For many years now, I have written out my goals for the new year. I don't refer to them as 'resolutions', I refer to them as goals since they are actually chores or activities or accomplishments I definitely want to do. My list is long; it seems to grow longer each year! But it is full of all the wonderful things I still want to do in my life. Of course, a lot of them revolve around writing and still a few around painting. And then there is the 'self-improvement' category and also the house-projects, etc.

It seems that resolutions are made to be broken. It is almost a standing joke with people and many will talk about resolutions that they made at the beginning of the year but by February they are long forgotten and now they can laugh about it. Of course, this is when there is a surge of sales where people buy treadmills and other workout machines that soon become a place where they throw their clothes when getting ready for bed.

But for me, my goals are something I refer to monthly to keep me on track with the things I want to accomplish through the year. If along the way something that seemed important at the beginning of the year doesn't seem quite so important half-way through, I can change my goals and put my focus on another area. They are my goals and I never feel like I have failed if at the end of the year I have not completed all of them. Usually that means that something else happened, often in my personal life, that was more important to me (had opportunities to visit with family or friends, for example).

My thanks to my friend Kitty who so many years ago asked me 'Did you write your goals?' So, yes, Kitty, I did and still do after all these years!