The Little Things: Making choices in 2022
By KELLY PRESTON, Special to The Paper
I recently treated my daughters to a manicure, and I couldn’t believe the number of polish colors from which to choose.
Choices. We are faced with having to make choices each and every day. In fact, some internet sources say the average adult makes approximately 35,000 decisions daily. That’s a lot of thinking!
At this time of year, many people make New Year’s resolutions or set goals, each involving choices. Will I go to the gym or not? Will I quit smoking or not? Will I be more patient or not?
So as 2022 begins, how can we make choices that will help us live healthier, happier, holier lives?
There is no quick and easy 3-step answer, but I have found some guidelines to be helpful in my own life and I hope they will be of help to you, as well.
• Choose to live without regrets.
Consider, “Will I regret doing (or not doing) XYZ a year from now?” Living with regret is like living with a chain around your neck; it weighs you down.
• Choose to live selflessly.
Our society is all about “me, me, me” but living with others in mind results in greater joy and satisfaction.
• Choose to live with an attitude of gratitude.
Our attitude is one thing we have control of in this life, and there is ALWAYS something for which to be thankful.
The Bible has a wealth of guiding principles for making choices. One of my favorite sets of verses is Colossians 3:12-15.
“…clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience…Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, put on love…Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…And be thankful.”
Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, love, peace, and thankfulness. Now those are definitely good things to CHOOSE in this New Year and beyond!
Happy New Year and God bless you!
Kelly Preston is a nurse-turned-stay-at-home-mom to four amazing and energetic children. Though she sometimes forgets to buy toilet paper amidst their busy schedules, Kelly finds time to run RACE for the Orphans, a non-profit focused on supporting adoptive families. She loves Jesus, people, a really good book, and pondering the little things.
Kelly, great message to start the New Year! Love , Dad❤️