Thought of the Day - 1/8/11

Never tell your resolution beforehand, or it's twice as onerous a duty.
~~ John Selden ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/7/11

Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.
~~ Hal Borland ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/6/11

New Year's Day is every man's birthday.
~~ Charles Lamb ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/5/11

No one ever regarded the First of January with indifference. It is that from which all date their time, and count upon what is left. It is the nativity of our common Adam.
~~ Charles Lamb ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/4/11

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.
~~ Benjamin Franklin ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/3/11

A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.
~~ Author Unknown ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/2/11

Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits.
~~ Author Unknown ~~

2011 Goals

If you know me you know I like the word goals better than resolutions.

Goals
1. The purpose toward which an endeavor is directed; an objective.

2. A specified structure or zone into or over which players endeavor to advance a ball or puck.
3. The score awarded for such an act.
4. A noun or noun phrase referring to the place to which something moves.
5. The terminal point of a journey or race.

Resolutions
1. The state or quality of being resolute; firm determination.

2. A resolving to do something.
3. A course of action determined or decided on.
4. A formal statement of a decision or expression of opinion put before or adopted by an assembly such as the U.S. Congress.
5. The act or process of separating or reducing something into its constituent parts: the prismatic resolution of sunlight into its spectral colors.
6. The fineness of detail that can be distinguished in an image, as on a video display terminal.
7. The subsiding or termination of an abnormal condition, such as a fever or an inflammation.
8. A court decision.
9. An explanation, as of a problem or puzzle; a solution.
10. The part of a literary work in which the complications of the plot are resolved or simplified.
11. The progression of a dissonant tone or chord to a consonant tone or chord.
12. The tone or chord to which such a progression is made.
13. The substitution of one metrical unit for another, especially the substitution of two short syllables for one long syllable in quantitative verse.


Goals are attainable . . . every step of the way.  Resolutions are not achieved until the completion.  I want rewarded (praised, hugged, "me time," ice cream, etc.) for each step, for the ambition, for the effort, for the time, for the conviction, for the destination.  If I have these, the hope to meet my goal has a much greater chance of succeeding.
 
Cameron's Goals"
1. To be more mature.
2. To stop lying.
 
Cassandra's Goals:
1. To play the trumpet in public for others to enjoy at no cost.
2. To lessen the exaggeration, the embellishing of stories.
 
Storm's Goals:
To continue my success, my goals are pretty much the same.  My emphasis, however, this year is:
1. To trust in God more.
2. Join Ali Edwards in selecting and living by one word.
3. To swear less.  When I get stressed or truly frustrated, I swear.  My kids hate it.  My boyfriend hates it.  I don't really like it.  Though, it's a great stress-reliever at times.  The agreement is I will pay 25 cents for each time I swear.


 
 

Thought of the Day - Happy New Year!

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.
~~ Oprah Winfrey ~~

New Year Resolutions Or Not

Resolutions Vs. Goals

Resolution

• A written motion adopted by a deliberative body.
• The ability to distinguish peaks in a mass spectrum.
• The replacement of one longum with two brevia.
• A rule of inference used for automated theorem proving.

New Year's Resolution
A New Year's resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous. The name comes from the fact that these commitments normally go into effect on New Year's Day.

Goal

• A goal or objective is a projected state of affairs that a person or a system plans or intends to achieve.
• A personal or organizational desired end.
• Point in some sort of assumed development.
• Many people endeavor to reach goals within a finite time by setting deadlines.

After reading the definitions of resolutions and goals, I prefer the word goal.  I can achieve a goal; not sure (using the definition above) that I can achieve a resolution.


1.  Do you make New Year's resolutions?
Not usually.  I know for myself I will most likely fail in trying to complete the resolutions. 

I like using the word goal . . . so if I fail to complete my goal it doesn't seem to be as hard of a failure.  The word goal -- to me -- is more positive, more attainable, more focused.

I do not set goals every year.  The main reason fo not setting new goals each year has to do with attitude.  If I am not in the "right" mind-set, I cannot try or attain a particular goal .

This year my list of goals is long.  With my renewed faith in God and myself and the support of wonderful friends, I know I can achieve these goals.
A.  Stop drinking Mt. Dew. -- Already accomplised!!!
B.  Stop social smoking.
C.  Pray every day.
D.  Spend more time reading the Bible and doing Bible study.
E.  Walk.
F.  Be a better parent.
G.  Maintain contact with family.
H.  Minimize the amount of pills needed daily.
I.  Enjoy life!

2.  How many resolutions do you make?
See above for answer.

3.  Do you keep them (the resolutions)?
Depends on what it is.

4.  If you break them, how long do they usually last?
Varies.

5.  What are your New Year's resolutions are for 2010?
See answer for #1.

6.  Do you think you will keep your resolutions for 2010?
I sure hope so because my life and my children's lives will be better and more enriched if I do keep my goals.

I've added this post (because it's full of questions) to Aloha Friday.  Head on over to Kailani's blog and check out all the fun questions and answers.

A Time for Reflection

Each new year is the perfect time to pause and reflect -- to think about what we have done in the past year and think about what we want to do in the next year. What are you satisfied with and what changes would you like to make? Do you have new goals for the new year?

There are many things to think about, and reflection deserves your precious time, especially if you want to set goals for the new year. Without a plan, life just happens to you.

Would you like to spend more time with your family or with your friends? Would you like to eat healthier and exercise more? Do you want to learn more? Do you want to break a bad habit? Do you want to become more organized? Is there some place you've always wanted to go? Are there relationships you need to nurture or mend? Is there something you've always wanted to do but have put it off? Decide the changes you want to make and write them down. You are more likely to accomplish them if you do! Make the most of your life so it is fulfilling and full of the things you want and care about most.

They say your thoughts become your words -- your words become your actions -- and your actions become your destiny. Take time to make your life all YOU want it to be!

Prayer for the New Year

Grant me the strength from day to day
to bear what burdens come my way.
Grant me throughout this bright New Year
more to endure and less to fear.
Help me live that I may be
from spite and petty malice free.
Let me not bitterly complain
when cherished hopes of mine prove vain,
or spoil with deeds of hate and rage
some fair tomorrow's spotless page.
Lord, as the days shall come and go
in courage let me stronger grow.
Lord, as the New Year dawns today
help me to put my faults away.
Let me be big in little things;
grant me the joy which friendship brings.
Keep me from selfishness and spite;
let me be wise in what is right.
A Happy New Year!
Grant that I may bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end.
Let it be said I've played the friend,
have lived and loved and labored here,
and made of it a happy year.
~~ Edgar A. Guest ~~

Any Time Is A Good Time For Healthy Changes

Each year, many people make resolutions for change, and each year, most of those resolutions go… unresolved. This isn’t due to people’s lack of desire for a better life; it’s just a byproduct of the reality that change is difficult. Our habits become ingrained and automatic; changing them requires constant effort until a new habit is formed. This resource can help you to make necessary alterations in your expectations, attitudes, and methods of change so that you can experience real results that last. The following ideas can help:

Think in Terms of “Goals”, Rather Than “Resolutions”
While most people make resolutions that they’re determined to keep, a better tactic would be to create goals. What’s the difference, you may ask? With traditional resolutions, people generally approach change with the attitude, “From now on, I will no longer [name a given behavior you’d like to change]”.

The problem with this is, after one or two slip-ups, people feel like failures and tend to drop the whole effort, falling easily back into familiar patterns. By setting goals, one instead aims to work toward a desired behavior. The key difference is that people working toward goals expect that they won’t be perfect at first, and are pleased with any progress they make. Rather than letting perfectionism work against them, they allow motivation and pride to do their magic. The following ideas can help you with meeting your ‘New Year Goals:

• Remember That It’s A Process: Expect to work your way up, rather than maintaining perfection and feeling let-down if you don’t achieve it immediately.
• Work Your Way Up: In setting goals for new behavior, aim for once or twice a week, rather than everyday. For example, instead of saying, “I’ll go to the gym everyday”, plan for “every Wednesday” or, better yet, sign up for a fun exercise class, and you can work your way up to more often.
• Set Yourself Up To Succeed: Set small, attainable goals, and add more steps as you complete each one. This way you gradually work your way toward the life you want and the necessary changes, but you experience much more ‘success’ along the way, rather than feeling like a failure if you don’t experience ultimate change overnight.

Have A Goal Each Month
If you’re like most people, you may have several changes you’d like to make in your life; if so, it may be a good idea to tackle one each month. This way, 1) you can focus more, as you won’t be trying to make several sweeping changes at once; 2) you can re-commit yourself each month to a new idea, so you keep growing all year and self-improvement becomes a way of life; and 3) you can build on each success, so you can first free up time before you take on a new hobby or get involved in an important cause, for example. Also, habits generally take 21 days to form. This setup enables you to devote energy to forming new habits more easily before moving on to the next, so you’re not relying solely on will-power.

Reward Your Progress
While many of your resolutions carry their own reward, changing your habits can be challenging, and it’s sometimes easier to do so if you have a little extra help. (Remember how positive reinforcement from a supportive teacher helped you learn, even though the knowledge itself was its own reward?) Providing extra rewards for yourself can help you to stay on track and maintain your motivation, even if you sometimes don’t feel like making the effort solely for the sake of the benefit the change itself will create. The following are ways you can create rewards for yourself:

• Team Up: Have a buddy who knows your goals, and encourage each other, even if you’re working on separate goals. This will provide you with someone who can give you a high-five when you deserve one, and a little encouragement when you need it.
• Reward Small Successes: Divide your goal into bite-sized steps and have a reward waiting at the completion of each.
• Align Rewards With Goals: Have rewards that are in line with your achievements (like new workout clothes for every 5 gym visits, or a beautiful new pen if you stick with your journaling habit for two weeks).

Adapted from article written by Elizabeth Scott.

Ask Those Questions

Sometimes the people you're closest to are the ones you know the least about, so pose these questions. The answers may surprise you.

Write a question on a small piece of paper and fold in half. Then pile the pieces of paper in a bowl in the center of the table. Let each person choose one to read and answer.

Childhood:
1. What was the home and neighborhood you grew up in like?
2. What was your role in your family?
3. What were your siblings like back then, and how did you get along with them?
4. What kind of student were you?
5. Other than family, who were the most important people in your life?
6. What were the happiest times of your childhood?
7. What were the biggest disappointments?
8. What were your hobbies?
9. Who was the first person you ever kissed?
10. What did you imagine your adult life would be like?

Love and Family:
1. Were you and your spouse in love from the start, or did it take time?
2. What has been the most rewarding part about raising kids?
3. What has been the most difficult part about raising kids?
4. Do you have any good parenting advice?
5. How are you like your parents? And how are you different?

Work:
1. What was the best job you ever had? The worst?
2. How did you decide what field to enter?
3. Was there one person who had a big impact on your working life?
4. If you had to do it all over again, would you choose the same career path?


Likes and Dislikes:
1. Who makes you laugh the hardest?
2. Do you have a favorite book or author?
3. Do you have a favorite movie?
4. What was the best trip you ever took?
5. If you could go somewhere you've never been, where would you go?
6. If you could live anyplace in the world, where would it be?
7. What are five things you couldn't live without?
8. What's your most beloved personal possession?
9. What's the bravest thing you've ever done?
10. What's the scariest thing you've ever done? The dumbest?
11. Is there anything you always wanted to do but never did?

Life in General:
1. What were the best years of your life?
2. What was the hardest decision you've made
3. What are the most important things in life?
4. What do you consider to be your strongest character traits?
5. What traits or habits do you wish you didn't have?
6. Do you believe that people can change?
7. Do you believe in God?
8. Has life made you more hopeful or more cynical?
9. What do you consider to be the biggest world events of your lifetime?
10. Do you think life now is harder or easier than when you were young?
11. What are you most proud of in your life?
12. What do you hope to be remembered for?

You could also add these to a journal jar for a gift.