A New Year: Doing Some Things Differently

A year ago, I shared a rather lengthy blog entitled “Welcoming the New Year”.  In that post, I discussed goals, as opposed to New Year’s resolutions.  I even provided a Goals Worksheet.  If you missed it, or want a refresher, you can find it here.  https://lifeandmiles.com/welcoming-the-new-year

And in recent weeks, as 2018 began its final descent toward 2019, I began to think of a few changes I want to make in my life.  Now most folks would call these resolutions.  I get that.  But as I said in that blog, I don’t make New Year’s resolutions because they are normally too vague, and I tend to deal in specifics.

However…  Let me say that again.  However.  I have to admit that there some things which are hard to quantify or measure.   They don’t meet most of the five characteristics of goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely.  They probably meet the last three, but not the first two.  So, I can’t really call them goals, and I don’t want to call them resolutions (you can argue that I’m dealing in semantics, and you might have a point), so maybe I’ll call them “life changes” or “life improvements”. 

“Life Changes”.  Wow!  That sounds serious.  “Life improvements” sounds like a self-help class.  I don’t like either of those.  I’ll tell you what.  You feel free to call them whatever you think fits.  From my perspective, I’ll just share a few things that I plan to do differently in 2019 and beyond.  That’s how I’ll phrase it.  These are things I want to do differently.

The first thing I am really going to try to do differently is to control my tongue.  In Psalm 141:3,  David prays “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.”  The ERV translates this as “Lord, help me control what I say.  Don’t let me say anything bad.”  Simply put, my desire is to speak well of others and to speak positively or to not speak at all.  This does not mean that we can’t speak truth where it is needed and that and we can’t address erroneous words and actions where correction is needed.  It just means I need to have a different attitude and to consider carefully before I speak.  And yes, this means I need to stop berating my favorite sports teams, especially the Dodgers.

I also want to use my time more wisely.  I addressed this in a blog this past November (https://lifeandmiles.com/65-but-whos-counting).  I want to prioritize the demands on my time and find more balance.  I want to work harder, yet rest more.  I want to spend my working hours as efficiently as possible, but I also want to plan and enjoy my leisure.  I want to appropriate time to travel, whether it be a mission trip, a trip to the west coast to visit my son and his family, or simply a day trip here and there.  I want attend my grandchildren’s school functions and piano recitals.  I want to spend as much time as possible with my wife.  This all means I’m going to have to give up or curtail some activities.  Likely candidates to receive less time are television and social media.

I want to read more.  I will confess that I am embarrassed about the number of books I read this year.  I realize it’s not about numbers, but there are books I wanted to read and should have read that I just did not get to.  This brings me back to my previous point about prioritizing my time.  Do I have a specific goal for the number of books I want to read in 2019?  Yes, I do.  But I don’t plan to share it because you have to establish your own goal within your own reality.

I want to write more.  I want to be consistent in posting new material to this blog every two weeks. I want to delve into different subjects and maybe dust off some past writings which you have not seen.  I want to complete that autobiography that I am writing for my children and grandchildren.  I also have a few short stories which I have started that need some attention. 

I want to do a better job teaching the men’s class I have been blessed with.  It’s an opportunity I don’t want to slight.  And when I receive an invitation to preach, I want to know that I have prepared as diligently as possible.  I’m never satisfied, but I want to know that I gave my best effort.  I want to be more disciplined in all matters of faith, especially Bible study and prayer.

I also want to reduce, our cut back in several areas (and not just my waistline).  I recently read a book entitled “Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less” by Greg McKeown.  My youngest son bought it for me.  Bottom line is that our lives can get a little cluttered if we aren’t intentional to make sure they don’t.  Where do I want to reduce?  I want to start in my closet.  I have things that would be better used donated to a local charity.  These include perfectly good clothes that I have not worn in years.  Secondly, I need to make an effort to reduce my library.  I have a library at home and one at the office.  Most of the books I have read should probably be given away or donated to the local library.  Bottom line is that stuff takes up space in our closet and in our lives.  I want to streamline and clean up both. But I also want to reduce some of the commitments in my life that are not necessary.  This may mean saying “No” more often.  Sometimes, “No” is the right answer.

On a lighter note, I want to give up or limit diet soft drinks (except when I’m eating Mexican food!) and be open to exploring other beverages such as coffee, teas and juices.  This is a biggie for me!  It’s a health thing. But it’s also time to broaden my horizons just a bit.  And, by the way, I’m gradually moving from a well-done steak to a medium.

So there you have it. I’ve been pretty transparent.  I’ve laid it out for you wonderful folks who take time to read this blog.  And by doing so, I am giving you permission to check with me and ask how I’m doing.  Some of these will be harder than others.  Some will take time.  I’m sure I’ll drop the ball from time to time.  But the objective is to keep moving forward and on an incline.  Some progress will likely be two steps forward and one step back.  As my pastor said in a recent sermon, albeit in a different context, we need to “stay in the boat”.

What about you?  Are there areas where you simply want to do things a little differently?  Are there things you want to try, but have been putting off for years?  Is it time to stop procrastinating and to commit?  Why not this year?  Let’s do this!

I’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback.

Happy New Year!