Thoughts for 2015

Chandelier; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2010

A new year is upon us. Some of you are goal-setters or setters of New Year's Resolutions. Here are a few thoughts to consider:

1. Life is messy. The sooner you accept this, the more joyful you will be.

2. Forget happiness. Joy is a better choice and it's an inside job: you cultivate it yourself.

3. Adaptability and resilience are key qualities if you want to thrive and not just survive when life throws you curve balls.

4. Expectation will make you miserable and constantly disappointed. Let go of it and learn to accept "what is" versus "how you think things should be."

5. Perfection is an illusion. Imperfection is real, attainable, and far more interesting.

6. Be open and curious. Ask questions, read widely, seek out new experiences.

7. Look up and around. Walk away from your screens and unplug. Have face-to-face conversations with your friends and family. Play a card game, go for a walk.

8. Learning is life-long. Learn something new in 2015. Teach yourself a new skill or habit. Take a class. Ask a friend or family member to teach you something that you are curious about. Interview your elders while they are still around. You'll be glad you did and you'll learn something.

9. Experiment with a new behaviour. Try it on for a few days, weeks, or months. Make it fun. Document the experience: what works, what doesn't, how you feel.

10. Look for the beauty and humour in all experiences, especially the challenging ones. Life is messy, imperfect, and oblivious to your expectations. It will throw you curve balls when you least expect it. Humour and beauty are always present even during the darkest times.