New Years Eve

We have never been people to go out on New Years Eve preferring to stay at home and enjoy a quiet evening playing games or watching movies with the family.  This year will be no exception and I'm looking very forward to it.

As we have been approaching 2017 I have spent a lot of time reflecting on the past year. Although 2016 wasn't a perfect year, it was a good year and I am grateful for all of our blessings and the positive growth and change I have seen in all of my family members.  I am proud of each one.

It is important to me to continue to grow and change but I have given up making resolutions because I have read that they don't often last.  One source I found states that only 46% of people continue their resolution past six months! Interestingly 39% in their twenties will achieve their resolution while only 14% of people over 50 will achieve theirs.  Being closer to 50 than 20 is another strike against me :-).  

What I do do is set goals.  After thinking long and hard about what I wanted to change I began to peruse Pinterest for a format to use to write it all down. The Personal Growth Plan from momschoosejoy.com was exactly what I was looking for.  It provides a blue print that will take me through the whole goal setting process from choosing a goal, making a plan and implementing it.

I will share more of my completed growth plan in the weeks and months to come but for now will share two of my action steps towards goals that I have set.  The first is a Facebook fast. I am going to delete my Facebook account for a period of no less than 30 days and hopefully after that time, I can either use it responsibly and casually or not at all.  The second is a no-spend challenge for the entire month of January and then a no-spend week once a month from February - December 2017.  It won't be easy but I absolutely believe it will be worth it.

I am going to encourage the kids to take a bit of time to set a goal for themselves for 2017 as well. We will use the SMART method making them specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time bound.

My devotional book for the upcoming year is titled The Book of Hope. I chose it because the concept of hope and choosing hope over fear have become vital to me. Psychologytoday.com states that "hope literally opens us up.  It removes the blinders of fear and despair and allows us to see the big picture.  We become creative, unleashing our dreams for the future.  This is because deep within the core of hope is the belief that things can change.  No matter how awful or uncertain they are at the moment, things can turn out for the better.  Possibilities exist. Belief in this better future sustains us. It keeps us from collapsing in despair...It inspires us to build a better future."  I love the saying "with faith comes hope" and am choosing to go into 2017 with both faith and hope.  It is going to be a great year!

What are some of your goals for the New Year?  

"A dream is just a dream.  A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline." Harvey Mackay