Building My Own Tracks in 2009

Leave it to me to blog in on the New Year’s angle. What can I say – I can be so cliché sometimes...and I like it [insert big cheesy grin].

I’ve had many blessings this year, and at the same time, this year has been such a blur.

Take this mental journey with me:

Imagine yourself outdoors...You have a freshly-laundered, super-soft blanket that smells Downy fresh and clean.You place the blanket on the tender green grass.

You feel wonderful. You are beautiful. You are smart. You are loving and you are loved. Aaaahhhh...peace.

Birds are chirping softly in the background, the sun is lightly caressing your skin and a gentle breeze is lovingly blowing through your fabulous hair.

You decide to stretch out on the blanket and look up at the beautiful blue sky...Deep breath, inhale, release. Sigh.

And then...a roaring TRAIN appears out of thin air and races by you and your serene resting place!! Your hair is wrapped around your head from the force of the train, blanket flailing in the air as you hold on to one end, and you can feel your age as the speeding train’s wind pulls back the skin on your face.

Yep – that’s what 2008 felt like for me on a fairly regular basis. (

There’s a whole crapload I didn’t get done in 2008, and there’s a whole crapload I did get accomplished. I am looking forward to 2009 and all it has in store, and eagerly embrace all of the train-like interruptions as they only made me stronger, and I’ve learned to become less homicidal through the process (although I still ocassionally come out of those situations cursing, “What the **(#$!%#@ just happened?!”) 

I’m learning to better understand that I won’t know all of the answers in my 30s...and I’m guessing there’s no guarantee that anything will become any clearer in my 40s, 50s or 60s. We’re all just trying to enjoy this journey as much as possible.

I’m reminded of something I read awhile back that Maya Angelou said (and bear with me, this recitation is not going to  be anywhere as eloquent as it is intended – I’m trying to paraphrase the words of the great Ms. Angelou) – in regard to setting goals. She said that people often set goals that are attainable. Like losing weight, spending more time with family and/or friends, eating healthy, etc. Some of these may be VERY challenging for many depending on various personal issues, but for the most part – goals like these are realistic. Perhaps that’s why people are disappointed when they don’t follow their New Year’s resolutions, because what they resolved to do, could have actually been done if they had just – did it.

Well, Maya said that’s why we should go ahead and DO the things we’re capable of doing – make it a goal if you have to, but then just go ahead and DO it. As for goal setting, she encouraged setting goals that may seem a little far-fetched...so you can stretch yourself, grow and learn. The example she used was becoming a race car driver. That’s something a novice would have to study for, practice, and prepare for...hence, allowing you to grow.

So next year I’m going to set some of the same goals that I had this year that I never got around to...and DO them, but I’m going to add some new and outrageous ones, too. 

Right now I’m thinking that for 2009, I’m going to build a railroad – the Nancy Tracks. I’ll be sure it’s not set up in any serene locations. ; )

ALL ABOARD!!

Happy New Year! Be blessed!