A New Year ... A Fresh Start ... Resolutions ... Goals

For many, January brings the opportunity to take stock, make changes, and move forward, whether it is with ...

1. Our work - Less hours, more hours, more money, a new job, a job

2. Our families - More time, quality time, one-on-one time, more fun, more patience, greater consistency 

3. Ourselves - Eat less, exercise more, eat a more healthy diet, reduce stress, get more sleep 

4. Our friends - Reach out more often, be more forgiving, more supportive, more generous, add to or remove from the list

5. Our community - Increase/decrease our level of involvement, volunteer time, donate money, become actively involved in a cause

May I also suggest we move forward with the thought of the 3-Rs in mind:

Respect for self            Respect for others    

Responsibility for ALL your actions!

Simple courtesy is important, now more than ever. Use the "magic words" of Please, Thank You and You're Welcome. Offer a smile and a friendly greeting to people, whether you know them or not. Put forth extra effort towards others, such as holding the door open for the person entering behind you. Turn off the electronics to focus on the people you are with; they should take precedence.

These are not difficult, complicated steps to master. It's about making the effort to make them a habit. Goals, big or small, take effort, conscious thought and practice. But then, anything worth doing does.