Ah, it’s 2014. I love the start of a new year. It’s full of tantalizing possibilities. Like the start of a brand new school year. Remember those days and the excitement of being a young kid, a really young kid? Before the cynicism crept in and a new school year really did seem full of exciting new potential.
What if we do this – we treat 2014 as a new school year. A complete reset. All our garbage, hang-ups and insecurities are gone. Poof. They’ve disappeared. In place is a metaphorical box of crayons. The kind that is large enough to have its own sharpener in back. Each crayon has a shiny, perfect point and represents a dazzling opportunity of color, new growth, adventure and fun. Don’t forget the fun.
With those imaginary crayons let’s pick our colors and envision a bolder picture for the year. Let’s think of what we’re capable of doing. Use the imagination. Be a bit daring. Consider using the weird ones, too. Even the ones with crazy names like electric lime and neon carrot. Especially use those because most don’t. (And why be like everyone else?) Make the picture full of color. Don’t worry about going outside the lines. Keep it authentic. Forget what others might think. Be you.
What happens if we break the crayon tip before finishing? The box has a sharpener in back. In other words, when creating new goals for the year, obstacles will inevitably get in the way. That is to be expected. Sharpen the crayon and recalibrate. Or pick a new color. They’re not all the same but sometimes the substitute is more than acceptable. (And I’ve checked – mango tango is a good compromise to neon orange.)
In the end, we may not use the exact colors we wanted but ultimately we’ll be proud of our new creation. To put another way, let’s not aim for perfection. Reach instead for stretching – spiritually, emotionally, physically, creatively or whichever way we choose.
For 2014, let’s endeavor to make more colorful pictures. Happy New Year. And don’t forget the fun.
