Sunday, January 23, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
New Year, New Goals
I feel like the Grinch at the end of his story where things just clicked and his heart grew three sizes.
For years I didn't think of Christmas as my favorite time of year - not because I don't like Christmas itself (because I do!), but I noticed that a lot of people seemed to exit my life near Christmas. Friends would move away, I would move away, I even finished my mission in mid-November of '07, so I left an entire country full of people I will most likely never see again in the Christmas-ish season. I really don't like the feeling of people leaving my life.
I also have been a Grinch when it comes to New Year's Resolutions. I would argue - "Why make one or two huge goals only once a year that you'll forget about by March? Then what do you do, wait another 9 months to do it all again?" I was more in the mind set of having smaller goals throughout the year that I made based on need/desire, etc, so, I avoided New Year's Resolutions for the most part.
And then this year something clicked. I was excited for Christmas because I realized that, like it or not, people will come in and out of my life, yet my family will always be a part of my life. And I always get to see my family at Christmas. Cheesy realization, maybe, but it felt personal, and healing.
As for New Year's Resolutions, I still don't think that's the only time you can set goals, but I made a cool connection while attending my parent's ward in Colorado:
The holidays in the Fall and Winter are lined up extremely well. Thanksgiving reminds you of all the great blessings you have, then Christmas follows reminding you of Christ and all He has done for you, and then there's New Year's, where you can re-commit yourself to being more Christlike and following His example. Our goal on this earth is to become like Christ; what a wonderful reminder these holidays are, right?
As for this new year I am starting to make new goals. I started a month-long goal on January 4th and can say I've been successful for an entire week! I really think this one is going to be easy. I'll probably post something about this goal upon completion, so I won't go into details now. I've also decided I want to try some new things; it doesn't matter if I'm 27 - I can go learn a new skill or talent and be successful at it. You know how some people put their kids in all sorts of classes and sports that are incredibly demanding because they think that's the only way they can be successful doing it? Yeah, I don't think that's true. So I'm going to go try something I've never done before - and I'm excited!
So Happy New Year, everyone, and go set some goals!
For years I didn't think of Christmas as my favorite time of year - not because I don't like Christmas itself (because I do!), but I noticed that a lot of people seemed to exit my life near Christmas. Friends would move away, I would move away, I even finished my mission in mid-November of '07, so I left an entire country full of people I will most likely never see again in the Christmas-ish season. I really don't like the feeling of people leaving my life.
I also have been a Grinch when it comes to New Year's Resolutions. I would argue - "Why make one or two huge goals only once a year that you'll forget about by March? Then what do you do, wait another 9 months to do it all again?" I was more in the mind set of having smaller goals throughout the year that I made based on need/desire, etc, so, I avoided New Year's Resolutions for the most part.
And then this year something clicked. I was excited for Christmas because I realized that, like it or not, people will come in and out of my life, yet my family will always be a part of my life. And I always get to see my family at Christmas. Cheesy realization, maybe, but it felt personal, and healing.
As for New Year's Resolutions, I still don't think that's the only time you can set goals, but I made a cool connection while attending my parent's ward in Colorado:
The holidays in the Fall and Winter are lined up extremely well. Thanksgiving reminds you of all the great blessings you have, then Christmas follows reminding you of Christ and all He has done for you, and then there's New Year's, where you can re-commit yourself to being more Christlike and following His example. Our goal on this earth is to become like Christ; what a wonderful reminder these holidays are, right?
As for this new year I am starting to make new goals. I started a month-long goal on January 4th and can say I've been successful for an entire week! I really think this one is going to be easy. I'll probably post something about this goal upon completion, so I won't go into details now. I've also decided I want to try some new things; it doesn't matter if I'm 27 - I can go learn a new skill or talent and be successful at it. You know how some people put their kids in all sorts of classes and sports that are incredibly demanding because they think that's the only way they can be successful doing it? Yeah, I don't think that's true. So I'm going to go try something I've never done before - and I'm excited!
So Happy New Year, everyone, and go set some goals!
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