Gentle Goals for a New Year

“Wander more. Notice at least one beautiful thing a day. Take the class you’ve been thinking about. Leave your comfort zone more often so you have stories to tell when you get back. Make a new friend. Read a book that changes you. Stay loyal to yourself. Act with kindness and integrity. Allow yourself to feel joy and wonder in the ordinary. Speak honestly, love wildly, and live courageously.” – Nanea Hoffman

I actually do have a few goals for the New Year, but I think the above list has some nice little amendments to offer. (Nanea Hoffman for the win, per usual.) The above photo, for example, is my “notice at least one beautiful thing” for today. Isn’t he a STUNNER? I don’t believe I have never seen a more vibrant cardinal in my entire life.

I’ve never really enjoyed riding the “new year, new me” wave of self-improvement that comes with the turn of the calendar. Instead, I have a few activity-based things I’d like to see the old me accomplish this year. Run a half marathon (training started last week!). Read every day for pleasure – even if it’s just for ten minutes. Work my way through the Bible in a Year daily podcast again. Maybe blog at least twice a week. Stuff like that.

But more than anything, I just want to gently ease into the year with an abundance of gratitude, patience, compassion, and grace to offer myself and others. And I would hope that never has to be a “new me.”