A Little R&R in Roma

This time of year always brings reflection and offers me an opportunity to reset (or a little spiritual R&R). Perhaps it's the reason why I vacation or at least take time off work during the holidays. I'm not much of a resolution maker in the traditional sense, but I do love to look back on the year in hopes of planting seeds for what I want to come to fruition in my life. 

Today in Roma, as I traveled on the train with my friend Tam to and from the small town of Spoleto, I had plenty of time to reflect and reset a few things. Here are some reflections, revelations and areas to reset based on my own inventory process, conversations and observations:

- I want to strive to live my life as a victor, even when I might not fully believe I've won the battle and can't see the finish line. When we've already won something, the way we approach the situation or let it affect us changes.

- Everyone's going through something. And every now and then, you have to let someone pick a fight with you knowing that letting them win is more important to their spiritual survival than losing will impact yours. I pray for the discernment to know when to fight to win or take a loss. 

- Sometimes taking inventory of your spiritual growth is easier if you look back instead of forward. I was talking to Tam today about how we've grown in certain situations and it just seems too hard to see the progress by continuing to look at how much further in the journey we have to go. Felt much better to look in the rear view window and say, I'm not where I'm going, but I'm far from where I used to be. 

- You can choose peace. You can say "I love you, I forgive you, I release you" and that be your reality. Thanks for sharing that Tam. My hope is to be able to live that in many situations in my life.

- I want to continue to decipher between the voice of God and his plans for my life and my own desires. I'm a planner, for the most part. And I like to be led by the spirit. But sometimes, I have difficulty letting my spirit lead because it takes it's sweet little time on occasion. So I clearly need to help it along. Patience is an area I've grown in recent years, I hope to continue on that path. 

Seems like Roma is bringing out the philosopher in me (or is it the wine that Tam keeps pouring in my glass?) Eh well, I'm sure there's more to come.

Thanks for reading y'all, I really do appreciate it!