2017 Started Off On The Wrong Foot... Literally!
Every December, folks all around the world start thinking about what they want to accomplish in the coming year. Resolutions are top of mind for most people. I was a card-carrying member of the “New Year’s Resolution” club, but unfortunately 2017 got started off on the wrong foot, literally.
Disclaimer: This isn’t a political post. It’s about a shift in mindset.
I had the rare privilege of spending Christmas and New Years with my brother and his wife. Time with family is so precious and I don’t get to enough of this because we live in two separate states. On New Year’s day, we went to brunch and I stepped off a step the wrong way and sprained my ankle.
After shedding a few tears because of the pain, my first thought was “Well, there went my New Year’s Resolution of working out and getting in shape.” I was basically sidelined to my couch and icing my ankle every few hours for a couple weeks.
Just as my ankle was finally starting to heal, I came down with the worst cold I can ever remember having in my lifetime. I normally try to will my way through colds (which I very rarely ever get in the first place), but this one was different. It took every ounce of energy I had to fight this thing and, once again, I was stuck on the couch for days.
I’ve long been a believer that everything happens for a reason in life. Nothing happens by chance. There’s a lesson to be learned in every life moment.
All this time on the couch gave me time to think and reevaluate how I wanted to spend the rest of the year. The conclusion I came to was that my New Year’s resolutions were all about me and how to be the best version of me. The problem with that is that they only benefitted… you guessed it… ME. While some did have a small impact on the world, the majority didn't.
Starting now, my goals have a different purpose in mind: To increase the difference I make in the lives of others. Some are still personal in nature and the reason here is to build a solid foundation within myself that allows me to help others.
I don’t believe in “reset buttons” because you can’t go back and change the past. But you can set out on a different path today to build a better tomorrow. So that’s what I’m doing for the rest of the year.
The goals I’ve created for the rest of the year can be grouped into four categories:
- Mental - How can I grow as a person so I can better help others
- Emotional - How can I better connect the dots of life to discover how I can best impact the world
- Physical - Health is the foundation upon which everything else in life is built. Taking care of my health will allow me to better serve others.
- Spiritual - Being rooted in my faith will allow me to discover my purpose in life and how I can best use my talents to make a difference in the lives of others.
While I won’t share all my goals here (some are very personal), I do want to share one. This one is a spiritual goal and one I believe has the greatest potential to make an exponential impact on the world.
The goal is to spend 88 hours volunteering for the rest of 2017.
The driven person in me hopes to absolutely crush this goal and exceed it, but I wanted to keep it realistic as well. It works out to be about one weekend a month and I hope to spend time working in a variety of causes in the Atlanta area (and maybe around the country as I travel).
As I go on this journey of helping people, I hope to share the stories with you here and on Medium.
Fixing the Broken Healthcare System. Lower premiums. Price transparency. Sustainable benefit solutions to attract and retain qualified staff because small/middle market businesses are key to our country’s economy.
8 年Kudos for taking time to reflect. You wrote "everything happens for a reason in life," and in agreeing with you, it is only the wise that observe and use it for inspiration instead of whining. Your personal initiative continues to impress me. Volunteering opportunities: several dog rescues in metro area, foodbanking and obviously religious organizations (interfaith and secular). Glad to connect offline to discuss details.
Content & Brand Leader @ Onum
8 年Love this! Best of luck and will, Nikki!
Cofounder & CEO Inverta | Growth Marketing Agency
8 年Great perspective Nikki I share your philosophy of everything happens for a reason and to look for deeper meaning - it's proven to be a valuable tool for me over the years. My advice on where to start is to find a cause that you're passionate about - i.e. helping women in shelters find jobs or provide coaching/training, of animals are your thing - volunteer at a shelter. You get the point! Good luck and can't wait to hear about your journey!
Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) | Leadership Executive | Brand Strategist | Business Transformation | Private Equity
8 年Volunteer at PowerMyLearning. I did it last week and would gladly go back with you. I too am seeking volunteer opportunities, specifically any that will include my boys!