Moving forward with purpose and intention. Look out 2020!

As we toast 2019 and reflect on the 365 days gone by, our feelings about this past year will be as varied as we are.

For some of us, 2019 will have been the happiest year of our lives – perhaps an exciting relationship, parental, career, health, or travel milestone was realized. For others, 2019 will have marked the hardest days of their life – forever scarred with sadness, grief, uncertainty, loneliness, or loss. For many others, 2019 will be forgettable. Nothing big (loss or gain) to report. It just was.

Regardless of where each of us falls on the reflection spectrum, it is still worth reflecting.

I recall the year of 1997 when I lost both my Mom and my Grandmother. I just wanted the year to be over. Done. Behind me. As if a simple number change would wipe away the grief and pain. It didn’t. It followed me into the next year, but somehow the new year also symbolized a new start.

I know many family members and friends whose 2019 was my 1997. It’s been a year marked with much loss and grief. Good, kind, genuine people have passed. The pain and grief run deep. I honour their life, legacy, and memory the best way I can – I remember them, continue to say their name and will live my life with Purpose and Intention.

2019 also marked some personal and business milestones. Each milestone – whether big or small – is worth celebrating. To achieve a milestone indicates I took a chance. I made the leap with doubt and uncertainty lingering in my shadow. That in itself is worth celebrating. Many people will never step away from the safety of the sidelines – the viewing bleachers – and just ‘go for it’. Of course, some steps turned out differently than I had anticipated, but it’s all part of my journey. I’ve learned. I’ve grown. Onward I go.

Reflecting on the year that is now in my rearview, will ultimately help recalibrate my movements for the year in front of me. What have I not done that I wanted to do? Where can I better align my purpose and passion?

Even though none of us know for certain what 2020 has in store for us, we can still choose to facilitate its shaping with purpose and intention.

One thing I know for certain is that when people lose a loved one often their own life is reexamined. A sense of urgency that was non-existent before, becomes a new way of being. It’s subtle at first, but it shows itself when a daily mantra – don’t put off what you want to say or do, tomorrow is not promised – becomes the new reality.

This urgency is buried deep in the scars. Scratching does not relieve this itch. It has taken me years to know this, but I have discovered that moving forward with Purpose and Intention provides some relief.

New Year, New Decade, New Start.

Imagine if each of us leaped into this year with Purpose and Intention – consciously set the stage for our best year yet. We thoughtfully and courageously step away from the sidelines and assume our place on the field in life’s arena – we start that business, we take that course, we say I love you (genuinely and more often), we take that trip. we revitalize our career, we visit friends and relatives, we volunteer for that cause, we try that sport, we read those books, we write that novel, we build that house, etc. etc. etc.

We step in. With urgency. With Purpose. With Intention.

There is so much I want to do this year. Today is Day 1 of 366 (2020 is a leap year….Hooray, we get an extra day). The year may not be promised to me, but I will own the shaping of it.

My canvas is blank. It is waiting for my best self-portrait.

And so is yours.

Look Out 2020! Here we come!