I Endeavor

This year I endeavor to not only love myself so that I might love others, but to be patient and understanding. No matter the shoe, regardless of size, type or style, I will put myself into other shoes and take a hike in their lives.

Though I love ornate, unique books with decorated spines, I will not judge a book by its cover. I endeavor to be willing to settle down and be receptive to other’s lives and situations. My mother always told me that unless disclosed, you never know someone’s story or what makes them who they are. I endeavor to be respectful and nonjudgmental of other’s words, reactions, or opinions. Though how I feel is valid and genuine, I will always be conscientious of any person’s feelings and accept that how they are is nothing personal and has nothing to do with me.

I endeavor to be warm and inviting, sincere and receptive to their needs. I will not offer unsolicited advice, hijack the conversation or expect that they want me to help solve their situations unless stated otherwise. I choose to be a reliable shoulder to cry on, a masterful sponge eager to immerse myself with an open ear.

I endeavor to place healthy boundaries so that I might stay healthy and available to be the best version of myself for the greater good. I will embrace, accept and cherish others as well as myself to create boundless heaps of new love.

I endeavor to always water my house plants, my inner child and my best friends and acquaintances with the perfect amount. I promise to stop trying to control everything, to stop obsessively counting my calories and in the event that I have nothing nice to say, I will say nothing at all.

I endeavor to take an active approach at learning about my friend’s hobbies and talents. I ask them to teach me their ways, Sensei, and be humble and eager to have fun. I promise not to take myself too seriously and to enjoy life spending more time doing things that I’ve never done before with people that I love. I promise to laugh out loud more, so loud, until my belly burns, until I can’t catch my breath whilst making new memories.

I endeavor to stick to my commitments and plans with my peers and to try something new that they will enjoy. I want to engulf myself with cultural knowledge that is different from my own and to stay in touch with my own culture. I promise to stand up for myself as well as others when any wrong or injustice has come upon them. If they feel slighted or misjudged, I will not ask why they feel that way, instead I will empathize with their experience and allow them to enlighten me on their own time. I willingly choose to be a safe sounding board for my peers to vent when needed as well as offer what I can emotionally when asked.

I endeavor to document my experiences without shame so that I can cherish them forever, whether it be photos, videos, journal entries. I promise to sit in the ways that people make me feel, and if I feel somber whilst missing them, I will look back at what I documented unabashedly. I promise to not be scared of voicing how I feel about others and share my love with them. There is no limit to the amount of love and affection I can obtain and experience.

I endeavor to tell myself and others all the kind, beautiful, and sexy aspects of their psyche and soul. I promise to continue soul searching, working on myself, go on a walkabout, practically anything to be the most authentic and gorgeous version of myself so that I might dote and radiate the same love to the people around me.

I endeavor to keep my promises, I endeavor to love and cherish you always.