2012: My Year in Review

I am a journal keeper and I initially thought I would review my year through my own words.  After reviewing my entries, I decided that I did not write enough about what was going right but more about what was not working in my current situation. So this morning, I decided to think about the things that I have accomplished this year and focus less on what I had not.

This is my year in review...........

1. I facilitated a workshop on Empowered Parenting...now that is interesting since I am not a parent but I have the opportunity to parent Marcus and Rashad, my god sons. I also had the opportunity to facilitate a Motivational Interviewing Workshop at the RESA Conference.
2. I took my first international flight to Spain and cruised the Mediterranean Sea with stops in Provence, France, the French Riviera, Florence, Italy, Rome, Naples and a boat ride down the Almafi Coast.
3. I completed my internship which means that I am more than 2/3 f'inished with my doctorate degree. 
4. I recieved my Christian Life Coach Certification.
5. I completed the Mayor's 5K.
6. I contracted as an Adjunct Professor with Argosy and had the opportunity to teach a couple of classes.
7. I started this blog and have been consistent in posting.
8. I had the opportunity to work with a great coach....Laurie www.resourcefulcoach.com. I gained better insight about my vision...purpose...and mission.
9. I had the opportunity to hang out with my cousins that I had not seen in a while to celebrate my Uncle John's  birthday.
10. I am ending the year about 2 pounds lighter that I started which is alright with me.

I also had the opportunity to love, live and laugh with family and friends.

Before the year ends I have another question to ask...What (Who) has been the greatest influence on your life this year?

2012: A Year in Review

16..15..14..13..12..11..10..9..8..7..6..5..4..3..2..1......2013.  I was having lunch with a couple of colleagues and we were discussing what we would like in 2013. It was a deep and gratifying conversation but we also made a promise that in January we would have lunch again after we had reviewed 2012.  You can not move forward until you know where you are or from whence you have came.  So my request of you is to review 2012 before December 31st and take stock of what you accomplished, what you are grateful for and what did not happen that you wanted to happen.  So that you can establish goals for 2013 from a place of clarity.

This is not a new idea because a couple of days later as I was listening to my audio from the January issue of Success magazine Darren Hardy talked about the same thing.  This was confirmation to me that I have to take inventory so that I can experience the Best Year Yet.  I looked up the definition of review and this is what I found.  Review (noun): A formal assessment or examination of something.  (verb) examine or assess (something) with the possibility or intention of instituting change if necessary.

So to put action to review is to look at the verb meaning. It is about being intentional about what you want to accomplish or change. I have a couple of goals that have been on my list for many years that I have not accomplished. If I am completely honest with myself, I have not been intention about achieving the goals. So my plan is to identify three major goals that I will be intentional about achieving in 2013.

Assignment:  Set aside some time before the end of 2012 and review the past year.  Take 30 second and write down three goals you would like to accomplish in 2013.  Then write down steps you can take on a daily basis to accomplish those goals.

I will be your accountability partner and accomplish our goals.  Let me know the three major goals.

Preparing for Change

As we quickly approach the end of another year, I am thinking about those changes I would like to make in my current life.  I know alot of people will be making resolution or seting new goals and I will be one.  I have started to make a few adjustments to my current way of living.  For the past 3 years, I have been working on my degree which means that I have been taking some type of class or doing some type of school stuff like practicum or internship.  I have even had the opportunity to teach a couple of courses. 

Realizing that I was at the end of my rope, I had to make a conscious decision about what I was willing to give up to get to the next level.  So the choice was to put teaching on the back burner and focus on completing my dissertation.  I have also selected two other goals that I want to focus on in 2013.  These goals are more aligned with my values and purpose. 

I will also be focusing the topics discussed in my blog.  My purpose is to help grow others which mean my blog topics will help others to grow and move toward their purpose.

As you think about what changes you woud like to make in your life, please make sure that they align with your values.  So my first blog for 2013 will discuss values and assist you in defining your values and purpose.

Happy Holidays,

Lacrecia

Tis the Season to be Thankfulness

On yesterday, I completed the 30 Days of Thankfulness and to see other people participate was great.  Each day I reviewed my day to see what I was thankful for, I found that I truly have great friends and family. Most of all, I am thankful for who I am in Christ and how God has shown me so many different aspects of my life. 

God reminded me that He was still in control and if I would take time to surrender to His will that He has the plan.  So of my highlights for the month were three of my friends did really neat things for me (1) made my favorite Christmas cookies and (2) helped me to outline my dissertation topic visually.  I was able to turn in my prospectus this month.  A colleague and I had a great conversation about future enrichments and she shared a great book that is helping me to prioritize my life. He kept me at a stop sign a minute longer because a car ran the stop sign. 

At the end of each day, I realized that it is the simple things in life that I am thankful like family and friends but most definitely my relationship with God.  I am thankful for my mom and dad for introducing me to Him.

I think I will continue to journal about thankfulness! Oh give thanks unto the Lord for He is good!

THANKFUL.........