We spent the Christmas holiday with our daughter-in-law and grandchildren in Bury St. Edmunds, England, our son joining in via computer from Afghanistan.  There's nothing like a Christmas morning shared with children.  And whatever the Jolly Old Elf brings them, it is immediately put into use.

Our two year old grandson was no exception. He got a dump truck which, when the appropriate button was pushed, played catchy music and shouted, "Let's move dirt!"  He became so adept at pushing the button that the dump truck started sounding like the beginning of a rap song.  "Let's mo..., let's mo..., let's... let's...."  The truck's reset button started me thinking.

Everything around us has reset buttons: cell phones, video games, computers, you name it.  There's no reason humans shouldn't have reset buttons as well.  If we've done or said something inappropriate - reset!  If we want to get back to the physical condition we were in as adolescents - reset!  The problems arise in identifying whether resetting is really the answer and then how exactly to do it.  Unfortunately, the examples I just gave are not possible.  But here's something that is.

Each year at this time, we set goals and resolutions.  Sixty or 90 days down the road, we often find ourselves back in our evil ways.    Furthermore, we have a funny notion that if we fail at what we set out to do, it's game over.  No backs.  That's where the human reset button can come into play. Who's going to stop you from setting new goals?  The resolution police? 

It takes courage to set goals.  And we have to succeed sometimes to feed that courage.  Short term goals do that.  So your first goal for 2012 is to read these five ways on how to use your personal reset button.

1.  Make a SHORT list of goals.  No one can work on improving themselves dozens of different ways!  Pick at least 3, no more than 5, things you're aiming for.

2.  Make the goals specific.  Don't say, "I want to lose weight."  Say, "I want to lose 5 five pounds."  That way you'll know when you've achieved it.

3.  Make the goals attainable.  Along the weight lines, a reasonable and healthy amount is 1 to 2 pounds a week, so a goal of 25 pounds is doable in our 3 month time frame.

4.  Write the goals down.  Put them in a couple of places: with your makeup, in your car, at your desk, next to your bed.  You'll see them often which will help keep you on track.

5.   At the end of three months, push RESET!  Compare your goals to your reality, and then grab a cup 'o' courage and create another list.  Could be the same things, could be different, either way, you're moving forward.

Good luck - make 2012 your most courageous year yet!