Reflections and Resolutions for 2010

Five weeks ago I was getting ready for my yearly trip to the Florida, where I would spend a month visiting some of my family who live there and join 400 internet marketers for a one week mastermind cruise.

From The Fun of Cruisin and Schmoozin. . . .

The day before my flight I was in a slight stress.  My refridgerator was defrosting with water seeping all over the floor, I was doing the last minute packing and still trying to figure out how to get to the airport.  Work had been unusually busy that week and I had tons of clinical reports to write which I was still doing until late the night before. 

I was closing my office and my home down for a month – was there anything I was forgetting?  At times I wondered if all this hassle was worth it, but having done this for a few years now – I knew it would be.

The airport was a breeze. The new terminal at Heathrow has a specific section dedicated to business and first class travellers so no long lines to wait in.  As soon as I checked in I was directed to the fast track line in security so again no long lines to wait in – bliss.  Before I knew it I was in the lovely lounge relaxing with a glass of champagne and eating some smoked salmon – aaaah, now I could breathe. My holiday had begun!

Once in the plane, I was not disappointed.  The newly refurbished seats completely reclined into a bed – a wonderful way to relax, listen to music and watch the latest movies ….

Hours later, one of my sister’s and my mother were at the airport to greet me.  It had been a year since I saw them but when I first caught glimpse of them, It was as if time had stood still.  It was great to see my family and it always amazes me how we just pick up even though it’s been a year since we last met.   I spent a week catching with my family and then I was off to Orlando to set sail.

The cruise – as usual – was a blast!  I made new friends and rekindled friendships I made the year before, had loads of fun on the different islands we visited – and I learned a lot.  The weather was a bit bizarre though.  We actually had snow in Orlando the day we were boarding the cruise ship. That was strange to say the least.

I must have partied too hard, however and not slept enough as I ended up with a flu after the cruise and for the last week of my holiday and which I am just now shaking off now . . .Well, that’s one way to slow me down…

Fast forward . . . . four weeks later and I’m on my way home.  Great flight – slept the most I’ve ever slept on a long haul flight.  Though I ordered dinner, I must have been so tired that I fell asleep before dinner was served and didn’t wake until the next morning to a hot breakfast.

To The Sad News of The Death of A Friend …….

As I was arriving on a Monday my friends couldn’t pick me up from the airport so I had resigned myself to taking a taxi but a comment of mine was picked up on facebook and a friend volunteered to pick me up.  You’ve just got to love social media – and my wonderful friends!

So here I was back in the UK – with the cold hitting me like a wall when I left the plane.  That’s when I realised that there is a slight difference in the meaning “cold front” depending on whether you are from Florida or England. Brrrrr

Then I received the sad news that a friend, same age as me, who had been diagnosed with cancer just before I left the UK, had died just a couple days prior to my arrival back in the UK. He was at my big birthday bash a year ago but his life had taken a different course over the last year and I hadn’t had contact with him since then . . . .  How life changed for him and his family in just one moment in time – the day when he sat in the doctor’s office and receive the diagnosis – and now 6 weeks later he is gone.  It’s sobering.  He has left 3 teenage children, parents, sisters and lots of friends  behind who will miss him.

So here I am sitting in my bed on Saturday morning– my first weekend on my own in weeks, having some time to reflect on what I am grateful for, time to reflect on life, to reflect on what’s important to me and on what I want for 2010.

Reflections and Resolutions for 2010

• Be Grateful – More Often.  It’s so easy to get stuck in remembering the bad times or the things that went wrong but but actually there are more things than not to be grateful for.  And according to the law of attraction you get more of what you focus your energies on.  The other thing I notice when I write regularly in my ‘gratitude journal’ is that when things do go wrong, I’m less likely to magnify their significance, because I have a grasp of the bigger picture of all the good things in my life.

• Celebrate Achievements – What did I achieve?  Did I remember to celebrate my achievements?  I’m a very driven person and sometimes I forget to celebrate as I’m looking for the next challenge or the next goal and I forget to enjoy the journey.  Oh – and a reminder not compare my achievements to others or to tell myself what I “should” have achieved.  Too often we focus on where we have arrived and less so on where we have come from and what we have braved to get there.  

• Life is short – Choose How To Spend It.  My friend’s death has reminded me of that again.  If I knew I only had a short time to live, how would I choose to spend my time?  What would I let go of that would free me up to live the life I want to?  Which relationships, ‘things’, memories or past experiences would I let go of?  What fears would I push past?

• Live Consciously – Choose how you use your most valuable resources:  time, energy and money.  There is a saying that you never step into the same stream twice.  It’s always moving and changing…  Life is like that.  What can I do to live more consciously, and passionately?  What choices will I make that lead to my success and happiness – my definition of it?

• Live Authentically -  Is my use of my resources honouring what I truly believe is important or am I getting swept down rivers on a course that isn’t mine?   I spent so much time last year learning about how to create an online business – I was so focused – successful people are, aren’t they?  I was exhausted by the end of the year and I didn’t get the results I hoped for so I was also very disappointed.  This year I want to nourish relationships more and travel more.  I want to spend more time being good to me.  I want to enjoy the journey as I work consistently towards my goals for my online business.  I think I need to lighten up on the outcome and enjoy the journey more and let it come to me more rather than try to force it ….. 

• Plan More Consciously  – What do I want for 2010?  I’ve noticed that I’m hesitant to be specific.  Is that because I’m afraid I won’t get what I want and then I’ll feel like a failure?  Yet, I believe the saying that “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”I’m going to organise how to make it happen, I will believe it will happen and I will keep on track….  Wishing isn’t enough. I wont ask myself “ can I?”  rather  “how can I?”.  Shifting the question engages the creative part of my brain in finding possibilities.

So how about you? 

Have you taken time to reflect on who you are or who you want to be, on what’s important to you and on what you want over the next year? 

If I interviewed you in December 2010 about how your year has been , what would you want to be telling me?

Dreaming about your ideal life isn’t enough – if you don’t make a commitment, plan for it and take action, your ideal life will only happen in your sleep. 

I hope you enjoy your journey in 2010 – I’m planning to.