What Are Your Intentions?

I've been doing a lot of thinking these past few weeks.  It's been an interesting year.  Not stellar, not devastating.  I'm proud of some things and not so proud of others; but the beauty of this time of year is that we all get a blank check to make the next one better. I had already made this decision, quoting to some of my friends that "2017 will be the Year of Hope."  Kinda catchy, don't you think? Almost punny....

And then I came across this a couple days ago....  Kinda perfect, don't you think?  Now, I was joking about becoming a redhead but I have to be honest...kinda considering it!

Seriously.  Ridiculously amazing!

I write to you on the cusp of the new year.  I hope you read this before the drinks start flowing and the noise gets too much that you can't hear your own thoughts because I want you to take a moment to hear those thoughts.  To reflect on the past 365 days, to see what worked, what didn't, and maybe some things that could work but just maybe needs a little adjustment.  What do YOU want to do the same.  What do YOU want to do differently.  What will CHALLENGE you. 

I plan on taking some time to reflect on these things and to come up with a list to share.  I urge you to do the same.  I'm not talking about resolutions.  I'm talking about more than that.  I'm talking about intentions.  And yes, there is a difference.  Plug the word resolution into Google and you find "a firm decision to do or not to do something" or "the action of solving a problem, dispute, or contentious matter." Throw in the word resolute and you get "admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering."  Each are indeed admirable and inspirational, but is it reasonable?  

They get you excited, primed and ready for the big race, the big game, the whole enchilada!  But what happens when the race is over, the final score is on the scoreboard and you went to town on that enchilada and made happy plate?  

What if we replaced the word resolution with intention?  "A thing intended; an aim or plan." There are other great definitions out there, but they all give me the same feeling; of something organic, something fluid allowing the ability to reassess, change and to grow with what is being thrown at you every which way every day.  Because that my friends, is life.  Life is unreasonable sometimes and how we react and how we deal cannot be absolute.  Why not allow ourselves the freedom of fluidity?  How can we grow if we are absolute, feet set and unwavering or unwilling to move?

So let's start.  What do you intend to do in the coming year?  I'll have more later, but one intention that comes immediately to my mind is to do things that I've missed and writing ranks right up there. 

So I hope you all will welcome me back to the interwebs because I intend to get back to my roots.  To get back to one of the things that helped me navigate through this second chance at living.

That and I might become a redhead.  Could be funny and you might not want to miss that...