It’s 2014. A time for
resolutions, a time to embrace change, a time to makes things new again. Over the many years I have been trying to
persuade myself through resolutions I have come to one conclusion, I stink at
sticking to them. I really do.
When I talk about embracing change, what I mean by that is
CHANGE is inevitable. It’s going to
happen whether we like it or not. It may
not be the change that we employ rather it’s that nasty type of change that
creeps up on us over the years. For
example, in 1996 I graduated from the United States Marine Corps Recruit
Training weighing in at a fit and ripped 160 pounds. That’s right!
I was 18 and had the proverbial 6 pack.
This upcoming March it will be another 18 years since that graduation. And being transparent, I have gained that
recruit in weight. On January 1st
I weighed in at 320 pounds. With that
being said I have gained almost 9 pounds a year since 1996. Now, don’t get me wrong my weight has gone up
and down and up and down since then, but as of the 1st this is where
it’s at.
Almost every year I make a resolution to lose weight. I tell myself I am going to start “brand new”
in the new year and do some awesome things.
Starting new, hasn’t worked either.
It’s always the same result…February and March come around and McDonalds
and all the other gluttonous restaurants are back calling my name and inviting
me over as if we never parted ways.
So, this year I have decided to not start new, not really
resolve to do something crazy drastic like give up meat for 40 days, but to
IMPROVE. What I mean by this is; in God’s
eyes I am awesome. Don’t get me wrong I
have my faults and weaknesses but in His eyes, I am HIS child who he loves no
matter how big, skinny, tan, pale, forgetful, bright, lazy, hardworking…etc I
am or become. God made me. I was His design. However, I did pull away and try to make my
own “modifications” along the way but in the end, I cannot make anything “new”
again. What I can do is improve. I can improve on my life every day.
How do I improve you ask?
Great question… I can take a step back and improve on my education. Not just of the world but of His word. I can improve on my eating habits. I can put the proper nutrition into my body
instead of those things that are not. I
can improve on my attitude by improving my positive thinking through knowing
what God promises are for me. I can
improve my attitude towards my family by taking the time to stop and listen
before speaking. I can improve my
quality time with my family by turning of the distractions…the gadgets, the
devices, the television, the “noise”. There
are many things that I can improve on, and one thing is to improve on taking
one thing at a time.
So, in this new year, it’s not about change, it’s not about
starting something new. It’s all about
improving who I am and who I want to be through God and for God and for my
family and for me.
What do you need to improve?
