Looking Ahead
29. Dec, 2009 
5 Comments
As we come upon the end of another year, and in this case, the end of a decade, I’ve decided to skip the usual year in review and instead look ahead to next year. I’m excited for the potential of the next year for the first time in a long time, and it gave me extra incentive to write about it.
When I sat down to write my list of “goals” for the upcoming year, I think I came up with a fairly decent list of what I want to accomplish next year:
- Lose weight and get in shape.
- Improve my golf game.
- Continue my involvement in student ministries at my church and grow the relationships that I’m developing with students.
- Get back to playing baseball. I miss it a ton.
- Increase my time spent with God and His Word.
- Make sure I am where God wants me to be career-wise.
I’ve looked over this list a couple of times, and even thought I had refined it a couple of times, it still didn’t convey what I was really feeling. After spending some time reading through others’ blogs and in the Bible, I’ve come up with what my “goal” for the next year really boils down to.
I want to be authentic.
I don’t mean this in some sort of ethereal sense, but I want to be truly authentic in everything I do. In my relationships online and offline, on Twitter, Facebook, at work, with my Creator, the causes I support, in every area of my life. Especially online, it’s very easy for us to phrase something a certain way or use certain words to make us sound a specific way, and I want to make sure that the person you see is the same whether I get the opportunity to meet you online, at work, at church, or in a bar on a Friday night.
I don’t feel like I’m starting from zero with this goal, but I know there’s definitely room for improvement, and I want to make this the major focus of my life in 2010. That’s the reason I’m putting it out here for all of you to see. I want to make sure you hold me accountable. Just because I’ve never met you in person doesn’t mean I don’t have respect for you and I would definitely listen to what you had to say regarding authenticity, especially when I’m sucking at it. For those of you that know me on multiple levels, I’m hoping you’ll step it up to make sure I’m being as transparent as possible. So for better or worse, you’ll hopefully be seeing the real me at all times in 2010.
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This totally resonates with me. It is something I have been thinking about a lot. It is actually one of the reasons I wanted to blog, to help me create one consistent voice.
I have very diverse circles of people that I interact with which I love. But I need to make sure I am one person in the midst of it and not playing to my audience.
I've got to think on what my big goal is…I think it is something around taking action. I feel like I do a lot of talking/writing, make a lot of plans, but I need to go and do. Stay tuned.
@Lindsey,
I completely agree with you about the diverse circles of people. It's so easy to tailor who you are to those around you.
Hopefully my focus will be on action this year…since I talk a good game but don't always follow through.
I'm excited to see what God has in store for you this coming year!
YES. Authenticity. Such a great, great goal. I like how Lindsey put it, too–not just playing to an audience. I'm at once convicted and encouraged. Happy New Year.
@stephanie,
, but I was going for encouraging. I hope this year is authentic for you in many ways. Happy New Year to you too!
I don't know if I was going for convicting