A Year From Now

Years ago, I found a quote that went something like this: “A year from now, what will you wish you had done today?”

This quote is written down several places, although I don’t remember where I found it, or who said it. It has been written inside each new notebook I use and I can see it on an index card taped above my bookshelf right this moment. I am not sure where I will be in a year. When I think about where I was a year ago, at first I don’t see much progress. Maybe that’s just me getting more and more cynical each year. But if, instead, I pretend I am not talking to myself, but to a friend, I might see more. 

I took a huge leap last year. I left a job where I was miserable, explored a few different options, and reached for the stars… Much to my disappointment, I didn’t catch the particular star I was after. In fact, I am still light years from it, but it’s still out there and it isn’t going anywhere. Perhaps I can’t take a rocket straight to my dream destination. Maybe it’s more like little hops on stepping stones – or my first stop at an international space station. At any rate, in this moment, I am closer to where I want to be than I was a year ago.

I don’t remember ever keeping a New Year’s Resolution. In fact, I don’t remember ever officially declaring any. I did make a bucket list once, though, and I have crossed off a few items. I don’t think we should need a “new year” to make changes. Resolutions aren’t about deciding to change something overnight and then *poof* the change is permanent. Although, I can appreciate starting something new at the start of a new year. Like putting the bookmark at the end of a chapter or rounding up to the next whole number. Maybe it’s a “Type A” thing.

I think life should be more about growth – being cognizant about what we are choosing and taking steps toward whatever it is that we want. Then we have to get back up when we trip because – yes, indeed – we will trip and fall flat on our faces, often in front of a very large and unforgiving audience. If we are strong enough to get back up, we will have new bumps, bruises, and scrapes to wear as battle scars, along with some mud we may not be able to brush off. But we will be stronger at the end of the race than we were when we started and we just might get to the place we want to end up. 

So, when I think about all the days of the past year, I can see where I had some good days and some not-so-good days. And I will try to have more days where I put one foot in front of the other and hop on the next stepping stone, instead of just sitting down to dangle my feet in the water. Because one year from now, I will again be asking myself, “A year from now, what will you wish you had done today?”