January Thoughts – Dare to Dream

21 Jan 2026 Leave a comment

by Lori in Health and Wellness Tags: , , , , 

Listen to this dream - Genesis 37:6

Over the years I’ve said a lot and a lot have been said over the issue of New Year goals and intentions. In fact, I weary now of all the chatter, that mostly it’s just that – chatter. I quite prefer action over and above the noise. Some would say I’m getting older and losing my sense of adventure or maybe I’m just going through a challenging phase. I might go with the latter and strongly refute the first. Older, yes, losing my sense of adventure, no. But yes, challenging seasons tend to alter our outlook some and so I find myself entering this New Year a bit more pensive, if you will. I know perspective is important so I’ve taken that into consideration and adjusted my outlook to reflect someone who is hopeful and forward thinking. That said,  I’m grateful to God for growth opportunities this year and look forward to changes and momentum.

In keeping with a positive and fresh perspective for the New Year, I think it’s important, and necessary even, to surround myself with a forward thinking or visionary projection to center and encourage my thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors in order to see the growth I expect. You see pensive isn’t a bad thing, it gives me pause and opportunity to sit and sort my thoughts and allow for clarity and order to emerge from the muddle and confusion of the past months. Unarguably, we are so much more empowered to move ahead or dive in with a clearer head and a brighter picture. Such is the power of a vision. So I’ve sat and prayed and ruminated, and I’m ready to see the bigger picture. A picture that includes a path that is winding – some ups and downs surely, but hope springs eternal because there’s room for respite. A pastor I admire have asked his congregation to “DARE” again. D – dream again. A – ask again. R – risk again. E – engage again. I think it’s a great acronym to embrace as we step into 2026. Sometimes life can stifle your dreams with challenges and struggles that leave you feeling beat down and exhausted. A new year presents the opportunity to put the last year and it’s disappointments behind us and to believe for better things once more. God’s Word says we have not because we ask not and when we do ask it is with the wrong motives. Well Lord, here I am asking. Purify my motives and give me a fresh vision and a fresh start. Give me new hope and strength for the things I desire for Your glory this year. All fear aside, because I have power, love, and self discipline, I’m embracing faith and taking the first step even when I can’t see the whole staircase. No risk, no reward. Thankfully, God’s with us. Lastly, I have determined to engage the Word of God and engage with others this year. It’s so easy to isolate and/ or hide behind a screen or situations when things get challenging. Been there, done that. It hasn’t been an effective strategy. This new year calls for a new strategy.  I’m choosing to engage and I hope you do too.

My friends, pop the champagne, let’s drink to a year of steps ordained by the Lord so that we can navigate life with wisdom, grace, and authenticity. I embrace this opportunity for new lens, renewed purpose, and joyful strength to face whatever is before me. I see growth, transformation, and momentum as I move forward daily by God’s grace. While my objective reality is skewed toward uncertainty and distractions, I choose to focus my faith on the One I know to be true and present with me and so I claim a path forward of peace and purpose. 2016 is my year to bloom where I’m planted and to sow the seeds I gather along the way: seeds of patience, grace, wisdom, humility, compassion, kindness, and gentleness. It’s not too late to get your heart and mind right. Join me. Our reward will be great!

New Year, New You or Cliché?

31 Dec 2015 Leave a comment

by Lori in Fitness, Health and Wellness, Running Tags: , ,

Happy-New-Year-2016-Wallpaper_2

happynewyear2016quotes.com

No one puts aside time and make the effort every year’s end to come up with a set of goals that they plan on never seeing to fruition. Truth is, by the time January 1st comes along we’re totally excited about putting the old year behind us and stepping into what we perceive as a new opportunity, another chance to make some changes or get it right – if you will. And why shouldn’t we? The new year does indeed provide an opportunity for a fresh start for many of us. The startling, but then, not-so-startling, thing is why when fostered by so much determination, strength of purpose and the personal drive to realize our goals at the beginning of the year do they fall through? And oftentimes when we’re less than halfway into the year. Survey results show that an average eight percent of our new year goals are achieved by the year’s end. What is it that causes us to fall by the wayside leaving goals, resolutions, determinations – however you see them – as dissapointing slivers of what-could-have-been-if-only-I-had-the-wherewithal-to-stick-with-it.

Chances are we may already have a fair idea for the reasons behind our inability to follow through, but I’ll go ahead and posit anyway that those very said goals that we are bent on achieving at the beginning of the year need to be mainly two things: realistic and subject to time constraints. This is the reason why many psychologists and other professionals agree that goals should be SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound. I particularly latch on to realistic and time-bound because we need to be clear on the difference between dreams and goals as this can mean the difference between success and disappointment.
Dreams fall somewhere along the lines of fanciful and wishful. While many dreams do and can come throug it may not be prudent to set a dream you have as something you would like to achieve in a year’s time. Because a dream is inherently lacking in direction, focus, strategy, planning and sometimes even in reality it does not fulfill the “SMART” criteria and can be viewed as setting oneself up for failure. For example, I dream of running the World Marathon Majors Series; however, the chances of me fulfilling that next year is akin to impossible due to varying factors such as opportunity and money. Thus, that wikl not be listed as one of my goals for next year; maybe in a few years but not in 2016. See, goals need to be realistic. I can dream of doing many things, even talk myself into thinking I can do those many things but if at the end of the day there are insurmountable obstacles to prevent them happening and they remain unachievable then they are unrealistic. Realsitc goals are goals that can be achieved with resources you either have or can obtain in the time-frame needed. In addition to realistic, goals must be bound by a period of time. This way they’re easier to manage and provide you with the focus to get it done. An example would be to say, “next year I will run 4 marathons, 1 in each season.” From this you can tell I am pacing myself and providing ample kopportunity to run a marathon every 3 months.
While I could go on about goals being “SMART,” we’ve been over that so many times already I feel it’s important to point out that if you remember anything in setting yourself goals for next year it is to try to do it with someone – a buddy –  who can hold you and you can hold accountable. We, humans, respond better when we are held accountable to someone. We tend to be more committed, more focused, more motivated, we’re all-round better at performing or even out-performing when we have someone supporting, encouraging, demanding and providing insight. It is no secret we were never meant to walk this life alone nor should we have to face challenges alone. Life is better in twos or threes or fours or… you get the picture. Your Happy New You depends on you.

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