I generally keep my thoughts and ideas (dis)organized in my notes app. Using my phone and laptop I write poems, ideas, goals, lines from future screenplays all semi sorted and stored away for future reflection.
Last night I was scrolling through previous writings and decided to read some of the thoughts I’ve had during the end and start of years past.
As I was reflecting on my writings from the past 5 years, I realized something quite sobering: my thoughts, ideas, and goals have remained relatively the same over time. It's a strange feeling, not knowing if this is a good or a bad thing. On one hand, it means that I am living my life in accordance with these thoughts and ideas at a subconscious level. On the other hand, it makes me wonder if I should be "further along" on this journey by now.
Despite this realization, I also feel like I have grown a lot since 2018. And let's not forget that we've all been dealing with a pandemic in the meantime. It's a strange time to be alive.
Despite these challenges, I do believe that this is a sign that I need to be more proactive, intentional, honest, and fearless in pursuing the things that I want in life. It's not easy, but I think that overcoming our fears starts with being honest about the things that we're afraid of. It's a challenge for all of us, but it's a necessary step in becoming the person we are meant to be.
This year, I'm adopting the mantra "one year to live" as a framework to guide my decisions. What would I do if this was the end? What would I want to leave behind? What impact would I want to have? Whose lives would I want to touch?
It's easy to feel nervous about the future, but I choose to be excited about creating it instead. After all, time moves forward either way. So why not make the most of it?