I usually do a huge year end review but this season just got away from me this year.  Lots of folks use this time to reflect on the past year and come up with big goals for the coming year.  I’m not big on resolutions and I’ve never been able to come up with a “word of the year” but as we were driving down to the beach yesterday, I was listening to the Thomas Jefferson Hour and he suggested something I can get on board with.  (His weekly Jefferson Watch at the end of the program is always worth a few minutes of your time!) He had many ideas for goals for the new year – hosting a dinner party bi-monthy, reading classic works of literature, learning a new skill –  but one stuck out: Treat people better than they deserve.  Respond to rudeness with civility.  Take a moment to consider why someone has said or acted in a negative way.  I have really tried to do this when driving (although it’s infinitely easier when I’m not the one behind the wheel…).  Maybe that lady was distracted by her crying baby or crazy kiddos in the backseat.  Maybe that guy is coming home from a 24 hour shift and is anxious to get home to his family and his own bed.  We never really know what kind of day someone is having and do you really want to be yet another person who is rude to the Starbucks lady?  Or do you want to be the one breaks the cycle and offers a smile?

Treat people better than they deserve.

We’ve got a big year coming up as a country with big decisions to make and big conversations to have.  I think it’s more important that ever to treat people better than they deserve.  No you don’t have to agree but you should listen and you should be kind.  Don’t be so quick to judge a person or a group of people just because they don’t think they way you do.  Take a moment to listen, to REALLY listen, to individual people and find out what is important to them and what they think about big issues.  Don’t assume you know what something thinks just because they are young or old, because they go to church or they don’t, because they vote for one person or another.  And if you find out that you don’t agree, that’s okay!  Just please for the love, be kind.  (I’m not saying let people slide when they’re being hateful or deceitful… but kindess and honestly will get you a lot farther than more nastiness.)

Treat people better than they deserve.

I’m looking forward to a great 2020!  What are some of your plans or goals for 2020?  Do you have a word of the year?

Personally, I’m looking forward to watching these cuties grow up and I’m so thankful I get a front row seat to watching them bloom.

Happy New Year!

~ Maggie