RESOLUTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR (2008)

{first written December 31, 2007}

Happy New Year! I'm sharing my thoughts for 2008... Thanks for reading...

Many people make New Years resolutions. I do. It's a good time to reflect and restate your awareness of priorities.

I begin by looking back on the past year. I identify a short list of my achievements and any influences on me over the past year (see my previous blog). Then I look ahead and identify a short list of things to focus on, above and beyond all others. I suggest selecting resolutions that target the following categories:

* To improve personal discipline
* To improve health
* To improve interpersonal relationships
* To enhance professional growth or a vocational skill
* To identify a large goal, milestone or project you plan to achieve in 2008.

On New Year's Day I will sit with my family and lead this discussion over dinner. I appreciate them humoring me by going along with it. (I'm open to others taking the lead too...) It's funny conversation... Last year my son's resolutions were all about getting the rest of us to exercise. LOL.

I must be getting predictable because my foster son said something today, I looked up into his face, and he said, "I know, I need to make that a New Year's Resolution." He read my mind exactly, and we laughed.

Need help and reinforcements? New Year resolutions are personal. Maybe we fail because we don't have the individual will power or the time while we juggle everything else. You can reduce risk and increase your chances of success if you do the following:

* discuss with someone - whether sharing your thoughts or sharing collective goals, talking provides mutual encouragement and helps make you accountable. If you tell me yours, I won't forget and might remind you quarterly...
* try incremental instead of revolutionary change - be realistic not extreme.
* life style changes are more lasting than flash-in-the pan fads.
* try again at Lent, or any next holiday/birthday, to make it right. I find Lenten sacrifices as lasting because I transfer my will power to something bigger than me, and it makes me stronger.

Here are my specific 2008 resolutions:
1. Continue to walk and exercise (already started in 2007) and add vitamins to the daily routine.
2. Focus on some goals at work, such as a new program initiative or professional certification.
3. Clean the house - probably throw out (donate to charity) the last generation of stuff. Simplify the lifestyle and downsize the house.
4. Make my sewing room - after dedicating rooms for every other purpose I'm going to clear space to set up something for me and try to pick up some old projects.
5. Travel somewhere TBD - probably East Coast, maybe UK... I see water in my future...
6. Help my son with his musical pursuits. Help him and my foster son get into college.
7. Write a comedy - maybe a stand-up monlogue? (this one is the impulse item.)