The beginning of a new year is a time to set goals and make resolutions. Maybe you want to learn a new skill, lose weight, start exercising more, quit smoking or spend more time with family and friends. It’s great to have ambitions. Even if we don’t achieve our goals in full, we can at least try.
My family has a New Year’s tradition where at the end of the year, we individually list our highlights from the previous year and our goals for the next one. Then we compare notes, reminisce a bit about experiences we’ve shared over the past 12 months, and look ahead to the future.
Even though we’re thinking and talking about the past and the future, it’s an in-the-moment exercise, something we do together as a family. Sometimes it’s in person, other times over a FaceTime call. Stopping to appreciate the positive events of the previous year enables us to remember and relive the things that we really enjoyed.
And these don’t have to be monumental occurrences. For example, one of the highlights I included in my list was seeing baby owls and their mother in a nearby preserve. You can see a picture here.
As for setting goals, it’s good to have something to aim for in a new year. We think about things we want to accomplish, and by doing that give ourselves a start at possibly achieving them.
However, sometimes our aspirations can get derailed. For instance, at the beginning of 2020 I had grand goals to travel to a number of places. I wanted to go to Yellowstone National Park, Florida, Southern California and Hawaii.
Then came Covid, and like most people we had to scuttle all travel plans and stay home. Because I’m immunocompromised and more susceptible to things like viruses, the travel ban for me extended even beyond the vaccinations and boosters. I didn’t think it was wise to be in airports and hotels or on planes, even with a mask on.
But a funny thing happened because we couldn’t travel out of town: we discovered a treasure trove of local parks, trails, preserves and wildlife refuges we didn’t know existed.
We visited more than a dozen of these places over the next few years. We were treated to beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island Sound. Our explorations gave us closeup looks at rivers, streams, brooks and an array of wildlife creatures, plants and flowers.
So the travel ban turned out to be a blessing. It helped open our eyes to wonders that were within an hour or two drive from our home.
I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t make plans and set goals. I’m just saying it’s also good to be flexible and be open to shifting gears. Sometimes a jolt to our best-laid plans can lead us to new adventures that are waiting for us to enjoy.
Like many other people, I don’t like change. I admit, sometimes I have control issues. But I’ve learned from recent health incidents that some things are out of my control. It’s what I do with the “new normal”—the attitude I adopt—that matters. Looking for positivity and gratitude in the circumstances I face is what makes them more acceptable.
My wife shared with me this quote from quilter and blogger Rachel Hauser, and it seems appropriate for this post:
“Life can always, always surprise you. That doesn’t feel like a threat to me, rather more of a curiosity and a promise. Like a book that you want to keep reading, or better, like a story that you are making up as you go. What will happen next year or the next? The only way to find out is to keep on living.”
I’ve set a bunch of goals for this year, and I will aim to reach them. I’ve planned out what I hope to achieve. But I’m also trying to keep in mind that changes can happen, and I can turn those changes into positives if I put my mind to it.
As a side note, I’ve begun writing in a gratitude journal I received as a Christmas gift. I’ve heard others mention the benefits of doing this on a regular basis. I think writing things down can help us better appreciate things that happen in the course of a day, and as a result be more grateful.
Also, in future posts I will be writing about people who have overcome various challenges and are living lives of gratitude and positivity. I’m sure you will find these stories inspiring, as I have.
“Man plans, God laughs”—Yiddish proverb
To subscribe, type your email in the box below then click on the green subscribe button. When you receive a confirmation message from WordPress, click on the “confirm now” button to complete the process.
Leave a Reply