I spent the last morning of 2015 at a pour over/espresso bar in downtown Cleveland. The combination of fantastic coffee, dreamy aesthetics, and having absolutely no agenda made for a few pretty-close-to-perfect hours. The mood was light, the pace was slow, and my mind was full of hopes and dreams for the new year.
I love the idea of living a well-intentioned life, and, like many others, I see the start of a new year as a perfect opportunity to set goals, redefine boundaries, and dream about the potential of the upcoming months. I suppose this qualifies as resolution-making, but more than just a list of what I hope to accomplish, I see it as defining the way I want to live in the new space of the year ahead.
The way I began December 31, 2015, is the way I would love to see 2016 unfold: slow and calm, yet deliberate and productive. I admit to the realization that life cannot really be lived in a constant state of calm or at a perpetual pace of slow. Weeks get frenzied and the edges of our days fray, mostly because of circumstances outside of our control. But when it comes to what I can control (namely, my own emotions, actions, and reactions) this is what I’m striving for: slow and calm, deliberate and productive.
Slow—because time moves fast enough on its own without my hurrying and panting to keep up. Because life is flying by at a scary fast pace, and I’m bound to miss it if I don’t open my eyes and take it all in.
Calm—because the opposite creates chaos, stealing the joy right out from underneath us. Because we see clearer, love deeper, and live bigger, better lives when we’re not driven by the disarray that all too often invades our days.
Deliberate—because doing things on purpose is the essence of intentional living. Because taking the time to consider our lives results in a sweet richness that is otherwise forfeited.
Productive—because we all have within us the desire to work toward something worthwhile. Because bettering our own lives helps us better the people and places that surround us.
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So here’s a cheer for 2016! This year, may we all journey a little further down the road to becoming the people we want to be.
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