Dec 1, 2008
December is here and with it comes for most the celebration season. There are many religious holidays that are celebrated at this time of the year. It’s also the time of the year where we celebrate with family and friends. Eat food and share gifts. The gifts can come in the form of something purchased from a store or they can appear in the form of a visit from a friend or a card in the mail. It truly can be the most wonderful time of the year.
I also believe that December is the most important time to plan your 2009. Why wait until January 1st to start thinking about the new year. What if you take the time now to evaluate your 2008. Take some time to list your successes, failures, triumphs and tragedies. You need to see how your “season” went to make changes and develop a game plan for the new year ahead. Create four lists; health, family, spiritual/personal growth and wealth. Under these headings write down the key goals that you want to achieve in each category. Plan out your year, where will you be by the end of January, June, September and then December 1st. Be a specific as you can. If you want to be in the best physical shape then be specific, how do you want to look, feel, what do you want to eat, how long do you want to sleep. With Family and friends figure out the connections you want to make, the bonds you want to strengthen and the time you need to spend with those you love. Hug some more, love some more and listen some more. Do the same with the spiritual/personal and wealth.
You get the idea. Make 2009 the best year you can by building momentum towards it now. It could and will be the best year of your life (so far) if you choose.
Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Dec 1, 2008 at 11:39 am | Permanent Link | Comments (4)
Comment posted on Dec 1, 2008 at 1:41 pm by jessome (YLCC Member)
Well said Stu!
I’m also a firm believer of sitting in the “What can I do NOW” mindset when it comes to game planning goals. After a pretty crummy portion of a university year, I was determined to not let the experiences that dragged me down happen again. So, I laid out page after page in my journal, writing about what I wanted 2008 to stand for in my life, and what I wanted to be able to say about it when it was over.
As I take a quick glance through those entries, I’ve accomplished nearly all of them! In fact, with a month to go, I’m positive I’ll have all but one checked off! What’s the one? Ride the Bomemoth at wonderland…never made it down there this year, but everything else on my list has either been added to my life or removed from my habits as required. It’s no surprise that this has truly felt like the greatest year of my life.
I look forward to 2009, but before then, I’ve got one goal I want to finish off.
I’m off to have the BEST Christmas I’ve ever experienced!!
Great Blog Stu.
Jessome
Comment posted on Dec 3, 2008 at 2:52 am by ElizabethB (YLCC Member)
Agreed very good blog….and what a task you have challenged us with!
I’d have to say in a nutshell that 2008 has been a pretty successful year in my books. I’ve done new things…made more new connections (and renewed old ones) than ever before, succeeded in getting my foot in at a possible dream establishment of mine, spent more time with family…i could go on…and i will in my own detailed list.
2008 was fabulous, can’t wait to top it in 2009!!
Jessome, let me know next summer, i need a boehemoth partner too…i never got down once like i wanted to.
Comment posted on Dec 6, 2008 at 9:53 am by Gillian Gibson (YLCC Guest)
Great blog Stu,
I agree i think its such a shame when people only reflect on their priorities and goals once a year. If its not something that you really incorporate into your life then, as happens in so many cases, people become quickly dissapointed when the ‘resolutions’ they made arent happening quickly enough.
2008 taught me a lot, and I know that its a constant process to continue getting what i want from my life.
Comment posted on Dec 29, 2008 at 9:15 pm by Hillary Newkirk (YLCC Member)
My goals and objectives for 2009 come in the form of places I want to travel. And how I want to travel, and what mark I want to leave on the people I meet along the way.
Traveling is a good way to constantly be assessing where you are, and where you want to be going. Traveling is rather hard without a plan so you are forced into deciding what you want to do, and if what you are planning is part of the vision you had in the first place.
I’ve enjoyed looking back at my journal and reading about my travels, and things I’ve learned along the way. It’s a good bookmark for me heading into next year! Another year full of learning and traveling.
-Hillary