Good morning! How are you? And your weekend? Did you recuperate from the New Year’s, Eve celebrations, or put your Christmas things away and organize yourself for the first week of 2016?
I did none of the above, I guess that will be my project for this week. I spent the last five days traveling to visit family in the freezing Midwest. Now that I am home I can reflect on the life lessons I learned in 2015 and get myself ready to tackle 2016, even if I am a few days late.
1. Getting what you want is not always what you need.
2. Time heals everything, a broken bone, a broken heart, and a broken spirit.
3. Know that no matter how smart you are, or how much you love someone, you cannot change them, their minds, or their actions.
4. Friends and family are the most important things in your life, they will be with you through thick and thin, the good times and the bad, when you are at your worst and at your best and every time in between.
5. Life is short, it can be over in the blink of an eye, so live it, see it, enjoy it.
6. Never, ever stop learning something new.
7. Stop clinging to the past, it is dragging you down.
8. There is no one that loves you like you should love yourself. Find the key to your own happiness.
9. Own your faith.
10. Know that the best is yet to come.
11. Celebrate everyday.
12. Sometimes it is OK to throw in the towel.
13. Forgiveness is for you. Forgive so that you can move on and live life.
14. Time is precious, don’t waste it. Make every minute matter.
15. Be grateful.
Did you learn any lessons this past year? Do you have any wisdom to share for the new year? I personally love to read and hear people’s life lessons and stories, so if you would like to share we would love to hear it.
Have a great day, the first Monday of 2016!

You have said it all. These are the essentials and now, to MASTER THEM. Oh dear one, I go back to work this morning. I am in a rush, something I was able to avoid for two glorious weeks. Now to try to live out these principals in the thick of work reality! MUCH LOVE!
Happy New Year, Elizabeth! I felt as though this post was speaking to me. Several of your lessons are ones I learned too last year…the hard way. I am bookmarking this to refer back to every once in a while when I need to put things in perspective. Thank you! xoxoxo
Very wise. Happy New Year!
oh elizabeth, this is a beautiful, thoughtful, spirit-filled post. thank you for the wisdom and the gifts of your heart. i have learned so much in 2015 and leave this year behind with much gratitude, though the pains it brought felt as though i may not survive. what i take away is a profound sense of the reality of God's grace raining down on my life and redeeming brokenness while transforming me in the process. and all i must do is be still and know He is. that's it. just rest in it. just BE. i wish you light and love in 2016 and all the beauty your heart can hold. xox
Great post, Elizabeth. Have a wonderful 2016!
Elizabeth there's just so much wisdom and soul in this post. Honestly, I kept reading along thinking yes, that's the one. That's mine. But by the end I couldn't actually pick one of your lessons that felt personally meaningful because they each sort of made me 'remember' something along my own path. As usual, your writing is such an inspiration, and I am so grateful to have found my way to you too. I wish you a beautiful 2016 my friend, filled with love and contentment and health!
hugs,
Leslie
Dear Elizabeth, a most wonderful, poignant post! Thank you for so much meaningful inspiration!!
Please let me know sometime when you are in Kansas City, I would love to get together!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
New Years Thoughts!
Time IS precious. Most of the time, I feel like it is Groundhog Day and every day is Friday. I blink and a week goes by. We need to get off the hamster wheel and enjoy the little moments. Thank you for your inspiration! Happy New Year!