Coming up on a new year

Reflecting on 2009.  Why is it that so many of us choose to wait until the end of a calendar year to reflect on that year?  Shouldn't personal reflection be a continuous thing?  Shouldn't we always be trying to improve ourselves as we make our way through this life?

So, here I am reflecting on the year.  We came into this year with the word "hope" all around us.  We had a new President about to take office.  Our economy had been recently attacked and demoralized.  Many people had already lost their job and the prospects that the trend would worsen loomed.  While I consider myself more centric, even I was caught up in the excitement of change.  The jury is still out on President Obama, but one thing is for certain, he plows ahead with his agenda quite consistently.

2010 is upon us and new hopes arise.  What will the new year bring us as individuals and as a nation and world?  We are capable of so much and yet, many times, fall short of our potential.  Still, you have to hand it to us humans, we find a way to survive and move forward.  We make our daily lives based on what we want to accomplish, or not accomplish.  Sometimes I have to ask myself, "Am I making a difference?  Am I doing ANY good at all to help others, and myself, have a better life that has continuing benefit beyond my years?"  While life doesn't always need to be that deep, it's important to make the best of this life and try to make a positive impact on the people in our sphere of influence.

Ask yourself, "Am I making a difference?  Am I amounting to anything beneficial no matter what my circumstance?  Am I taking what I have, the situations I find myself in, and improving on them continuously?"  We all come from different backgrounds and find ourselves in various states.  I firmly believe that no matter where we are in life, we can improve ourselves and the people around us.  The rewards for this are eternal.

Reflect on your life regularly.  Don't wait until the end of the year.  Do it now.  Do it often.  Honestly evaluate yourself and ask, "Am I a difference maker?"