Okay, okay. I’ve been inactive for the past 3 weeks now. I’ve had a lot to think about plus I’ve been trying to divide my time between Twitter, Christmas shopping, Christmas cards, writing and picking out the right wine, which by the way is EXTREMELY important. 😉

I look back to 2008 and I hardly know where it went. The year was full of gut-wrenching hardships or letdowns and joy so spectacular it snatched your breath away. But through it all I know this much: my future decisions and actions will affect more than just my future; they’ll shape how I live, how I think and more importantly, how I respond to things and situations that are beyond my control.

Like so many of us, I like to be in control. Not of everything, just most things. I enjoy being able to say I did that. Be honest. You know you do too. Who doesn’t like to take the reins and prove to the naysayers not only that we can, but that we can exceptionally well!  We all do and therein lies the problem. We’re so busy trying to prove to others what we can do that we forget to stop, listen and find out if we should do it.

If there is one thing I’ve learned this year, it’s to LISTEN; not to the mumblings of men, nor to the “wisdom” touted by well meaning friends or family. No, I mean listening and yielding to the gentle voice of truth that lives in us all. It speaks forgiveness when we desire revenge, hope when we fail and strength when we’re weak.  It’s always speaking, the question is: will you listen?