Sixth Day of Christmas

This is the sixth day of Christmas and the fifth day of Kwanzaa. It's time to wrap things up for this old year! 

Agenda today:
1. Kwanzaa principles

2. Christmas retreat

3. Becoming Rooted reading

4. Purpose, depth, and career goals for 2022

5. Practice purpose with New Year's resolutions

6. Review my vision poster

1. Kwanzaa principles:

The fifth day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to the principle of nia (NEE-ah), which is purpose. Purpose allows me to dream of the best future, to look within and set personal goals that are beneficial to me, my family, and my community.

2. Christmas retreat:

Two days left of 2021; it's time to see it out, and welcome in the New Year! This is an introspective time- standing at the door of the year, looking backward and forward. It's my habit to reflect on the past and also to ponder the year ahead- consider my true purpose and envision hopes for myself and my world.

Today I am honoring my life purpose and career:

What are my most important reasons for living? What are my priorities? What would my best life look like? What actions give me the feeling of a meaningful life, and best support my beliefs and values?

 

Describe my life path now - Is it clear or foggy? What are my next steps in life? Do I have any well-defined missions?

 

What dreams do I have for the New Year? What might I do in the New Year to better express myself? How do I want to grow? Imagine accomplishing my goals; how do they benefit my family and community? 

 

As I move into retirement, what work do I cling to, and why? Is this the work I'm called to do? How do I discern the next chapter in my life?

 

3. Becoming Rooted Reading:

I got the book "Becoming Rooted" by Randy Woodley for Christmas (by request) and today I'm continuing to read from the introduction.

"Planting your roots on the land in which you live is the only way to restore harmony and balance on Earth. The alternative is extremely bleak. ... Why miss out on learning from the greatest teacher, the Earth herself? Why miss seeing the beauty that awaits us in a renewed and fruitful relationship of mutual caring?"

Some of my Quaker Earthcare Support Group will gather weekly on zoom to discuss this book starting January 20th, as part of the "100 days before Earth Day, Reconnecting with Sacred Earth", organized by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.

4. Purpose, depth, and career goals for 2021:

I'm finishing up the work of setting goals and resolutions for the New Year, focusing on my priorities, which are Love, Home, Health, Service and Activism, Learning, Creativity, and Life Purpose.

My theme for today is my life purpose and depth - following the true course of my life, like a river flowing through a deep ravine. Staying on my path requires courage, honesty, and persistence. The path is always mysterious, and leads to unexpected challenges and changes. I’m directed back at every turn into the deep waters within myself, to discern the best route. Like water, I am persistent and sincere, and I keep flowing. 

Goals for this area might be to find my true purpose in life, gain greater courage or persistence, make a change in my job or career, or discern my “natural” course.

My ideas for purpose and career goals so far:

• Complete my Ducks in a row book and publish it somehow.
• Give a voice to nature and the environment. Paint love poems to the earth, and post them on Etsy.
• Find ways to model and teach self-transcendence rather that self-fulfillment.
• Be a wise teacher for my painting students - study and prepare.

4. Practice purpose with New Year's resolutions:

Make important New Year’s resolutions that speak to my purpose. Tips: 

• Start early: If I wait until the last minute, my resolutions will be based only on my mind-set that particular day. 
• Be realistic. Set small, clearly defined goals that will be possible to accomplish. Also, limit the number to two or three at the most.
• Make a plan: Consider how I will stick to it. Experts say it takes about 21 days for a new activity to become a habit, and 6 months for it to become part of my personality.
• Talk about it: Don't keep my resolutions a secret. Tell at least a couple people what I am planning, and ask if they will check up on my progress.
• Write about my motivations: A few weeks in to the New Year it will be very helpful to read and remember why I thought these resolutions were such a good idea. 

2021: Left to right - top row: Synergy, depth, stillness 
Middle row: Joy, balance, strength 
Bottom row: Receptivity, abundance, integrity.

5. Update my vision poster:

Each year, during the last week of the year, I work on a giant collage Vision Poster-- a visual way to show my plans for the new year.

Today I plan to examine last year's poster to see what I've accomplished- remove the items that I've finished or no longer need, and consider what I might like to add for next year.