How else would you start a New Year's resolution post?
I've never been good with New Year's resolutions. The resolutions that I have made in recent years have tended to revolve around "healthier choices" (code for "lose weight"), and if, by chance, I manage to make it to February, it all goes out the window when the Valentine goodies start appearing. When I was a practicing Catholic, Lent offered the guilt opportunity to start the process all over again.
A few years ago, I ran across an suggestion posted on a message board that offered a different approach to New Year's resolutions. You were to write down three items that were priorities needing immediate action (or a least fairly quick action). As you accomplished these actions and checked them off, you added new priorities. If I recall correctly, the idea was to have three items you worked on each month.
Well, I may have a hard time keeping up with a goal for the entire year (or even through January), but I love being able to cross items off a list! At the time, I was procrastinating on renewing my teaching license after almost a decade of being a stay at home mom. I had all the classes I needed to take. I had the paperwork in my hand. I had to track down some pieces (transcripts, get fingerprinted, etc.), but that part was easy. Then I just needed to fill the darn thing out, get it notarized and mailed off. The steps necessary to do so became my top priorities.
I 'd like to tell you that I accomplished all that in the month of January and crossed it all off my list. Well... not exactly. It still took me about another year to pull it all together. But eventually I did. I had my license in hand. I started subbing. And then... I got myself employed full-time as a fourth grade teacher.
That's the "What now?" part.
Accomplishing all that was a pretty big deal. I started the next chapter in my life. How do I top that? What three items do I work on next??
(Actually, I do have plenty of ideas rolling around. They just need time to process.)
The art in the photo accompanying this text was made from participating in an e-zine by Teresa McFayden in 2007 (and as such, I give her full credit for the project). She provided the quote, "Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else." What a great reminder not to take yourself too seriously!! The "Focus. Purpose. Action." came from somewhere else on my meanderings around the web. I really wish I could remember where (or who) I got it from, because that is what really drove me to reach my goals.
Regardless of the how I structure those "resolutions", that's how they are accomplished.
FOCUS. PURPOSE. ACTION.