old long since...

have you ever wondered what the song auld lang syne (AKA the new years eve song) means? if you're anything like me, probably not. in fact, like me, you probably can't sing any of the song past "should old acquaintance be forgot." well, if you're reading this blog and you're dying to know...it translates to "old long since", it's the idea of casting off the old...looking toward the new. (if we thought hard enough we probably could have all figured that out, but what's the fun in that?)

and, as always, since the new year began there's the dreaded question...what's your resolution? i don't generally make resolutions. i'm sure the reasoning behind that has something to do with my lack of self discipline or something else equally as self deprecating, but i just don't usually make them. However, this year i did...by accident. it wasn't a conscious decision, it just happened. it really started happening last fall. i began to realize that i lead a very small life. not that i think my life isn't valuable, it is. i mean that my world, my social circle, how i spend my time, is very small. i began to see some areas where i was being asked to grow, to stretch myself out of my comfort zone, to take some risks (as long as those risks don't involve picking up hitch hikers, per my parent's request).

so, here is my inadvertent new year's resolution for 2010...to put myself out there more, broaden my scope, meet new people, impact lives and take some risks. here are three goals i gave myself that i believe will steer me in the right direction. 1) find, commit and get involved in a church home. 2)volunteer at a homeless shelter, soup kitchen and/or food bank (if you've never read "under the overpass" by mike yankoski i highly recommend it, it is life changing. 3) hang out with/mentor kids. so, there it is, out there for the world to see! this is how i want to actively change my life in the coming months.

resolution update...here it is january 11th and last week i began the process of becoming a volunteer with the boys and girls club of america. one goal down, two to go. i'm not telling you this to toot my own horn. i tell you this because i believe accountability is the key to success. i'm hoping that as the year progresses i will find other valuable ways to spend my time that i can share with everyone. right now, i'm just looking forward to hanging out with some kids!