For every one thing we complain about…

It is that time of the year again. When we all go into our closet to do a yearly evaluation of our goals and plans. Unlike the other evaluation we have done in the past months, this is the chief of them all.

In the process of reflection and taking stock, some of us will laugh while some will sigh. The laughter could be of triumph and proud achievement of the goals we set at the beginning of the year.  Or one of stupidity. The sigh could be an expression of exhaustion but victory of accomplishing that, which was called “impossible.” Or a sigh of sheer guilt and almost defeat. Like the laughter of stupidity, the sigh of guilt could be for the opportunities we allowed to slip away for fear of the unknown. The work we left undone for lack of preparation. The average we carried on our report for being oblivious that a little extra hard work would have placed us on the radar of excellence.

However, it does not matter which way the world turns, we must not allow our failures of yesterday cloud our today’s hope and tomorrow’s opportunity. Thus, in place of every one thing to complain about, think about 10 other things to be thankful for. In place of one person who ruined your plans for the day, week, month or year 2010, think about 10 other people who made you smile. Yes, allow yourself to bask in God’s goodness and count your blessings, one after the other.

If you failed a very important exam this year, and it seems your peers have moved on without you, lookout for the silver linings in your cloud. Bill Gate was also left behind by his seemingly peers when he dropped out of school, but today he has not only created job opportunities for those peers, many others draw inspiration from his conscientiousness.

Was it one of your priced possessions that was stolen this year? Think about the opportunity you have to be alive to replace it, with a better one.  It might be more difficult if you did loose someone close this year. The death of a friend, sibling, parent or family member is very painful. But think about the good times you spent with the person and for the opportunity you got to have known each other, no matter how short.

There is always more to be thankful for than there is to complain about.  As the year 2010 roll by into 2011, learn from the mistakes but make the best of the rest. To use the key words from one of my favorite movies of 2010, Eat. Pray. Love. For every cloud has a silver lining...