Dear 2008,

Just wanted to drop you a quick note. Let you know that know that we’re pretty much in this together. We ’bout to make some thangs happen. In a big way. We’re going to prepare – as best we can – for the opportunities that walk up to the door and knock. Open the door and let them in.

Gonna take the lessons learned from what once was and apply them to what is, to what is to be. No matter what comes our way, we’re going to keep right on working out – building muscle, increasing stamina and endurance, going the distance. Not getting caught up in whether we make it look “easy”…as long as we remember it’s possible.

You come to me with a purpose and I honor that, I acknowledge it and I extend to you the space and grace to simply be what you were meant to be: a blank canvas, a calendar full of play-doh for my creation. I know that, by and large, I’m creating my days, not really shaping myself around YOU…BUT…I retain my shape-shifting powers for emergencies.

As the old skool song said, “Let’s dance. Let’s dance to the drummer’s beat!”
Allow me to introduce MYSELF…I…am…the…drummer. And people, when the DJ ask, “Can the drummer get some?” you need to know that the answer is irrevocably, undeniably, unflinchingly, “HELL YEAH!”

Now come on over here. Let me unwrap you! Slowly. We got alllll year long. No need to rush. Let’s just enjoy the moments, be present in each of them. Work our way to the good stuff…trusting that it’s ALL good stuff no matter what it looks like to the naked eye.

Oh, by the way, I dressed for the occasion – wearing JOY…head-to-toe. Feet encased in laced-up PURPOSE (functional AND fabulous). And you know what Granny used to say, “Don’t matter what you wearing if ya FOUNDATION ain’t right.” Trust and believe, the “foundation” is on lock. Dabbed fresh PERSPECTIVE on my wrists, my neck…trailing it across my collarbone. Let laughter dangle freely from my charm bracelet. Wearing & carrying just the right accessories – powerful yet carefully understated.

I walk into you with my arms, mind, & heart open - open to the limitless possibilities of you & I together; open to the birth of purpose; open to a deeper level of understanding, grace, clarity, and love.

I see you in all your naked authenticity and I match you step for step with the realness of me - joyful me, silly me, determined me, unsure me, pensive me, beautiful me.

You are mine to create and I do so fully conscious. Your days become the journal pages and I am determined to write my life out loud in bold, bright calligraphy in the language of joy. You are 366 days of Play-doh and I intend to shape you purposefully each and every day. You are an endless blank canvas upon which I get to color my dreams as brightly, as boldly, as beautifully as my soul can stand.

Let’s do this!

Let’s create fate!

Loving you with all that I am, with all that I am to be,
“J”