Musings for the New Year

2015 is fading fast.

If you had a great year, the time probably flew by.

If you didn't, you probably can't wait for the year to finish up.

Either way, we humans have an interesting relationship with time. And year's end offers a chance to reflect and look ahead. Here's some meanderings, for what they may (or may not) be worth.

Don't take anyone's advice (including mine) as the "gospel" truth.

The best advice comes from experience. But that, in itself, is a distillation of another person's experience. It may be wise. It may not. 

I'm not saying don't take anyone's advice, I'm only saying don't take it without thinking about the source and what they're actually saying.

Look for the silver lining behind the clouds.

Life is full of ups and downs. No one gets through life completely pain free. However, that doesn't mean that you should walk around being anxious all the time. 

One of my favorite Bible scriptures is from Philippians 4.6; the verse that begins: "Be anxious for nothing..." Feel free to check it out for a great, practical way to handle anxiety.

Nurture your sense of humor.

Related to point #2 above. It's grace from God to be able to see the ironies in life and smile at them. 

Truly it is. And the older you get (full disclosure: I am now a senior citizen), you'll find that the value of a sense of humor grows.

Sometimes a situation is so befuddling that it can stop you in your tracks. And sometimes the only way to get out of the middle of the road before life hits you is to jump to the side and laugh. 

As a sidenote, I'm thoroughly convinced that having a sense of humor is linked to creativity. Speaking of which...

Exercise your creativity regularly.

It's why God made you the unique person that you are! 

Being creative can be hard work. But it's ultimately rewarding. It can also be a lot of fun expressing the creative force that God put inside you.

Make an effort to explore your spiritual side.

As human beings, we all have a spirit. It's the deepest part of who we are. When our spirit isn't integrated with our emotional (as in emotions) and mental (as in our mind) sides, life quickly can become skewed. Finally...

Stay grounded in God.

When all is said and done, no one knows you better.  If it's true that God is the ultimate source of love and wisdom, doesn't it make sense to stay close to the source?

Happy 2016!

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