Hello friends! Happy New Year!
Sometimes I feel like a broken record. I repeat similar phrases. I ask my kids to stop playing screens, put on their socks & shoes so we can go somewhere (which usually needs a reminder or two). I usually respond “fine…” when asked how things are going (which is usually true but not the whole truth). I seem to ask my wife dozens of times each week “What’s the plan for…” (dinner, tonight, this weekend, after dinner, the kids, etc.) – and she’s already told me usually but she patiently (mostly) clues me into the plan.
As I begin each new year, I try to spend a little time reflecting on the last year and think high-level of what the new year might look like for me.
Last Year, I wrote “My Three Words 2021: Stretchy, Resonance, Launch” which was the first time I had publicly published my “my three words” (MTW) post in a few years. I had kept them private and personal. As a reminder, the MTW is a method I learned years ago from @chrisbrogan (he just published his list for this year) and I’ve used for over a decade to help me focus a new year as I plan for growth personally, professionally, emotionally, financially, physically, and spiritually. Here are some previous versions:
2011: Mastery, Replication, Inheritance
2021: Stretchy, Resonance, Launch
I’m going to start this year a little different with a quick review of 2021. Stretchy for me last year was all about intentionality as I navigated the unknown with a positive attitude and a desire to come out the other side with significant growth in this area. I have to give some major awesome points to my boss at Microsoft – Jonathan. He embraced my desire to learn and grow and also some of my own personal struggles as I navigate what is “typical” with my “atypical” brain. I’m really excited and proud of the efforts and growth in 2021. I learned a lot and have renewed energy to continue stretching and growing in some new areas I had never considered. Resonance for me last year was really all about mindfulness of how I’m reflecting those around me, and how I’m living so others reflect me in a more positive way. This is different than empathy or sympathy. It’s more about attitudes and actions. As I consider 2021, I think there were certainly where I could find myself in a not-great place and was able to move into more calm and peace so I didn’t affect those around me. I failed often too. I also have found myself parroting the actions and attitudes of some friends which I’m happy about because it’s brought me some calm and more positive energy and feelings towards work and home even with the challenges of the last year. Likewise, pushing into trust, my boss Jonathan has pointed out some areas where my attitude is causing negative resonance especially with some key colleagues. This has helped me recognize some blind spots that I’m working on. Finally, Launch for me last year was around the recognition that my kiddo 1.0 was soon to head to college, my other kids were heading toward new adventures in school and Church life, and Jenny and I also were navigating change. This is the area that brings me the most pain as I reflect on it this year. Nathan is graduating soon and heading to UofL to their Speed School for some sort of technology major. That’s incredibly exciting but as Launch is imminent we are navigating the last efforts we have to influence his adulthood and life decisions and this is very challenging. For the other kids, school has gone well and they are engaging well in their new worlds. In our Church situation, we have changed again. We loved our year at the previous place but in relation to relationships, it was challenging for our children to get plugged in. Plus we’ve experienced some family situations which have led us to pivot to another local church where our kids are finding connections and engaging better. So “here we go again” I guess. Launching is hard.
Enough review, I could spend much time reflecting especially on the “Launch” cycle I’m in, but I want to move forward and think about 2022. So, here are My Three Words 2022: Break Inertia, Recovery. Three words – two concepts.
Break Inertia
I’ve written about inertia before. As the basic definition level, inertia is a tendency to do nothing. It’s inaction or passivity. This is a topic I come back to often as I navigate my work and home life.
I have “almost started” lots of things. And it’s really a matter of inertia – and breaking inertia. I desire 2022 to be a year where I’m able to harness more energy and focus to break inertia. I don’t desire to just be busy. I don’t desire to just “do stuff” instead I want to be intentional and “start” what I need to start and “finish” what I need to finish especially in light of the super important job I have as a parent to a child about to Launch into College (see above).
Recovery
I hesitate using this word because recovery is one of those words surrounded by stigma. For those of you that know me the best, you know I’ve “done recovery” in my life from a few habits and hangups in life. This is somewhat related but also different as I consider 2022.
I desire 2022 to be a recovery year for me as I return to a healthy state of heart, mind and strength. It’s no secret the last few years have been challenging for most people around the world. Just watch the news, or TV, or social media for half a second. I’m no different. My wife Jenny and I ended 2021 with a renewed focus on our 20+ year marriage. We want a recovered heart and relationship. We also ended 2021 with some challenge and we want to renew focus on our minds as we navigate parenting decisions and life decisions. I’ve been thinking a lot the last few weeks of how to break inertia and recover some sense of “normalcy” for me. The “normal” Daryl will read, take time with hobbies, will write and reflect often, will do some level of technical labbing to grow in skill, and then take that learning and scale it to friends and the community, will engage deeply in Church community, etc. I desire – so strongly – to return to a normal state and I’m committing in 2022 to take my thoughts and actions captive and word toward that goal.
So, that’s my 2022. Three Words. Two Concepts. What about you? As you’ve considered 2022 – what does that look like to you in your minds eye?