Happy New Year!
My friend Ken helped me write a mission statement and five guiding values over a decade ago that helped steer me away from directionless, careless, self-sabotaging behavior, and led me toward a more intentional and thriving life. I have revisited these values at the start of each year to remind myself of the life I aspire to live.
Those values have held up pretty well all these years later. I’m looking forward to continuing to grow and learn in 2024 and beyond!
Surround yourself with extraordinary and creative people.
Combat intellectual stagnation with curiosity about everything and exploring everywhere.
Give unconditionally and without any expectation of return.
Act according to what is true and authentic for you rather than what anyone expects of you.
Suck the marrow out of life and wake up every morning screaming at the top of your lungs.
This statement of personal values came about during a time when I was struggling to figure out what to do with an arts events calendar and arts events production business that I’d accidentally started back in 2007. It was a lot of fun and I relished the constant activity and social engagement, but the work lacked a clear sense of meaning and direction and I felt adrift after a while. I also never made enough money to sustain me and was dipping deep into my savings to supplement the meager income, which was not financially or emotionally viable in the long run.
The business appeared successful on the surface, though, which had the effect of attracting a few folks into my orbit who did not nourish me and in some instances subverted our mutual growth. I recently learned that one of those people continues to denigrate me over ten years after I cut ties with him, which is further evidence for why it was necessary to apply the first value and remove him from my life. I also went through a series of dismal relationships during that time that included the secret Tea Party conservative, the egotistical British chef, and the Eeyore. I applied the first value to my personal life, too, and stopped dating people who were not extraordinary. Now my life is filled with extraordinary people!
All five values have shaped me professionally and personally and have set me on a path of steady progress, with the usual ups and downs along the way. Looking back, I realize that all the struggles were stepping stones that imparted lessons for becoming the hopeful person I am today and the flourishing person I aspire to be.
