This post is part of the Guest Blog Grand Tour over at Life Without Pants – an epic journey of over 75 guest posts. Want to learn more about Matt Cheuvront & see how far the rabbit hole goes? Subscribe to the Life Without Pants RSS feed & follow him on Twitter to keep in touch!
2009. What a year, huh? As December winds down, Christmas and New Years on the Horizon, we take time to reflect on the year that was. Throughout the year we get so caught up in our fast paced lives that we neglect to see how much has really happened. But as it all draws to a close we reminisce over the good times and the bad, the obstacles we’ve overcome and challenges that have come before us. And then, at least for me, I give myself a pat on the back, because odds are, the year behind me was a lot more productive than I thought.
This year has been especially difficult and also extremely rewarding for yours truly. If I used one word to describe everything that happened, it would be “transition” – changing jobs, changing homes, getting engaged, leaving friends and family and making new ones. There’s been a lot of change – it wasn’t easy – but I can sit where I am today and tell you that I’ve learned more about myself in the past year than I have in the past five.
I’ve reflected on life lessons learned this year over on my blog – but I wanted to take a different approach and share with you one of, if not the single most important and empowering thing I’m taking away from this year: The power of CHOICE.
We talk so much about a belief in fate versus free will. Fate will tell you that when you’re born, your path is pre-determined, that no matter what you do, the man upstairs has his mind made up for you – and you’re simply here to serve in that purpose. Free will takes the opposite stance – encouraging that you have the power to do anything you want in life, that your fate it what you make (Terminator, anyone?)
I believe in neither.
Instead, I believe in choice, the only thing that we CAN control. Let’s face it, we don’t have a say in everything that happens in our life. But it isn’t about fate – I’ll never admit that my path is predetermined. Life is going to throw you a shit storm from time to time, it’s not all slow pitches over the plate, there are going to be curves and sliders – things that will throw you off your game and keep you guessing – sometimes even striking out.
But what we CAN control is the choices we make every single day. Options are put before us and we have the power to make the right (or wrong) decisions – to mess up and learn from our mistakes, to overcome great obstacles through perseverance and persistence. Once you start believing in yourself and the power you have to make those choices, the sky is the limit for what you can achieve.
2009 has been an amazing year – not an easy one – but one I will never forget as a turning point in my life. And I know that I will never regret the choices I’ve made that have gotten me to where I am today.
Prose and Constellations 
I agree with all the points listed below and I think that I have every intention of choosing to make 2010 just as great as my 2009 year! 🙂
I hope it is! I’ve got to say a big thank you to Matt for stopping here on his Guest Blog Grand Tour – I’m very glad I found Life Without Pants because it’s purely inspiring, positive, encouraging and growth-oriented, and I feel like everybody should take a leaf out of his book sometimes, on realising you have the power to change your life and live any way you want to. It’s great stuff 🙂
Sorry I am just now making it over here Emily. Thanks so much for having me – I really put a lot into this post and I have you to thank for inspiring these thoughts within me. Good luck to you in the new year, I have no doubt we are going to accomplish great things!
So I loved this post.. and totally was into it and then was TOTALLY sidetracked by the T2 reference and read the remainder of the entry in Awnold’s voice. ❤
Arnold references pretty much guarantee awesome-ness of any post, right?
I’m totally going with a YES on that one 😉 He used to be the gov’nuh of my old state btw. We saw how that turned out eh? LOL
LOL that’s awesome!!
This is so true, and so well written. I totally agree – life is about choices. And just because you made a choice, doesn’t mean you HAVE to continue down that path – you can usually choose to return to that fork in the road, and do something differently. Usually. I know there are exceptions to that of course!
I could really relate to this – 2009 a changing year for me as well. Great guest post. 🙂
Oops, I meant 2009 WAS a changing year for me as well. 🙂
Thanks Samantha – glad the post hit home with you. Hope we can chat more in the new year!
Good point. Life is total crap, it’s what you do with it that makes it meaningful! Happy New Year!
Well put – you can’t control it all but you can ALWAYS control the choices you make. Cheers!
Funny how these same themes keep coming up between us!
Reminds me of the post I wrote back in November, where I completely diss fate and destiny as being big, socially constructed lies, designed and perpetuated because they make you feel less pressured. Unfortunately, they’re also really, really fricking disempowering.
http://www.themiddlefingerproject.org/2009/11/13/give-me-liberty-or-give-me-death-bow-chica-wow-wow/
I just wrote a similar post about choice http://bit.ly/61MsaM. It was my self-realization this year as well. Empower yourself!
Oh, and great post Matt. I like that your writing is to the point but also has empathy and feeling in it.