by Roy Pearson

The new year has dawned.  New Year’s resolutions have been made.  Will we keep them?  I learned long ago that one must go deeper than a resolution to make a change.  A resolution is more like a wish, a hope, or a desire.  Real change comes when the change is tied to a deeper purpose.  My whole life center is deeply Spiritual.  Sacred texts and writings speak to me.  Movies, TV shows, books, art, trees, plants, and animals are all connected to my deep spiritual longings and desires. Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Taoism teach us ways to connect to the Spirit we call God.  The teachings of Jesus challenge me to love others as I love myself and to treat others the way I want to be treated. 

Upon reflection, my Spiritual 2025 goal is to love and be loved.  Life revolves around our relationships with God, others, self, and the universe.  My understanding of God has grown.  God is love.  God is not the being I learned about early in my life.  God is not the God of fire and brimstone who expects us to be anything more than who we are.  We are maturing people who grow and change as we experience life.  When we discover the love of God and the presence of God in us as described in Creation as the Breath of God bringing a pile of dirt to life, we understand that God’s image is in us…God’s love.  When we choose to let that love be shared with God, with other people, with self, and with the universe of plants, animals, stars, and the whole universe, we receive love also.  Yes, we may suffer because we choose this, but our suffering brings growth. 

To love and be loved involves relationships.  Here are my goals for 2025 to strengthen my relationships:

Spiritual Self

1. Deepen my spiritual connection:  God is everywhere and present in all things, we are divine expressions of God, our thoughts create our reality, prayer, and meditation connect us to God, and we must live these principles daily.
2. Follow the Phoenix affirmation and the 8 points of Progressive Christianity to walk fully in the path of Jesus without denying the legitimacy of other paths that God may provide for humanity by studying and meditating on the Bible and sacred texts of all religions.
3. Journalize for Self-discovery by writing in The Curious Pilgrims what makes me feel most alive, my purpose in life, and what I am grateful for.
4. Connect with nature by spending time outdoors watching sunrises and sunsets, walking on the beach, hiking in the woods.
5. Cultivate gratitude each day by listing three things I am thankful for.
6. Practice Loving-kindness by meditating on May I be happy and May I be healthy and extend those desires, prayers, and wishes to others daily.
7. Spend time meditating in the sacred space in my apartment to recite affirmations and guided meditations using candles, crystals, and spiritual symbols.
8. Serve others by offering a compliment or helping someone in need

Physical Self

1. Eat balanced meals by incorporating lean proteins, healthy fats, and a variety of fruits and vegetables, stay hydrated, and limit processed foods by minimizing the use of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. Mind portion sizes.  Eat out only once a week.
2. Attend Silver Sneakers exercise classes for 45 minutes Monday through Friday.
3. Seek seven hours of sleep each night by going to bed between 9:30-10:30 and rising between five and six am
4. Spend time with family, friends, and community groups for stress management by attending church, going to bear dinners on Thursday evenings, and Men’s Coffee on Saturday morning
5. Visit primary care doctor every four months, podiatrist every six months, cardiologist and ophthalmologist yearly for checkups
6. Record daily weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, and amount of sleep.

Mental and Emotional Self

1. Morning Ritual
   • Check vitals and weigh.
   • List three items of gratitude and three goals for the day
   • Send a telegram greeting to Robert with a scripture and a song
2. Midday Ritual
   • Take a break to assess how you are feeling emotionally and mentally
   • Do a stretch or take a short walk to refresh your mind
   • Reframe negative thoughts by writing the thought down and reframe it into a positive or neutral perspective
   • Telegram Robert to see how his day is going and how he is feeling
3. Evening reflection
   • Reflect on the day by journalizing about the challenges and what you learned today
   • Telegram Robert and share music and meditations and other topics