I'm Packing A Bag

This past year has been quite an adventure. 

There was more laughter than tears. More smiles than frowns. More dancing than stomping feet. More happiness than sadness. More chocolate chips cookies than spinach. More playing than sitting around.

Each year is not only an adventure, but also a journey.

On New Year's Eve, you stop at the end of the road and look back towards the beginning. You see how far you've come.  You take a moment to reflect on the experiences, emotions and escapades of the past year.

And for every journey, you have to take some things with you. You have to pack a bag.

When you pack your bag, you have to think of things you will need and things you don't.  You don't want to take anything unnecessary. You want to take only the items to help you on your way. You also have to think about how heavy the bag will be because you want to make sure you can carry it.

You also need to choose your traveling companions wisely. For me, my traveling circus, er, traveling companions will be Hubby and our two boys.

For me, here are things I don't need for my journey. These items, I will not be putting in my bag:

• Grudges
• Regret
• Self-doubt
• Fear
• Insecurity
• Negativity
• Guilt
• Hatefulness 
• Selfishness

I don't need these things on my journey. They are going to be way to heavy for me to carry and they will only slow me down.

These things I need to take with me. Here are the items I will be putting in my bag:

• Self-confidence
• Positive attitude
• Sense of humor
• Openmindness
• Gratitude
• My faith
• My iPhone (Let's be honest. I'm not gonna leave that at home.)
• Laughter
• Love
• Chocolate chips cookies (Again. I'm all about the honesty here people.)
• Patience
• Kindness

I realize this journey will be long and filled with many potholes as well as amusement parks. I am sure it will be hard going at times. I am sure I will occasionally sit down along side of the road, wiping my brow, wondering where this road is leading me and why it has to be so difficult.

When stopping to rest, I imagine I will pull some items out of my bag and rearrange things. I'm sure I will be tempted to grab some of those unnecessary items, like self-doubt or fear, and shove it in my bag.

But I am going to remind myself what is important and what things I really need to help me on my way. I'm sure this may be something I even have to do daily. With support and encouragement from my traveling companions, I know I can remain strong.

So, we are gearing up, ready to take to the road for our journey that is the new year.

And I'm ready. I'm packing a bag.