How has 2008 been for you? It’s almost over now and many of us are looking forward, looking ahead, making goals and planning our next year. All good things. I’m also anticipating a new year, a fresh start with new projects, exciting milestones and hopes for the coming months.

However, before I jump into any of that I want to pause for a moment and reflect on this last year.

• What were my low points in 2008? What can I learn from them?
• What were my triumphs? How can I capitalize on those? What did it take to achieve them?
• What did I love about this year? How can I continue that in 2009?
• What made me miserable? How can I avoid those things?
• What things from 2008 am I proud of?

Two years ago my husband and I decided to lose weight, beginning in January, and we did it. We both lost a significant amount of weight through controlling our diets and two years later we’ve kept it off. Good for us. Now what? We’ve had a tough time financially for the last year; what are we going to do about that? I jumpstarted some side hustles in 2008; how can I amp those up in 2009?

It is the reflection of these thoughts that lead me to my resolve. It would be foolish of me to make goals and plans on a whim; to sit down with a piece of paper and make a 1-year life plan in 5 minutes, completely disregarding the year I just experienced. Not only would my goals be emotional (as opposed purposely thought out) but I would be missing areas that truly need attention.

I headed over to dictionary.reference.com to check out the definition of ‘resolve’ and found that it means “to come to a definite and earnest decision about; determine (to do something).” I love the earnest in this definition. It implies a pure sincerity unadultered by family and societal pressures and motivated deeply from within. What is it that moves you; that deeply affects the core of who you are?

The things you are earnest about should be initimately involved in the goals you make or you will have no desire to work toward them. For instance, a person may choose to lose weight simply because they know they need to, but they will lack the resolve to succeed at it until they can connect the goal with something important to them. Perhaps a dad might like to lose weight in order to enjoy more physical activities with his children. Once he has an intimate connection to a goal he has a meaningful reason to attain it. Perhaps you need to get your finances in order. What can you attatch that goal to in order to motivate yourself to achieve it? Perhaps you want to eliminate lessen spousal fighting over finances, or maybe save more for your kids for college. Figure out what’s important to you, what you’re earnest about and find a way to attatch that to your goal.

As you go through this week and you hear people making their resolutions be sure to reflect before your jump in the resolution boat. Set yourself up to actually succeed this year and work toward things that are of value to you.

That in mind, what have you resolved and for what reason?

Why I do what I do ~ Last night when I went in to check on my daughter a little while after putting her to bed I noticed that she had a dress-up skirt on over her pajamas. I smiled a little, told her it was pretty and tucked her back in. I came out and told my husband that it was cute that Chloe had asked him to put a dress-up skirt on her. He looked at me confused and told me that he hadn’t put the skirt on her. We both grinned widely.

photo credit: °Florian

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