I will open my heart and show greater love to a larger circle, starting with me.

 

Greater kindness. Kindness is definitely one of the things our world is lacking. Such a simple thing: kindness. Isn’t it? I have thought a lot about this one throughout 2015, through all of the political hate, violence, racism, terrorism, and so on. If we could just be more kind to one another . . .. I pledge to bring greater kindness to 2016, and challenge you to do the same. It has to start somewhere.

 

A greater hunger for learning. The older I get, the more I want to know. The more curious I become. The more questions I have. The more I realize that I do not, in fact, have most of the answers. I will seek answers, and a greater level of understanding, for all things different from my usual daily world of activity.

 

“Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela

 

To 2016 I bring the desire to learn more, and to use the knowledge to do my part to help make the world a better place.

 

A greater me. I have neglected me far too long, so now it is time to improve the body that houses me so that I may healthfully take advantage of all of these wonderful things I am bringing to 2016: greater wisdom, focus, patience, love and kindness. And, an ever-evolving, but now better cared for, self-loved, physical me.

 

We have many exciting things ahead in 2016: growth in business (both Out of the Weeds and Three Birds Tavern have many exciting things just around the corner that I will be sharing soon), travel (we will spend much of February in Asia, reconnecting with my roots, and November in Belize with family and friends), perhaps a new home (yes, it is time to think about downsizing), a family wedding, and more. My children are happy, healthy and prospering. My husband continues to love me, support my crazy ideas, and travel the world with me. My businesses continue to grow. My fur kids continue to demand and misbehave. My friends remain loyal and present.

I am the luckiest 50-something-year-old lady in the universe, and I am bringing the luck with me to 2016 and sharing it with you.

 

What are you bringing to 2016? I would love to hear all about it.

 

Happy New Year, and welcome to 2016!

 

Robin