At camp we have all these readings handed to us, and one of the readings has changed my life. It’s the “Summer Slump” reading that they give us halfway through the summer to remind us to finish well. In it is a story of a guy who is a tightrope walker. He says the hardest steps are the last few because there’s a tendency to want to lunge for the platform – to execute those last few steps with less care than necessary and ruin the whole thing.
That’s kind of what December feels like. People suddenly start saying they can’t wait for a new start in a new year. They appreciate Christmas and stuff, but they’re really just over the current year they’re in.
Right now I’m trying to resist the urge to lunge for the platform, to say “I’ll start that habit in January,” or “I can’t wait for a new year and a new perspective.” I still have 28 days of 2015. Six of those days include my favorite Halter family. I have no reason to miss all that is right in front of me because I’m looking to something way out on the horizon.
Today I’m claiming all of the things I’m currently looking forward to in the rest of 2015.
- Staying at Camp Arnold tonight.
- Visiting Susannah tomorrow.
- Finally seeing Becky tomorrow.
- Evening coffee date with the ultra pregnant Meagan.
- Our Jingle Bell Breakfast.
- Church and Bible study.
- Nashville. Kristen. Lucy. Layla. Ernie.
- Elf movie night.
- Christmas concerts with the kids at my church.
- Distributing toys and food to families in need.
- Reflecting on the year.
What are you looking forward to on this side of 2016? Share in the comments. I’m slow at responding but I promise I read them!
amen amen amen! someone said once “nothing changes on New Years Day except the date” and that has always been my mantra! i want to live in the moment & not wait for a “new beginning” to make changes if they need to be made. but also not rush through the present just to get to the “next big thing”
As much as I am looking forward to 2016 I really do enjoy the process of reflecting on the past year and making intentional efforts to enjoy December.
I absolutely love this! December is still 1/12th of the year and a full 31 days so writing it off because January and New Years is coming is ridiculous. I’ve always been someone who absolutely loves Christmas and enjoys the holiday aspects of December, but I’m definitely going to be keeping this post in mind when thinking about everything else in my life this month!
Instead of trying to write off December, I’m trying to use December as a stepping stone for the new year. I’m prepping for my project to launch, planning on writing my books, and setting goals for 2016. It’s kind of like Sunday night when you get yourself ready for the week, but that doesn’t mean you’re not also present in Sunday night. I think people struggle to find that balance.
YAY Seeing ME!!!!! And I definitely have fallen into the habit of saying I’ll start things in the new year. That needs to change!
You and Susannah are too cute! Also I LOVE that illustration of the tightrope walker finishing well–can you send the reading to me (if you have it)? I want to read it with my seniors who have already started to succumb to the stress and check out…
I am looking forward to spending time with family. I am also looking forward to blogger, going to church, taking walks, drinking tea or cocoa.
You’re so right. I’m a chronic list-maker and goal-setter which also can translate into always looking ahead to the next thing instead of really seeing what’s right in front of me. I’m looking forward to having time with my family, catching up with friends, Christmas church services and parties, and trying to just “be”.