{ out with the old, in with the new }

A friend sent me this great end of 2008 ritual....

It's a good time of year to get clear on what you want in the New Year - and what you want to let go of...

Get two pieces of paper.
On one write what you want to leave in 2008.
On the other write what you wish to make happen in 2009.
Burn the old and shout out the new. To anyone and everyone that will listen.

I've been looking over my 2008 resolutions and seeing how much I accomplished this year (in terms of my health, adopting a child (I truly believe the universe helped us manifest Henry's arrival), our family time and my business goals...and looking at areas that still have room for improvement (eg. work less, play more). I continue to aspire to LIVE more in the present and more simply.

I love to think of the New Year as a clean slate, a place to start fresh. I am enjoying spending some time this week working on my 2009 Resolutions and Aspirations and will share them with you soon.

One thing we do is to talk about family resolutions - what do we want out of the new year...some examples: read more, watch less TV; travel to a new place; spend quality time together; save money for a family trip; etc.

I am categorizing my resolutions in 5 categories {ME, Family & Friends, Financial, Home, & Business}. I plan to list 3-4 items under each of these categories and then create action steps to make them happen and plan to enlist the support of my family & friends to achieve them. For example, have Julie help me plant a great vegetable garden as hers rocked this summer and I enjoyed very much the fruits of her labor (and I will help her with hers); Have Liv meet me at the gym for Cardio Sculpt class every M, W & F morning after taking our kids to school; Schedule a babysitter or ask my folks to watch the kiddos one afternoon or evening week so Will & I can have some time together, without the kids (to snowshoe, ski, bike or go on a date).

When writing out your resolutions, think positive. Rather than focus on not doing something (stop drinking diet coke), give yourself a positive objective instead (replace afternoon diet coke with green tea). Plan ahead for your resolutions. If one of your resolutions is to eat at home more, spend some time each Sunday planning next week's meals and grocery shopping list. Make time for your resolutions. If one of your resolutions is to get more fit...figure out WHEN you are going to do that - you may need to clear your schedule of another obligation or find a babysitter to watch the kids 3 afternoons a week so you can make it to the gym.

And last, but certainly not least...make sure your resolutions/goals are aligned with your values - the things that matter most to you. Make time for the things that are MOST important to you. Let go of things that are not. Life is too short to be spending time on stuff we don't enjoy.

Oh, and make sure your print out your goals and put them in a place where you can see them EVERYDAY! I have our family goals written on the chalkboard in our kitchen and the rest of my resolutions on my desk where I see them all the time.

If you need help getting started, here is a great Resolution Form and here is a great goal setting process/website.

Remember, a Resoution isn't what you "should" do; it's a chance to move your life FORWARD.