Being Thankful

One month left to go in the year. I’d say that it’s gone by too fast, but truthfully, I can’t.
This year, my biggest goal was to “be real”. Because of that, I’ve done a lot of “living” this year. I’ve tried to live more “in the moment”, and to enjoy the journey. I have. It’s probably been one of the best years of my life. I know I will probably look back at this year as a turning point for me.
Yes, I still have trials. No, things really haven’t changed that much around me– but I have. I no longer feel trapped by other’s expectations of me. I no longer feel utterly discouraged when I can’t make others happy. I learned that I can choose to be happy, and that I actually have a lot of agency in determining TO be happy. I am choosing to be happy now- and forever!
As for my goals, I got most of them done. I will be posting my cantata songs probably this week. I spent the last couple of weeks working on “Joy to the World”. It is beautiful. I doubt I will be able to sing through it during our performance without crying. Right now it is just a combination of choir and piano with congregation and organ. Together it will have the fulness I can envision. I have also been playing with some orchestration, and I just might add some of those ideas to my website, so that someday, somewhere somebody will perform it and it will be amazing.
Today a lady whom I love very much, performed a cello solo with piano as a musical number in church today. She felt like she hadn’t done as good of a job as she could have, and wished she had done better. I told her that I was inspired by her performance. I told her that most people probably didn’t even know, and that it was a wonderful performance. I am always so grateful for anyone that shares their talents -especially when it’s not something their comfortable with. It always blesses! I’m grateful for every opportunity I’ve had to step out of my comfort zone and do something new. I don’t know if anyone else always appreciates it- but I’ve learned something from it every time.
I just wanted to share a few of my thoughts. This probably seems a little random, but that’s okay- that’s kind of how I am sometimes. I’m excited about Christmas this year… I feel like I’ve been looking forward to it for the entire year! I got all of my goals done this year, except for my piano CD- which is going to be the most awesome CD ever– next year maybe…, and best of all, I am just so incredibly grateful for a new purpose and mission in my life. I feel like because I have been more real with myself, God has helped me to see a little more clearly some of the areas that I can help others in, and I am so grateful for that. I love to encourage others and to inspire them to be their best selves. I truly believe that our hardest trials in life have purpose and meaning, and can be turned to the good of ourselves and to others. It has been an incredible year.