I hardly thought that at the end of November, I’d think of my life as an experience of free falling rather than a more structed and disciplined one! But that’s the way life goes!
What I Planned
At the start of November, as has become my practice, I worked on how I want my Word of The Year translate in this month. I’ve been basing this choice on the 5 principles that I want to live by. In September, I focused on faith and last month onauthenticity. This month, I decided to combine love and justice together.
What I Wrote
Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.
– Cornel West
I found this quote at the end of October. This is what I wrote in my Word of The Year notebook:
In November, I want to work on two principles – love and justice. Until today, I hadn’t really seen the connection between these two. I realize that justice without love and compassion is absolutely devoid of meaning. In the same way, when we love too we must keep the principle of justice in mind. When I love or show kindness and compassion, I must respect the rights of freedom and dignity of the other/s.
How will this translate into my life this month? In my thoughts, first of all. By looking at things from another’s point of view. In examining my own behaviour to see whether I am loving and kind and compassionate to others. In checking whether my actions are based on these priniciples and being just as well.
Free Flowing Or Free Falling?
I started off the month well and pretty soon everything went off centre. I’m not at a place to share what really happened, but suffice to say it felt like I was free falling.
What didn’t go well
- Absolutely no consistency with any of my practices
- Days when I felt totally uninspired
- Hardly any work done – my 31 day challenge posts from October are still unfinished
What I did though
- Practiced kindness in small ways daily
- Fought for what is right – especially for the defenceless. Again small steps towards a more equitable world.
- Put more thought and effort into cooking – loves manifests itself in many small ways! 😉
- Felt less guilt about not sticking to my practices and enjoyed reading, watching movies etc.
- Trusted that God was in control in tough situations.
- Attempted to bring my thoughts to gratitude – even in times of anger at injustice.
At the end of the month, I’m happy with the fact that I attempted to walk by my principles – faith, authenticity, love, justice and gratitude.
I’m joining Lisa’s One Word Linkup with this January update
I resonate with all of this.
I notice how you turned your feeling of free-falling around into a truly positive thing by noting twice as many things you did accomplish compared to things you didn’t. That’s awesome.
Astrid recently posted..Joy in October and November
It’s funny how, sometimes, our best intentions go off-kilter when the unexpected interrupts. The way you gave yourself grace and saw the good in the middle of the incomplete was an encouragement to me. I am too quick to hold myself to too-high expectations, expectations that God doesn’t even hold me to. Thanks for sharing your ups and downs. They encouraged me. 🙂
I tried to comment earlier, but I’m not sure it went through. So, here’s one more try. 🙂
It’s a little unsettling how quickly unexpected circumstances can derail our best intentions and plans. I’m sorry this happened for you this month. But, I am also encouraged by the way you gave yourself grace and saw the progress in small things. Not always easy to take that perspective. This encourages me. 🙂
What you did do was huge, Corinne! Anytime someone walks by their principles, it’s a major win. I love how you’re flowing.