Goodbye, 2023.  Where Do We Go From Here And How Do We Get There?

It’s been a rough year, for a lot of people.

I’ve read about it. I’ve heard about it. I’ve watched it on TV. I’ve experienced it. 

What saddens me is that there appears to have been more losers than winners. I hate to say, “losers”, but I can’t find many who are putting a checkmark in the “W” column for the past 52 weeks. Still, I thank God I’ve got life and relatively good health, along with all of you readers and beyond. 

I mean, just days ago, a woman was shot and killed because two brothers fought over the amount of presents each one got for Christmas. Remember that day? The day we chose to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ?.

People, exactly where are your values? So many have lost their way (*sigh*).

Well, tomorrow begins another chapter, and I can promise you that the opening line remains the same for a lot of you:

“New year, new me!” 

Problem is that many people have done very little to make it happen.

You will find those who will “turn it over to God”, which I think is great. But I’ve told you before… the last I checked; God isn’t in the business of doing it for you. He may enlighten you, give you strength, courage, improved health, even touch the hearts of others to make things easier for you. But He won’t do it FOR you. YOU have to put in the work!

Me, I’ve got a lot to do. Probably more than I ever have during the December/January transition of years past. But the important thing is, I’m working on it. In fact, I’ve been at it for the past 4-5 months.

And yes, I’ve asked God to help me in areas where He saw fit. But in the end, I asked Him for the basic things you’d find in the Serenity Prayer: 

1. The SERENITY to ACCEPT the things I cannot change.
2. The COURAGE to change the things I can.
3. The WISDOM to know the difference.

Or in simpler terms, as Kenny Rogers put it: Know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em. Know when to walk away. Know when to run…

Funny how similar those two passages are. Bet you never thought about that, hunh?

I offer no unique words of wisdom today. I just figured I’d share what I was thinking and feeling. Especially since I’ve been a little light on the posts these past few months. And for that, I’m sorry. I do have many articles ready for post, but I’ve been waiting for the appropriate time for most of them.

I’m just asking that in 2024, you make no decisions while angry. Don’t make any decisions while extremely elated either. Get your house in order. Know your priorities. Don’t second guess yourself. Sometimes, going with your gut is the right move.

But no matter what you do, when planning your next move, think about how it will affect you in the long run; how it will impact others.

Be considerate. Be thoughtful. Be strategic. Be forgiving. Be positive. Be loving.

Be you. Be proud. Be good to one another.

So let it be written, so let it be done.

Goodbye, 2023. Happy New Year!

God willing, I’ll see you in it.

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