“You have to assemble your own life yourself— action by action. And be satisfied if each action achieves its goal, as far as it can. No one can keep that from happening.” This line was written by the second century Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius in his collection of reflections on life. The point is simple: You create who you are and your own life. Every action you take is a step in the direction of what you are. You will spend time reading books, exercising, watching tv, scrolling social media, or whatever else. Each decision regarding how you will use your time will make a contribution. Even if actions fail to achieve the desired goal, how you respond to that failure (or your successes) will make you who you are. Nao one can take that responsibility for you m, and we cannot blame anyone else for the course our lives take. I figured this was a good starting point for January 2022. Many of us approach the new year desiring to be a better person in some way or to improve our situation somehow. The truth that Marcus is presenting is key to that effort. You are responsible for the outcome you get. Your actions will build you into something different or keep you as you are. Each little action is a building block, often triggering a chain reaction or positive or negative results in your life.

Most folks will read my opening paragraph and point out that Marcus is speaking too generally. Our actions are not totally in our own control. Obstacles will inevitably pop up to block our path. We may plan to be a better person, but life happens. It gets in the way. Work often stands as an obstacle to improving ourselves or our situation. The emperor addresses this matter in an interesting way. He says that obstacles might block some of our actions, but they cannot block our “behaving with justice, self-control, and good sense.” This might seem strange, but he is basically saying that what matters most is our character and how rightly we live. Nothing can stop you from acting right or having good character, except yourself.

Matters of character seem really abstract, but there is nothing more important than your integrity and character. It is you. However, he does address more concrete actions in the next line: If you accept the obstacle and work with what you’re give, an alternative will present itself— another piece of what you’re trying to assemble. Action by action.” What he means here is that if you continue to strive toward your objectives, taking the obstacles as obstacles,rather than as dead ends, you will eventually find work arounds. The trick is looking. I have a busy life between family, church, writing, and other community involvement. I find time to do things that are important to me. We all find time to do things we want to do. Sometimes, this involves making a choice between things we want to do. I love movies and would watch them daily, except I consider reading to be a better use of time. This means I must choose one over the other. I love sleeping late, but know that the house is quiet early, so I get up early and read. That is the difference between encountering an obstacle and saying, “I don’t have time to read” versus asking,“When can I fit this in?”

Regardless of how I respond to obstacles to my personal goals and resolutions in 2022, every choice and action I make will build me into something.