Make It Count

It’s forty-eight hours to the start of another year and I can’t help asking, ‘Where did 2018 go?’ Seems like only yesterday that we were on the threshold of this year. Again we are on the verge of yet another year.

Interestingly, no matter what else is static in our lives, the clock keeps ticking and time keeps going. At the start of 2018, there were things I wanted to get done. The year  will still pass whether I get them done or not.

As none of us can stop time ticking on, we are left with just one option and that is to make it count. We need to make the time we have and our lives count. Life is too precious for us to throw it away.

I read recently that ideally we should measure our age not by the number of years we have lived but by how many we have left.

The years we have left is all we have to make a difference, accomplish our goals and fulfil purpose.

Since we don’t know how much time we have, we must learn to live as though we don’t have tomorrow. This means we make each day count. We leave nothing undone that should and can be done today.

We need to ask those tough questions like, if today is my last day, what have I left undone, who have I left untouched, who remains un-forgiven or unloved, and what is left unspoken?

What impact has my name on it but remains unmade? What battles are yet to be fought? Who do I need to speak up for and what difference is still to be made?

Unless we can answer, ‘Nothing or No one’ to these questions, there is an opportunity for us to make today count.

I see the end of the year as a chance to reflect and be grateful for the blessings we have and for the challenges that have made us tougher or elevated us to a higher level of faith in God and in others.

It’s also an opportunity for us to make newer, better or more good ‘old’ choices.

While there is life, we can have another go. We can strive to be better and do better, learn something ‘new’ or teach someone something ‘old’.

What choices do you need to make as you start a new year? What choices will make your 2019 better?

It could be a choice to be a better father, responsible child or sibling, or committed partner. Maybe it’s a choice to love or trust more, to stay away from toxic relationships or make your way back home.

You may want to be a better boss, employee, a caring neighbour or finally go for that dream job or qualification.

2019 will come and go. The question is, ‘Will it go with unspoken dreams, untapped passions or unfulfilled purposes?’

Will it go with things undone or will you choose to have different outcomes by doing the work, making the tough decisions and the required changes no matter the cost.

As today is truly all we have, why not start immediately? Why wait for another forty-eight hours to make it count. An amazing 2019 can start with the choices you make right now. Don’t wait or procrastinate.  

Thank you so much for walking this journey with me. Don’t forget to check out my latest book, ‘The Purposeful Life Project’. It has information to help you make 2019 count. Also, please help make someone’s year by sharing this blog with them.

See you in 2019. I wish you all a happy New Year.