This year has felt like one big unexpected thing to deal with after another. A huge rollercoaster we didn’t even know was there at the start of the year just came along and grabbed us onto it against our will and we’ve been forced to ride the ups and downs since.

Yet each of us has dealt with it in our own way and we’re here today to tell our stories and look forward to our future.

We may have not felt ready for living the way we have these past months but we’ve done it.

What if we always lived like this? Prepared to expect the unexpected and living life and loving what we have and do each day?

Living life now

Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living the result of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinion drowned your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition, they somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

Steve Jobs

I’ve heard some people who’ve loved this year – spending time with their children and doing different things together. Others have found it tough being isolated from friends and family. Many have had to do things in a new way, which they’ve either enjoyed, or not. Each of us has had a different experience.

In our household we’ve had virtually four adults, (youngest is 16 so almost classed in that way), in the same space with two of us working full time and the other two having nothing to do for six months. That was weird! My husband has found that he enjoys working from home, and while he sees a need for the central office he believes that his team will never again work full time together in that office space. They’ve found a different way to work which sounds like it’s more efficient which they wouldn’t have noticed without the shift we’ve had this year.

Personally, I’ve loved having the opportunity this year to help the people I’ve worked with to see new possibilities in their life, and watched as they take the steps to a new horizon they didn’t know existed. I’ve learnt so much about myself, what’s possible and seen new horizons open up for me to. I wasn’t necessarily looking for new horizons, but as I’ve explored different avenues I’ve seen new things I’d love and I’m doing them.

Yet so many people are still living in fear. Fear of change. Fear of not knowing. Fear of death.

If this year has taught us anything, surely it’s that we’ll never know exactly what’s over the horizon? We are all going to die at some stage, so let’s live for today and love the gifts we do have in our life.

As I play a money game this month with the no more boxes movement, it reminds me that each day we have a gift. A gift of the 24 hours ahead of us. Each of us has a choice what we do in that 24 hours – who we connect with, what skills and talents we’ll use in that time, what we’ll eat, what exercise we’ll do. We may choose to impact others in that time, or spend it in isolation. We each have that choice.

Just like my imaginary money I can choose what to do with my time, talents, my personal gifts I’ve been given. There’s nothing to be afraid of in using your gifts for your own enjoyment, or to help others. It’s up to you.

If each of us is ready prepared to expect the unexpected in our daily lives, will we achieve more together? Rather than wasting energy on feeling sorry for ourselves, what if we look forward to the day ahead and choose to live it to the full?

As humans we’ve each been given skills and talents to use. If you’re unsure what’s over the horizon for you, why not spend some time today listening to yourself and hearing what you’d love to do? You know the answer better than anyone, but if you’re out of practice listening in that way this 21 days of Hope experience will help you get started – 5 minutes a day is all it takes to make a start.

Are you ready to expect the unexpected today? I’d love to hear your thoughts.