Can you remember this time last year, where you were, who you were with and what you did to usher in the New Year? If you can’t remember, I definitely can. The end of the year has come again, a time to reflect over the events of the year gone by, take stock, count victories and loses, and make plans for the new. Well that’ what I would normally do, or what would you do you normally do?
New Year resolutions are often made in this time of the year, we make promises to do this and that or not do this or that. But how many of those resolutions can you remember? I know the resolutions I made for 2007 because I had written them down in my diary; ‘a faint pen is better than the sharpest brain’. Frankly speaking, looking back at the resolutions I made and accessing my success and failure, the latter supersedes the former.
My resolutions for 2007 fell under the following sub headings:
Academic achievement
- Further my language skills in French
- Round up my degree program
Christian life and relationship with God
- Study the bible more and have a more consistent and effective prayer life
- Listen to Christian tapes, TV programs and attend conferences
Social life – friends, family and colleagues
I got some wisdom after listening to Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo of KICC after which I resolved to
- Get rid of (Very Draining People) – friends / people that drain you physically, emotionally, financially and otherwise
- Get acquainted with Very Important People (VIP) – friends / people that would add value to my life by association. Those I can learn from and be challenged by.
- Keep in touch with friends regularly
- Relate more with my family, siblings and In-laws
Finances
- Generate multiple streams of income
Extra-curricular activities
- Participate is activities that would help me exercise and stay healthy
It is very easy to make resolutions and promises but achieving them requires careful planning and strategies. looking at the resolutions, I would say that the main reasons why I did not achieve much of what I had set out to do was because I did not set short term goals and targets which could be evaluated within time frames.
It’s common in offices to set targets for their employees who could be daily, weekly, or quarterly. I have been set targets in previous employments but did not realize until towards the end of 2007 that I needed to do the same with my life I wanted to be productive. I would say that I achieved more in the last 3 months of the year than in the first 9 months. So when you are making you new year resolution have a vision of what you hope to achieve at the end of 2008 and also set targets and goal which you can evaluate in the short term. If I were to write down short term goals for the 2007 resolutions, I would probably be
Academic achievement
- Inquire about French course at the university – end of January.
- Register for French lessons by March 2007.
- Complete lab work – March 2007.
- Start writing these – June 2007 etc
Christian life and relationship with God
- Buy a daily guide and read a chapter of the bible a day.
- Memories a verse of a bible weekly.
- Set aside at least 30 minutes to pray daily.
- List the conferences I would attend in the whole year.
Social life – family, friends and colleagues
- Buy my wife a gift every month and express my love to her at least once a day.
- Spend quality time with my wife daily.
- Be friendly and make effort to talk to a stranger whenever I’m in a gathering.
- Call or email a friend once a day.
- Speak to parents, siblings and in-laws at least once a fortnight.
Finances
- Book appointment to see a financial adviser– February 2007.
- Research possible business to start – March 2007.
- Write a business plan – April 2007.
- Register a domain and web host account – June 2007.
Extra-curricular activities
- Register at the gym Jan 2007.
- Practice playing the keyboard at 15 minutes a day.
This is just a synopsis of what it may have looked like if at the end of last year I knew what I know now. If I had set goal and targets, I probably would have achieved more. However, I am proud of the things I achieved last year. The notable once include
Generated multiple income streams
- Rhema Studio Photography
Provides creative and stylish reportage photography for weddings and special events. Rather than the usual albums, photographs and retouched and laminated in a custom designed photobook. - Rhema Web Design
Provides creative web design solutions for emerging companies and web enthusiasts. - Ask Dr. P
Personal blog that provides candid and virtuous views to enable individuals and families maximize their potentials in relationships and finances.
Relationships & Communication
- Slight improvement in communication with family, friends and in-laws.
- Leaving Hitler Behind – My transformation into a loving husband
You may not have achieved all you set out to do, but at least you are still alive to see the New Year. You have another opportunity make new resolutions with set goals and targets. You don’t need a long list. Start with one or two with set goals and targets. If you are able to achieve them before the year runs out you can add more to the list. That way you would not beat yourself hard for not achieving what you set out to do. There is no law that says you cannot make resolutions in the middle of the year.
Be positive in all you do, believe in yourself and make consistent efforts to improve yourself and maximize your potentials. No matter what anyone says or may have told you, you are destined for greatness. I would be attending a new year event organised by my local church. Where would you be or what would you be doing? Make it a virtuous memory. I wish you all a happy and prosperous 2008. Shalom
