I PUNCHED NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

new years resolutions are funny to me: they're great in principal, but stupid in practice. i mean, come on, dudes, shouldn't we be setting resolutions and goals for ourselves all the time? shouldn't we be busting our buns ALL YEAR, striving for improvement, progression & growth?

so many people have asked me in the last couple of days what my "new years resolutions" are. i told them while i don't hate on people who have them, i don't believe in them for myself; i try to live throughout the year being mindful of where i can improve and set my resolutions at the appropriate times. [this is NOT to hate on those that do set resolutions, cos if that's what it takes for you to feel motivated to make positive changes in your life, i high five you...] but "new years resolutions" feel kinda like going to church on sunday and doing what ever the heck you want during the week - as long as you go to church on sunday, confess, all is forgiven; you only have to be mindful certain times of the year. no offense to those that go to church on sunday either, that was just an example. it is a mentality that i am speaking about, not anything to do with one's religious beliefs and/or backgrounds. it is a mentality and deficiency of self-awareness and willingness to kick your own butt in to shape to change and improve on the things in your life/person that need tending/tweaking at the time that the need is there.

so with all of those thoughts banging around in my [HUGE] brain, i wanted to share with you a Baha'i quote about striving for distinction as a Baha'i in our DAILY lives:

"I do not desire for you financial distinction. It is not an ordinary distinction I desire; not scientific, commercial, industrial distinction. For you I desire spiritual distinction—that is, you must become eminent and distinguished in morals. In the love of God you must become distinguished from all else. You must become distinguished for loving humanity, for unity and accord, for love and justice. In brief, you must become distinguished in all the virtues of the human world—for faithfulness and sincerity, for justice and fidelity, for firmness and steadfastness, for philanthropic deeds and service to the human world, for love toward every human being, for unity and accord with all people, for removing prejudices and promoting international peace. Finally, you must become distinguished for heavenly illumination and for acquiring the bestowals of God. I desire this distinction for you. This must be the point of distinction among you. "

-‘Abdu’l-Bahá, son of Baha'i prophet founder Baha'u'llah

this quote super pumps me up, and i feel so moved by focusing on these things, striving daily to make myself a better person, serving our common family. and clearly, after reading this quote, i have enough work to keep my hands full with for the duration of my life here. :)

in what ways are you working to improve yourself?

DISCLAIMER: while i just ranted about "new years res." i am also aware that those that do set them, i am sure, also are vigilant and mindful and strive for improvement the rest of the year, not just jan. 1st on. and if you are not one of those people, this rant is for you.