You probably just spent some time reading, hiking, skating, or one of many other activities on the holiday break. Wasn’t it great? Vacations can be truly wonderful. I look forward to them for a chance to disconnect from work and do some things I love. 
For instance, having the time to read more fiction is such a treat. I’ve always been a reader and remember my parents yelling at me to stop reading and get outside. They were right because I love outside too. Still, settling down on the couch with a book I’ve been looking forward to and losing myself in it is wonderful. It’s easy to forget about the world and indulge.
Some people mistake a vacation for real life. They yearn for retirement when they “can do whatever they want”. I know those who count the days to the next holiday. I just can’t get on board with this kind of thinking. While I love time off as much as anyone and yes, work can be stressful at times, what I am doing needs meaning beyond pleasing myself.
A full, satisfying, and happy life must have purpose. This can take so many forms, and we don’t need to be in a fancy job or have a lot of money to find it. I try to think about what my purpose is every day. A fresh start in 2019 is a perfect time to remind myself of that.
Recently Barack Obama challenged followers on Twitter and Instagram to take up the challenge of making something better.
As the year winds down and we look toward 2019, I’m asking you to make a commitment: find something you want to change in your community and take the first step toward changing it. If you need some inspiration, take a look at some of the young leaders who inspired me this year.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 29, 2018
Obama gives many wonderful examples in his feed, and I’ve been thinking about this a lot. I know where I want to go to try to make a change in my community.
What about you? What is your purpose?
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