2012 Has Arrived

Whether or not you rang in the new year with great fanfare or quietly at home, the new year has arrived. What a great time to review 2011, your highs and lows and plan a few goals for 2012.

Thinking Time
I'm sitting in the sun on a beautiful 65ish degree day in Dallas. I'm at the lake watching a family of cranes enjoy the water and weather. I'm away from the kids and the hustle and bustle of work and home life, and I have a chance to think. Where do you go to think? Find somewhere, take a moment and just sit in the solitude to think.  Let your mind wander around 2011 and into 2012 and beyond.  Think on the good, the bad, what you'd love to stay the same, and what you'd love to change.

Review 2011
In my head I plan out our 2011 'year in review'. This is our annual collage that I do in PowerPoint that summarizes the year and significant events for our family. It is my version of 'the letter' that many do annually. It has become a tradition. From my mental 'list' of annual events that occurred in 2011, I create the collage that commemorates the year for our family.

Plan 2012 Extra-curricular Activities
Next, I think through places I'd love to see, vacations I'd like to take and sporting events, museums, and locales I'd like to visit.  In my mind I review what I want to see and do. I'm amazed at how my life has changed since I got it into my head that my life was mine to design.  If you can think it up, create it, you can do it.

Where do you want to go, visit, what do you want to see? When could you schedule that activity? How could you come up with the funds? Have a practical dreaming/planning session with yourself.

Life Goals
Finally, think about personal relationship, health and work goals. Are there areas of your life you've been neglecting or need some work? I know I have a few of these. Jot down some simple goals in this area.

What do you want to do when you grow up?
Or more realististically, some of you are looking at retirement with no plans for what floats your boat. Start doing something YOU LOVE to do in 2012- a hobby, task or activity that you enjoy. Map a plan to a future that you want to be in.

Happy New Year my friends!