Happy New Year

I have a mental block against the word "resolutions", and I usually ignore the idea of making them for each new year. I generally have an idea of things I want to accomplish or change, but nothing solid. To be honest, I don't usually accomplish much of what is on my very vague mental list.

This year I'm going to focus on just one thing: Love others.

Now, my family and friends (ie: the only people who look at this blog) would say "of course you love people" and yes, of course I love you guys but I'm talking about loving the Walmart cashier who I've witnessed being rude to the 3 customers in front of me. The one who I approach defensively, expecting to be treated rudely. Most of the time, I treat this person just as rudely as she has been treating the people before me. I don't want to be that person anymore. I want to be the person who loves the (and it's so hard not to type the word "idiot" here) person who calls at work and is ticked off at me because they called the wrong number.

I read somewhere about this woman who decided she was going to try to be a shock absorber. To take a hit (being treated rudely) and to just absorb it and not pass it on to the next person. I like that idea.

I've seen people approach such rudeness with kindness and gentleness and I've seen the change in the rude person's demeanor. Showing kindness to someone is never a bad thing. I would like it to become second nature for me. I want my default reaction to be kindness, not defensiveness.

This is going to be the most challenging goal I have had in a very long time. Right now, that is not who I am, but I know that I am equipped to become that person.

When I think about becoming this person, in my head, I hear a game show buzzer going off with an announcer saying: "I'm sorry, wrong answer--try again." I have a feeling I'll hear that a lot.

I hope you reach any goals you may be striving for this year.