It's a New Year!

As is my custom during the week between Christmas and New Year’s, I have been contemplating what goals I want to set for myself for the coming year. I have been doing this for at least the past 20 years. Some years I choose a “theme word” to focus on. Other years it’s just a fairly short list of goals that will guide me throughout the year.

For those of you who like to make New Year’s Resolutions,  let me say that these goals of mine are not – in my opinion, at least – the same thing as New Year’s Resolutions. What is the difference? To me, resolutions are more of a pass/fail sort of thing. For instance, many people make a resolution to lose weight, or work out at the gym daily, etc. etc. They have good intentions. But often within just the first few days they mess up and then quickly give up.

A goal, on the other hand, is a tool to help us strive toward accomplishing something. It’s not pass/fail, but rather what I consider a win/win because every step toward reaching that goal is an improvement to my life.

This year I’ve decided to try something a little different than my normal goal-setting. I’ve chosen a quote that is the beginning point of my 2015 goals. This idea actually came to me when I saw a Zig Ziglar quote on someone’s facebook page. I was sure that was going to be my quote for 2015. But it turns out I’m going a different direction. Isn’t it funny how that happens? Instead, I’m using a different quote. I’m not certain who originated these words, but I’ve seen then attributed to Katrina Mayer, so that’s who I will give credit for saying them.

So, based on this quote, my goals for 2015 are pretty simple:

1. Did I love enough?

I will do something each day to show someone that I love him/her.

2. Did I laugh enough?

I will do something that makes me bubble over with happiness each day.

3. Did I make a difference?

 I will do something that will bring joy to someone else every day.

I will try my very best to live by these goals this year, knowing that some days I will do better than others. And even on those days when I feel like I failed to reach my goals, I won't give up! Because like Zig Ziglar's quote reminds us, each day is a BRAND NEW DAY!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

I hope 2015 will be a GREAT year for you!