Nathan Exposed » Are You Where You Want to Be?

Are You Where You Want to Be?

Sometimes I do more listening than talking. When I go to a social gathering, I remain quiet and study the other people in the room. I pay attention to their mannerisms, their words, their stories. If you want to know if someone is happy, all you have to do is listen to them talk. The longer they talk, the more they confess. You could be a total stranger, and they’ll tell you all about their failing marriage, their stressful job, or the oceans of debt they’re drowning in.

Right now, as we’re right in the middle of the holiday season, we get to escape to a fun filled land of love and cheer. It’s the one time of the year when everywhere we go, we are barraged with symbols of hope and peace… and happiness. If only every day could be like Christmas.

But soon the New Year will be upon us. We’ll be faced with the dark uncertainty of January. I’ve always dreaded that month. It starts out with such optimism. You make your resolutions, your promises to change. Two weeks into it and you’re back to your old habits, it’s cold out, the sun goes down at about 4PM, and there is just a sense of dullness in the air. Well, at least that’s how I feel about it.

The good news, however, is that 2007 has been a remarkable year for me. I’ve actually exceeded most of my resolutions that I made at the start of the year. I quit my miserable day job, I started working for myself, I strengthened my relationship with Rodney, I improved things with my family, and I’m healthier than I’ve ever been. I have to give myself a little pat on the back for a job well done.

So when 2008 comes, I will embrace it with open arms. I’m actually kind of excited about the possibilities as I ponder the new resolutions I will make for the coming year. Yes, I’ve accomplished plenty. But we must always move forward with new goals. How else will we grow?

And for you other bloggers out there… I’ve been observing you. I’ve been listening to your story even if I’ve remained silent. I’ve witnessed your ups and downs, your accomplishments and failures.

Some of you choose to look on the bright side, and see life for all the wonderful things it offers. Other continued to wallow in self pity. You change lovers, change jobs, change locations, and you’re still just as unhappy as you were at this time last year.

So I ask all of you, bloggers and readers alike… Are you where you want to be? If you aren’t, why not? Will your friends and family be subjected to another year of your pity party, or will you take the bull by the horns and choose to have a happier life? Remember that happiness is only what you perceive it to be, nothing more and nothing less. It’s a choice, a mindset, an opinion.

It’s sometimes a hard pill to swallow, but only we can make ourselves happy. We can’t blame anyone or anything else. The paths we take are with our own free will. I doubt anyone held a gun to your head when you got onto that rocky road. But if you have had a gun held to your head, please accept my sincerest apologies.

I hope your new year is filled with more happiness than you could ever dream of.

Mon, Dec 3, 2007 @ 3:25 am | Filed in Abundance | Permalink

6 Comments

What a brilliantly inspiring post, nathan. Very well observed and said. Thanks for making me think.

Posted by Sunshine on Mon, Dec 3, 2007 @ 6:58 am

Thank you!

Posted by DJ on Mon, Dec 3, 2007 @ 8:18 am

Still in the same place as we were last year? Oh my. Well, unless, of course, that was a good place. January is one of my favorite months….actually February is my top favorite. The darkness, coldness, silence of all that lives is hiding somewhere!

Posted by Lewis on Mon, Dec 3, 2007 @ 5:34 pm

PS….Off topic….I’ve been meaning to ask:
ARE THOSE YOUR JEANS AND FEET IN THE HEADER?

Posted by Lewis on Mon, Dec 3, 2007 @ 5:35 pm

Dare I post this? Well…I guess so.

I will answer your question. No, I am not where I want to be. I was there at one point in my life not so long ago but I made a decision that would forever change my life. As a result I’ve had to start over completely. Now I am in the learning stages of my new life. For those of you who can read between the lines you probably know exactly what I’m talking about.

Nathan, your post has inspired me. I have never been one to feel sorry for myself nor do I want or expect that of others. Yet, I often find myself not giving myself credit for things that deserving but I am working on it.

What I’ll do with this inspiration is take an in depth look the upcoming year and what I can do to achieve the goals I will set. I am considering using my own blog do document some of this.

Since I started blogging only 3 months ago, people seem to want to know more about me. At first I found it odd to get those emails asking such personal questions. As time goes on I’ve concluded that it’s just part of the territory. So my thought now is why not use that medium to hold myself accountable for making the most out of my life and even what I do online.

Sorry for the long post - I tend to do that more than I care to admit

Posted by Lika Starr on Tue, Dec 4, 2007 @ 1:17 am

I’m not exactly where I want to be… but I’m on my way. Thanks for the food for thought.

Posted by Chris M on Tue, Dec 4, 2007 @ 8:46 am