New Year, New Goals

I've decided to wait until the second week of January to commit to my New Year's Resolutions.
Searching online, I came across a poem that explains why!

January Acrostic (With Rhyme) - Poem by Stevie Taite

J uncture of the year 

A t which we like to make

N umerous null promises

U ndoubtedly they'll take

A bout a week to break

R esolutions gone awry

Y et again next year we'll try[!]

Yet seriously, we should be confident in the start of a new year and take comfort in the opportunity of having a clean slate to begin again. For all that didn't go well in 2016, whether personally or corporately, let's start again. And if and when there is a failure, then press reset for the next day. 

In this new year, I have a list of goals and objectives just as most people do. For me, I truly believe that the only tasks that are accomplished are those that are scheduled and held accountable. For most people, this means what is expected at work or home, such as meetings, appointments, or caring for others out of necessity. These are our responsibilities. But also, we should expect to grow, and this growth process requires input, reflection, expression, and feedback. These should be our new responsibilities, in addition to the old.

So once again, this year as many before, my resolution is to make the most of my time, and to grow. For me, this means being productive while also finding outlets for creating so I can feel fulfillment and be a lifelong learner. We learn by doing, sharing, listening, and reflecting. Growth is not done alone; it involves spending time with others, learning and communicating with real people.

At the end of the year, we will look back again and remember what is truly important. At the risk of sounding cliché, it will remain faith, family, and love, but what does our faith, our family, and our love for God and others cause us to do?

Concerning work ethic, it is also about setting smart goals: specific, measurable, agreed upon/action-oriented, realistic, and time-based. Here's to the start of a new year, and an opportunity to pause, reflect and critique, and set new goals for growth! We want our God, our family and others to celebrate with us at the end of the year at how much we accomplished for our self-fulfillment and for others.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!