A New Year begins...

The year began a week ago, but this is the first full week in the office, with the regular patterns that do not include holidays, year-end deadlines, etc.

I am now getting a chance to catch my breath a bit as we begin this New Year.  The Christmas decorations are down in the parsonage, and they are slowly being taken down at the church, so by next Sunday, we will back to a normal look in the sanctuary.

There is something special about turning that calendar page and marking a New Year in our lives.  There is something of a fresh start ahead.  The mistakes we made in 2018 are behind us now.  (Now we have a whole new year for mistakes and missed opportunities, right?)

Many of us have made resolutions for 2019 for things like better health, stopping bad habits, finding that new job, doing something special for friends and family.  Anybody make any resolutions? (Anybody already give up on those resolutions?)

Here are some suggestions for those who have made those New Year's Resolutions:
  • Go easy on yourself- most of us are not very good at discipline and following through on things. Studies have shown that just a small percentage of folks are really good at personal disciplines. It takes almost six weeks to start a new habit, or break an old habit, and that is not without lots of mistakes.  So, if the first week of resolutions has gone bad, take it easy, and realize that it may take a while longer to get it right.
  • Simplify those resolutions- most of us bite off more than we can chew when we make resolutions. We make complicated promises to ourselves, that take more than a few steps to complete.  Try simplifying the resolution to simple steps.  Rather than saying I am going to eat better in all circumstances all at once, try saying to yourself: "I am going to start eating fruit every day."
  • Stay in it for the long run- Don't give up so easily on things that are important to you.  We didn't get to January 1st overnight, and we won't get to December 31st in a short time either.  We have 365 days (well now 357) to take care of business before the calendar changes again.  To get to your best life is always a marathon and not a sprint.
Happy New Year!  Looking forward to the journey with you in 2019!

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