With apologies to Seth Godin, or thanks. He helped me see the new year in a different way.
Here are my resolutions for 2016.
I resolve the following in 2016:
I resolve to be in an event that will surprise, confound and ultimately bore the pundits.
I resolve that out of the corner of my eye, I’ll notice something new that will delight me.
I resolve that something obvious to everyone else will become obvious to me.
I resolve to explain something obvious to me to another. It may become obvious to them as well.
I resolve that I will not become part of a pop culture emergency that everyone is talking about, distracting me from the actually important work at hand.
I resolve that I’ll gain new leverage and the ability to make even more of a difference.
I resolve to believe that everything everyone is afraid of won’t come to pass.
I resolve to accept that some people will gain (temporary) power by ostracizing the other, amplifying fears and racing to the bottom. I won’t follow their example.
I resolve that my long-term climb toward connection, dignity and possibility will continue. Slowly, but surely.
Opportunities will be missed. Lessons will be learned.
I resolve to say or write something that will shine a light, open a door, make a connection and expose the truth.
I resolve to accept that nothing will be as perfect as I initially imagined it. Many things will be far better, though.
I resolve to take leaps.
I resolve to exceed expectations.
I resolve to see new ways that my projects will begin to pay off.
I will start something. And quit something.
I resolve to keep helping myself. No one else does it as well.
I know I will forget some hard lessons but I’ll also learn some new ones.
A pretty safe list, because, of course, this always happens.
Plus, I resolve to take up playing guitar and piano once again. Playing both were an endless source of joy for both others and me. I want to experience the unity and expression that only comes through music again as a participant. This resolution is not so certain, but writing it down, makes it more so.
Charlie Leocha is the President of Travelers United. He has been working in Washington, DC, for the past 14 years with Congress, the Department of Transportation, and industry stakeholders on travel issues. He was the first consumer representative to the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections appointed by the Secretary of Transportation from 2012 through 2018.
