One of the first things I did this morning was to sit down with my husband and make a list of goals for the coming year. Jon was (and is) skeptical of our list — but nonetheless — he contributed a few items.
First, we both picked a ‘theme’ for our year (thanks to Vicki Palmquist for this suggestion). I picked the same one I picked last year: Adventure. Jon went with Carpe Diem. These seem to go well together – which is good!
Then we both listed a few tangible goals: Walk the dogs someplace new, get passports, use ALL of the VAC time (Jon), read more (me), visit friends, and get a real office with a door (Jamie). There are a few more listed … but I don’t think the point is really to list everything you hope for in the coming weeks, months, year … but to acknowledge that there is always time to make positive changes in life. Why write them down? Because the very act of writing them down makes them real. Once you put it out there – it’s there. It’s something on a list that can be checked off. Even if we only do ONE of these things, we will be better for it.
What’s up with the rusty, old lantern you ask? Jon found it at an auction – I believe he found it in a barn – long forgotten. I love the idea that this lantern helped someone find his path, maybe even gave him just enough light to find his way home — to a warm kitchen smelling of fresh bread, filled with laughter and love. And his family was there waiting for him — and glad that he found his way to them.I hope to attend a few new conferences this year, meet new people, and add positive energy into the world. I hope you have a good year too — and set some goals you can reach — and some that you’ll continue to strive for — because what’s the fun in completing EVERYTHING? We always need something to look forward to!
Or maybe, it’s just a rusty, old lantern.