During the first week of the new year

During the first week of the new year I feel almost happy. There are so many hopeful aspirations that I am either already working on or will soon do so. As always, I have far too many goals to ever complete a drop in a huge overflowing bucket but this is how I function best.

I probably get so much done compared to those I've known who were adults while I was still a child. I do not in any way discount a full-time job, but outside of working to earn money, I didn't grow up seeing many adults doing much in the way of charity involvement, assistance with family members who had struggles, or even individual accomplishments in life.

It isn't quite the same as a New Year's resolution to look forward to a brand new year to identify and plan to tackle new things or to be better at things that I've noticed I need some improvement in. For me, the new year beginning is about more possibilities and opportunities, it is about recognizing whatever it is that I will see, and trying to actively take some action to help someone or something in our world.

How best to describe that feeling is like I'm watching a flower very slowly blooming all night long and then there it is in full bloom in the morning. Before it happens, I know it is going to be wonderful, but I am going to take a seat close to it, peering from a hiding place to discover the secret unfolding before my eyes as I spy on it. It is excitement, awe-filled, expectation, hope, freshness, birth, desire, drive, determination, treasure, hopefulness, youthful, playful, charismatic, aromatic, mysterious, glorious, richness, golden, blooming, perfectly beautiful, and full of life :)! Oh, such a thrilling and marvelous feeling!

January 4th is Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton's feast day. I was so intrigued to learn about her, very pleased with what I read, and glad to be able to share a little bit about her in an essay that I wrote for Examiner.com in my column. She had a real devotion to Our Blessed Mother, she was a single parent with 5 children to care for yet her family wasn't happy with her because she converted to Catholicism, and she was found to be in a state of ecstasy before the Holy Eucharist at times in her adoration. Wow! She was also the Mother Superior and listened to our Lord quite well in her life of servanthood for the sake of others. She founded the American Sisters of Charity. My essay is here: http://www.examiner.com/x-4317-Denver-Roman-Catholic-Examiner~y2010m1d4-With-Gods-help-you-will-accomplish-things-that-youve-never-even-dreamed-of .

To tell you the truth, I just can't wait to see what my Lord and my Lady do with me and with my life. This very well could be an omen, a hint of sorts about my own future.