Goodbye, 2009. Hello, 2010. Ready or not, here it comes. Another year is in the making, the beginning of another decade. This New Year’s Eve is an extra special one. Ever hear of a blue moon? It happens when there are two full moons in a month, and it only happens every 2.5 years.  Even rarer is when it occurs on New Year’s Eve – only once every 19 years!

Take inventory of the past twelve months. Where have you been? What have you accomplished? Have you made progress, moved forward, stepped out of your comfort zone? Or are you still sitting in the same place you were at this time last year, talking about the same old things with the same old people?

I’m sorry to say that if the latter is true, you have actually moved backwards, because another year has passed and you have nothing to show for it. Now is the time to make a decision to either step up and make a change, or sit & wallow as yet another year passes you by.

The problem most people have is not that they don’t have a dream. Dreams are great! Painting a mental picture in your mind is a lovely fantasy. What most people lack is VISION, the thing that spurs them to action. It’s the work that makes the dream come true, and most people are simply too lazy to put sufficient effort into making that dream become a reality. Having no vision leads to complacency.

Take another look at that 2009 inventory of your life. What habits would you like to change? What relationships need mending or tossed? What decisions can you make to improve your financial situation? This brainstorming exercise will help define your vision and formulate a plan of action. Then it’s up to you to implement the action steps.

Don’t be content with the status quo. Be special, like that once every 19 years New Year’s Eve blue moon. Define what you would like to accomplish this year. Prioritize those things and make them happen. Not every task will be easy, and your resolve will be tested. This will help you determine just HOW important your goals are. Besides, without the struggle, the victory is hollow. The only thing stopping you is YOU!

Get your vision. Implement a plan. Tough it out. See it through. Just don’t wait another 19 years to do something.

It’s not a question of, “Can I do it?”  The question is, “Am I properly equipped to do it?” Get the tools you need and join me in making 2010 a banner year!

Another Christmas has come & gone, but this year it was quite different. We decided early on that we were not buying for everyone this year, but would instead focus on the grandchildren and the true meaning of Christmas.  We had no idea what an impact this decision would make on our lives. There’s a lot to be said about simplicity, especially at a time when everyone is in such a frenzy.

Instead of drawing names, or setting a limit on how much to spend per child, parent, grandchild, and in-law, we bought one nice gift for each of our four grandchildren (ages 2-6). That in itself was a HUGE stress remover. Not only did we not have to spend all that money unnecessarily, we also didn’t have to face traffic, surly consumers, or overworked sales people.  Nor were we contributing to the mountains of waste generated each year by this one holiday.

Having recently moved & left all but one box of our Christmas decorations in TN for the (grown) kids to use, we also opted not to buy a Christmas tree – real or fake – and all the required lights & cheap ornaments that go with it. Instead, we bought some very nice decorations from thrift stores and borrowed from my mother-in-law things she wouldn’t be using this year.  We decorated the outside minimally with small pathway lights and lighted “trees” made from upside down tomato cages.

This year it was only AC, myself, and our oldest daughter Kelly at home. Instead of preparing a huge dinner that would end up as leftovers taking up every available spot in the fridge, we opted to go out for Chinese food (a la A Christmas Story), and BOY was it GOOD!  I think we have a new tradition.

Christmas has become a warped thing in America. At a time when we should stop & reflect on the birth of Jesus Christ, the one who came to save us all, we instead get caught up in the hurriedness, the commercialism, and the wish lists, and wind up feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. Instead of being a time of love, peace, hope & joy, it’s a time of hurry, worry, and overspending.

Our home was beautifully decorated, even without a 7 foot tree and loads of packages underneath. Most importantly, we were able to focus on one another, with out minor spats or short tempers. Everyone is relaxed and happy, and our focus is on that Love, Peace, Hope & Joy that Jesus came to bring us all on the original Christmas day.