Essentially 2008!

Each year I spend some time reflecting on the year that has past...and the year that is to come.
Since 1998, I have had an annual mission statement - a mission for the year that helps me to focus on my personal mantra .... "Live Life ZESTFULLY"
Previous Mission Statements have been:
1998 - Do Less, Enjoy More
1999 - Investing in my own personal wealth
2000 - Get on with it - Get over it...
Onward into a new millennium armed with Peace, Joy and Love
2001 - Happiness is grown in your own garden
2002 - Whatever you dream you can...Begin it!
2003 - Sailing toward the sunshine, leaving the clouds behind
2004 - Counting each blessing and making each blessing count
2005 - If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space
2006 - Organize your life around your dreams and watch them come true
2007- TRAIN your weakness and RACE your strength
Each year - I truly focus on the areas of my life that I would like to improve... areas that need growth and areas that I would like to develop. It is interesting to me to look back over the years and to remember what was my focus. My Mission Statements alone tell the story -
1998 - Obviously, I had more on my plate than I could effectively deal with ....
1999 - was a year I focused on my body - and myself, as an individual- I lost weight and worked on my fitness, while focusing on my career and my own financial security.
2000 - I was in the middle of the throws of domestic violence - and an ugly, unhappy marriage. I wanted to live in Peace...I wanted to focus on just that, Peace, Love and Joy.
2001 - I was beginning to truly tackle the truths of an impending divorce - beginning to understand that the happiness of others is not dependent on me.... and that my own happiness is not dependent on anyone but myself.
2002 - Happiness and joy were on my agenda! Living as a newly wed in a very happy marriage and embarking on a new position - and living in a new county. Truly a new beginning.... starting all over. I had the chance to dream big - and to make it happen!
2003 - While I was happy in my new marriage - and with my new life, there was a lot I needed to put behind me. I was still angry about my former marriage and the circumstances surrounding it. It was time to let go, because with that ugly cloud of anger hanging over my head - I couldn't givemy family, my husband or my new job the love and attention they truly deserved.
2004 - Simply stated....I had so much to be thankful for - with the anger behind me....it was time to truly count my blessings.
2005 - I had lived in a very safe, comfortable environment since my divorce.... and there were some things I really needed to focus on outside of my safety zone. I needed to step out of the comfort to be able to grow.
2006 - While I had worked to let go of the anger and had stepped outside of my safety zone - I still lived unter the mask of an abused woman ... it was time to put that away and focus on the dreams I had but had always supressed. I may not achieve all of my dreams this year - but I had to allow myself to dream... I was safe!
2007 - I was entering a new position at work and really wanted to focus on training myself and learning new things.
So - 2008 - I'm looking at the essential things in my life. What is ESSENTIAL to me....
not necessarily 'simple' - but essential. What do I need to live essentially?
What will I need to live essentially in the future as my retirement begins to loom in the near future as I focus on my 50th birthday this year. I will focus on the most essential items that surround me - I will focus on the essentials for a happy marriage, I will focus on the essential priorities for my children & grandchildren, I will focus on my essential role as a daughter with my mother, I will focus on the essential friends in my life, I will focus on the essential goals for my career. I will focus on what is essential for improving domestic violence awareness, I will focus on what is essential for a healthy body.... I will focus on the things that are of key importance - the things that are necessary.....the ESSENTIALS in life!

Focusing on the Essentials....
Something to do
Something to love and
Something to hope for!