A New Year’s message from the CEO

For the last 10+ years, about this time each year, I have dedicated time to consider a personal mindset or theme for the coming New Year. Each year, I try to narrow my guidepost to a triplet of words or phrases.

One that I have used a couple of times—depending on current life situations—is “Be.  Still.  Know.” (Inspired by Psalm 46:10).

Another year, I focused on “Respect.  Carpe (Seize).  Welcome.”

Well. . . as we anticipate 2023. . . I find myself not with three words but leaning on three imperatives that I offer for your consideration (albeit with personal grammatical license)!

Choose Your Hard

This came to me in a quote-of-the-day listserv I follow.  I want the quote to speak to you, as it will:

Marriage is hard.  Divorce is hard.  Choose Your Hard.

Obesity is hard.  Being fit is hard.  Choose Your Hard.

Being in debt is hard.  Being financially disciplined is hard.  Choose Your Hard.

Giving up is hard. Finding purpose (and Persevering) is hard. Choose Your Hard.

Communicating is hard.  Not communicating is hard.  Choose Your Hard.

Life will never be easy.  There will always be hard.  AND, we can choose our hard. Pick WISELY, my friend!

Chase the Good

Recently, I listened to a podcast about a military training technique taught to many in our armed services, called “Hunt the Good.” (I have softened the title a bit.) Whenever a soldier or sailor finds him or herself in a dire or tenuous situation with multiple options or changing dynamics. . . ALWAYS Chase the Good!

Chase the best scenario possible, at that time, with the most reliable information at hand to address effectively and efficiently the issue or opportunity you face.

Chase DISCERNINGLY, my friend! Whatever comes your way in 2023. . . Chase the Good—and you will discover the Good along the way as God unveils it before you!  And in God’s time!

Seek the Solve

This came to me in a moment of deep contemplation with God—more likely, when God was controlling the narrative and telling me to “Listen up, my friend!”

We have LOTS of problems in the world . . . the state . . . the county . . . the city . . . the home . . . the community of worship . . . name any location or any situation.

What 2023 desperately needs from us ALL is the diligence, persistence, and at times stubbornness to ONLY Seek the Solve . . . to unrelentingly, and with deep faith, hope, and love, Seek the Solution to what—or whom—we encounter.

Of the many gifts of Faith, one is a deep, never-ending well of patience, yet determination; anticipation, yet resolve—no matter how dimly we may see ourselves or this world in today’s proverbial mirror.

One New Year’s Resolution

When 2023 feels HARD, filled with too many Bad options and desperately lacking in Problem-solvers, please:

• Choose Your Hard through Faith

• Chase the Good with Hope; and

• Seek the Solve in Love!

May You and Yours have a wonderful start to a Promising New Year!

Blessings and Peace to all, Dale