The new year has begun. I don’t know about you, but it is already going too fast. I have things to accomplish this week, this month, this year. “Goal setting;” there’s that phrase. You know the one. That one that “type A” personalities have set in concrete last year for this year. The rest of us fall in an order that depends on our personalities, motivation, health, and so many other things. I am not a “type A” personality, and I have rarely set goals that far ahead of where I am in life right then. The word resolution intimidates me. I usually make them, but I don’t share them with very many people. Honestly, that means commitment and accountability if someone else knows. Then I have to keep my promises, or break them. Then those words I told my children come back to haunt me, “When you make a promise, you keep it. If you don’t, you turn the promise you made into a lie.” I hear those words over and over, and I wind up attacking the resolutions again.

Right now, I’m just now getting my resolutions together. I know I may not achieve all of them, but I will make my best effort and come as close to them as I can. With this in mind, I know I will make much more progress than if I had never set any goals at all. Making resolutions, i.e. setting goals, gives us a direction, as well as a road map to get me there. An important thing I’ve learned, as well as you probably, the resolutions must be doable, or I set myself up for failure.  After much searching my heart and praying over every idea that comes to mind, I begin writing down the ones it seems God is pointing out to me or drawing me to. If anything doesn’t fit, or seems not in line with God’s Word or His nature, I toss it.

Here is what mine look like so far. I may add some along the way, as I accomplish one that can be replaced by another.

Daily: Spend 10 – 30 minutes in Bible and devotional.

Do physical therapy at home a.m. and p.m.

Write at least 500 words, and read in one of my text books at least 15 minutes.

Weekly: Do water therapy at center with exercise pool.

Complete at least one or two projects I am behind on.

Monthly: Work on genealogy at least two days; depending on obligation dates already on the calendar.

Yearly: Send four completed projects to children’s magazines.

One children’s book project complete package would take the place of two magazines stories.

I’m looking forward to working on these and being able to look and see each day, week, month, and at the end of the year how far I’ve come. I encourage you to see what you can accomplish this year. I hope you have an exciting, fulfilling, and rich year, and that you take time out for God, yourself, family, and others in general.

Be blessed, my friend.