I love fresh starts.  I know I don’t have to wait for a New Year to get one.  My Savior makes it possible for me every day.

But there’s something special about a New Year just the same.  I love giving lots of thought about my goals and plans for it.  It’s so much easier to write down a goal than it is to make it happen.  In the past, my lofty goals were replaced by old habits faster than I like to admit. But that’s no reason not to try again.

Just trying year in and year out has moved me forward in business, in my spiritual walk, in fitness, in organization, in my finances, in my self-image.  Even though I’ve never always met all my goals.  When I look at where I am now, compared to 5 years ago.  It’s a big change–a good change.  But it happened so gradually I hardly noticed it happening.

How are you planning for this year?  Layla from the Lettered Cottage is choosing just one word, to define her year.  Kari from Sacred Mundane has one resolution, “I will Look up.”  I’ve tossed around  the idea of setting 12 goals, a new one for each month.  Mainly, because I’m such a mess I have at least that many areas for improvement. Doing them all at once, is too overwhelming, but one a month, feels more doable. Whatever I do,  I need to keep it super simple since my calendar is already booked until March!

One thing I’m sure of, getting up at 5am worked well for me (before I got the flu–cough, cough.) And that’s a habit that I want to start again as soon as possible.

I joined Mary Kay cosmetics 6 years ago because the woman, Mary Kay Ash inspired me so much.  I read her book The Mary Kay Way not long after joining (and seriously even if you never touch a cosmetic, you should read this book.) She was a single mother, starting her own company, and staying true to her faith.  And she did it in the wee hours of the morning.  Her secret to getting up, was “something to look forward to.”   For me is as simple as a giant stevia sweetened mocha latte. (2 cups of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 2 packets trivia, 1 tsp instant coffee, & 1 Tbs Dutch Cocoa Powder in the microwave on high for 2 minutes.) I lay in bed when the alarm goes off and then thing of that big warm cup of yum and find the strength to get up.

If you have a minute share your goals, your dreams.  Inspire the rest of us, and have a Happy New Year!