Let’s reflect on 2009. What did you do? Where have you been? Any good stories? I mean GOOOOOD stories, like the ones you’ll tell when you’re 60. I hope you do. I hope you have enough to fill a book.
If a slew of stories doesn’t immediately rush forward, begging every muscle in your jaw to tell the closest victim the many intricacies of these tales, then 2009 was a good year. Yup, a good year. But not a GREAT year.
You, my friend, deserve a GREAT year. 2010 is yours. This isn’t about nutrition, working out, or sleep. This is about you. This is about recognizing that 2009 was pretty good but 2010 will be the year you grab life by the collar, shake it around, and make it yours.
This is how you make it happen: Say “yes” more often.
You will never have “enough” money. You will always be short on time. There will never be a “right” time. The sting of a wrong decision will never be a comfortable feeling. “Uphill” will always be in your point of view. Work will never stop needing your extra time. And with kids, you may never have that extra hour of sleep you need.
Screw it. These are just hurdles on your journey to a GREAT year. Call in sick. Grab coffee with an old friend. Travel. See a movie you know you’ll hate. Join an adult sports team. Volunteer your time and money. Go to a church, restaurant, and club you’ve never been. Did I say travel? Travel some more.
In 20 years, do you want to sit back and reminisce on 2010 as the year you got a 10 percent raise at work? Or the year you went skydiving for the first time, got thrown out of a bar, and went ice fishing for a week in Canada?
Set goals for 2010. And crush them! Let nothing stand in your way of completely owning this year. Whether it be to sing kareoke, run a marathon, or start your own business, do it. And do it now. It’ll be embarrassing, difficult, and expensive, but do it. Because it’s yours. You’ll only have one 2010.
In 2030, you may have all the money and all the privilege, but if you don’t have a story to tell, it wasn’t worth it.
Now, go get it.