Come on 2020!!

By now, everyone has probably made their 2020 New Year’s Resolution. Some of you have probably even broken a couple by now as well. I try not to make official resolutions but think of them more like life goals. Resolutions are just too easy to break.

Things definitely didn’t go as planned for my 2019 goals. That doesn’t mean it was a total lose, that just means we had to refocus and adjust as life continued to throw us curve-ball after curve-ball. Some of you know exactly what I mean. I didn’t run 300 miles in 2019 like I planned but just being able to walk to the door or around the nurse’s stations become a goal that was more important. I didn’t get to donate to my favorite charity every month but received more gifts, prayers and good deeds than I could ever repay from some people I’ve never met.

Life isn’t as simple as a few goals or resolutions wrote on a piece of paper. It changes, it evolves, it’s a never-ending circle called life. Can we do better in some areas of our life going into 2020? Of course we can! Do those changes always have to involve money or weight? I hope not.

So, with 356 more days to go until 2020 comes to an end, I urge you to pace yourself. Make realistic and meaningful goals moving forward and always be ready to adjust them when needed.

Here are a few things to think about trying in 2020:

• Volunteer at a local organization. You can do it once a month. That’s only 12 times in a year! This could be at your local school, a senior citizen or nursing home center, organize a monthly neighborhood get together or hundreds of other local organizations.
• Donate to charity of your choice. It could be as simple as $5/month. Surely you can spare $60 in 2020 to a worthy cause. We donate annually to Heifer International. You can find more information about this organization at www.heifer.org
• Make time for yourself. I’m going to be working really hard on this one in 2020 by setting aside thirty minutes a day for just me. (More to come on how important this is in a future post.)
• Plant a flower, a bush, a tree, a garden or something. I don’t care what it is, just plant something in 2020. This doesn’t count for all my farmer friends though. Watching something sprout from a simple seed to a flourishing creation is awesome. Some of you will be frightened by this and say that “I can’t grow anything.” Try it!!
• Finally, reach out to somebody you haven’t talked to or seen in a while. This doesn’t have to be anything big. Just pick up the phone and call them or swing by their house the next time you’re in town. You’d be surprised how good it will make both of you feel.

Resolutions don’t have to be difficult; they just have to make the life you’re living a little bit better. What are some of the things you want to accomplish this year?

Next week we learn more about the joys and STRUGGLES of newborn parenting. Parenting in your 40’s I mean. Until next week, Tell Someone I Love You Today.