Evaluating one’s life

Just this week, it hit me how time seems to have flown past, as though the hours and minutes have unwillingly been rushed through the year. Not only are we in the last quarter of the year, there are only two months left before it actually comes to an end!

 

Now this brings a sense of panic to me when I start thinking of whether I have managed to fulfil even half of what I set out for myself at the beginning of the year.

Whether you believe in New Year’s resolutions or think they are just a meaningless attempt to look ‘focused’ and give you something to brag about to friends and family, I am sure that you have set goals for yourself and time-marks within which to review your progress in achieving those goals.

And, what better time to review that progress than the present? Be brutally honest with yourself, because that is the only way in which you can push yourself to do something about those things that seem to have stalled.

If you look back at your life within these past months, what do you see? Have you slowly moved towards being a better person? Have you helped someone in need, whether it is someone random or a person you know and love? Have you smiled more often and let your laughter flow with the wind? Have you successfully mastered the art of putting worry aside when you know it will serve no purpose and bringing it up only when you know that you are ready to tackle the problem?

Have you approached life with the innocent spirit of a child; forgiving those who have wronged you and letting yourself forget of the evils that people have drawn up against you? Have you managed to truly love your job or at least accept the fact that you need to keep working in that office from 7:30 till whenever in order to pay the bills?

Have you improved in terms of efficiency, accountability and productivity? Have you made the effort to find another job or perhaps go back to school? Have you unearthed your inner spirituality and formed a deeper relationship with God? Have you learned to forgive yourself for mistakes you made in the past? Are you ready to let go of that drama and start afresh on a clean page? Have you started saving yet?

Going through those questions makes me realise just how much I am yet to do. It also makes me realise that I still have two more months within which to do it. It forces me to sit down and take stock of my life, to see what needs to be put in check and what I need to rethink. It reminds me that “an unexamined life is not worth living,” as Socrates said.

I need to evaluate my life; look at how far I’ve come, what mistakes I’ve made and what I need to change to get to where I am going. I do hope that you too will sit down and take stock of your life. If you’ve fallen off the bandwagon, don’t worry. Two months is more than enough to make minor changes that will accumulate into something major later. After all, the journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step, as  Confucius said. You are better off setting off on that one step and tackling even one small thing, than holding back and waiting for the “right” time or holding back and lamenting over lost time.

“Now you understand just why my head’s not bowed, I don’t shout or jump about or have to talk real loud. When you see me passing, it ought to make you proud I say it’s in the click of my heels, the bend of my hair, the palm of my hand, the need for my care ’cause I’m a woman, phenomenally. Phenomenal woman; that’s me. (Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou).