Commit to Try

I really don’t think life is about the I-could-have-beens. Life is only about the I-tried-to-do. I don’t mind the failure but I can’t imagine that I’d forgive myself if I didn’t try.
Nikki Giovanni





(I sent this message to the Executive Committee of my college alumnae association and wanted to share it here, as well.)

As we begin the second month of this new year I hope you have already logged many things into your journal of “Things to be Thankful For”. This month, I encourage you to take some time to create another journal—a “Things I Want to Try” journal. We all have them—things we’ve always wanted to do, or try to do, but haven’t quite gotten to them yet. Let’s commit to starting at least one of those things in February—start learning a new language, volunteer to work on a political campaign, write a page of a book, take one dance lesson, sign up for one cooking class... I know we are all SUPER busy, so just commit to try.


What is your one thing you will try in February?


Here are 2 of mine:
- actively participate in the fundraising efforts for my upcoming 20-year class Reunion
- practice with Spanish language audio 20-mins 1x/week

Four Singing Penguins...

Today is the fourth day of Christmas. According to the popular English Christmas carol "Twelve Days of Christmas", the gift recipient would be receiving four colly birds. [Yes, colly birds, not calling birds, as is commonly sung]. Colly birds are European blackbirds (or crows), which were a delicacy in Medieval times. Not so today. Can you imagine someone offering you a gift of crows? So, I am giving myself permission to re-write the verse--instead of colly birds... singing penguins (smile).

As we approach a new year I am also giving myself permission to re-write other things that need to be changed, or at least updated--like the way I prioritize, reviewing our client base, updating my skill set, refreshing my perspective on down-time.

Give yourself permission to re-write some things in the new year too. Consider these as a start:
- review your business practices to ensure they are serving your company efficiently
- revisit your existing commitments and if they are the best use of your time and resources
- refresh your ways of communication (ex. practice active listening, or allow yourself a "cooling off" period before responding verbally or via email to situation, or work toward conveying your ideas more clearly)
- re-visit your time budget to allow time to volunteer or serve as a mentor

Go ahead, re-write your own lyrics, sing a new song. All together now... four singing penguins, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.