On resolutions

Exit 2008...enter 2009. Yes, it's that time of year again to talk about new year's resolutions. I normally stay away from the subject, even to the point of not making resolutions of my own. My belief is that if you want to do something, you should just do it instead of waiting for the first of the new year to start. This year, however, I've changed my mind.

Before I start into telling you what I resolve to do in 2009, let me tell you something I accomplished in 2008. While it may not seem like a big deal to many, I managed to finish something this past year that I previously have given up on before completion. I read the Bible in one year. I've read through the whole Bible using a one year reading plan before...it took me 4 years. But in 2008, I stayed on track and I finished the objective. Now, this was not a new year's resolution I had, but I bring it up to prove a specific point.

If you set a goal and keep realistic expectations, you can accomplish it. This is true, not only with new year's resolutions, but with other goals throughout the year. If it's your goal to lose weight, keep the goal within realistic means. It's also so important to remember that if you screw up the plan once or twice it's not the end of the world. If you want to quit smoking and you lose control and smoke a cigarette, it does not mean that you have failed. Start again and this time try even harder. Don't let your past mistake equal your future confidence. Forget that you messed up and move on. This past year I did not keep up with my daily reading on several occasions and got behind. I didn't let that keep me from finishing. When I got a moment, I sat down and read until I was at least close to caught up. Little by little I got back on track and in the end I finished the task.

This year I'm looking forward to working on being a better planner; not jumping into projects with so little planned out. I know that if I don't do so well on some days I just need to keep moving. I will also be trying to be more physically active. I don't necessarily mean that I'm going to join a gym; I've tried that before and never went. Realistically, I know that my goal needs to be more like trying to walk each day or do some curls with my dumb bells; anything that isn't sitting behind the computer.

Those may not seem like much, but as I said, I know that my expectations need to be realistic and not beyond my capability or motivation. What are your new year's resolutions? If one of them happens to include daily Bible reading, there is a great reading plan at www.youversion.com. If you're like me and you prefer to have a piece of paper to check off as you go along, I have created this much more printable format of You Version's reading plan that you can download here.

Let's let the past stay in the past, let go of our regrets and begin a new year with new goals.

Here's to 2009!