IT'S A FRESH NEW YEAR!!

" A man practices the art of adventure when he breaks the chain of routine and renews his life through reading new books, travelling to new places, making new friends, taking up new hobbies and adopting new viewpoints."

 ~ Wilfred Peterson

A new year!!  A great quote for a new year... I especially like the word "NEW" in everything Peterson notes; new hobbies, new places, new friends... and BOOKS.  I suppose with everything, we look to try something new.  A fresh year is a great time to set goals and plan to do those new things that we instinctively know would give us joy, help us be better people or challenge our boundaries.

Every year I make goals.  Call them resolutions.  Almost always call them a success.  Seriously.  Success comes in making reasonable goals and then adding a few easy to achieve challenges.  We so often try desperately to begin a new year with resolutions that are so beyond the scope of possibility (unless you devoted all your time to them for a whole year) that we begin by setting ourselves up for failure.

I like the number 12.  Do one thing a month.  For example, if you choose to read one book a month; 12 books a year.  Or, you may choose to try a new recipe every month, therefore 12 recipes a year.  Now if you have time and are adventures, do one thing, for different types of actives a month... 12 books AND 12 new recipes.  These are very possibly attainable.

For years I worked on this principle of 12. Every knew year I would always keep my standard 12... 12 new books, 12 new recipes, 12 easy lifestyle changes (like drinking more green tea, or walking to get coffee instead of driving there), 12 new things I had never done before (could even be attending a new restaurant).  I would add items like lose 12 pounds a year.  This is a good goal!!  Instead of setting myself up to lose an almost impossible 50, and gaining 10 more because I was so depressed I'd eat my way through a 10" cheesecake, losing 12 actually meant I lost 12 and kept off an inevitable 10 more I could have gained.  Perspective helps with success!!

Over the last few years I desired to add a few challenges and desires as well.  For example, I wanted a new, romantic Amsterdam-style bicycle.  I made that desire to purchase one, a goal.  Further, I found some fun activities I wanted to try... such as registering for sock of the month club (Soulmate Socks), or making it a point to head to the mountains for a day to settle into a cafe to just read and enjoy green tea with my spouse. These goals were exciting so easy to work for, and towards.  Dread had no part in the process.

When December rolls around, you can count off your successes on ten fingers and ten toes, plus!  Resolutions need not be difficult.  Add one yoga class to your week.  Drink green tea and have Quinoa once a week, or every second week if you feel too threatened by a one-week goal.  Make those TWO things, part of your 12 easy lifestyle changes.  Now you only need 10 more.  The whole point is simple;  make them fun; make them easy.  

Now this is book blog... so I challenge you to read more!  12 books if you can handle one a month!  Celebrate if in December you found that you read 13, or 15, or 24!!   If you want to, and you're used to reading a couple a month or one a week, then make yourself a goal to read as many as you know you can already handle.  For a challenge... add just five more.  

Share your goals!!  It helps to tell someone what you're up to.  It's a mental accountability!  Plus, your friend may want to make goals like you are and you can challenge each other, and even participate in the fun activities on your lists!

I hope 2013 is an excellent year for you!!  Good luck with your adventure in succeeding!!