What a wonderful holiday season! I had been planning a surprise 50th Wedding Anniversary party for my parents for months, and it ended with a successful party- and my gallbladder being removed. Yes indeed, it’s been grand! Okay, so not everything was so wonderful, but, I’ve still enjoyed my unplanned time off just hanging out at home, amidst running some errands in between my attempts to rest. There have been some changes in my life that I am pretty excited about.
I have a calling in the primary now. I haven’t been in the primary for years. I taught them the first lesson this last week, and though 9 year-olds can sometimes be challenging, I think it went very well! These kids knew a lot about Joseph Smith and when he was visited by the Angel Moroni. I found it very impressive. It really made me think about what I wasn’t doing with my daughter. She’s five, sure, but I still feel I should be doing more.
This has led me to one of my goals for 2016. Notice how I said “goal” and not “resolution?” I used to religiously set resolutions for the New Year. Of course every year one was to lose weight. Well, I’m okay in that area right now, I’ve done very well this last year. These are goals that I feel can improve my life even more than my life has already been improved.
I read in the Ensign this last week an article about navigating your life. It made so many good points about evaluating your life, and setting real goals. And that our lives should not become stagnant or plateau, but that we should keep moving onward and upward. Continuously making room for improvements.
And like I have said so many times before, when you evaluate your life, you find what can be cut out, and replace it with good things! I was so excited after reading this article that I sat and made a list of what I really wanted to accomplish this year. I also made a brief explanation of how I was going to accomplish these.
I’ll share with you a couple of my goals for this year, just to give you an idea. One, not only do I want to read the Book of Mormon, for a better understanding, I want to read it to my five year old and help her to learn more of the stories. I also want to be better about having family home evening. I’ve made the excuse that I have to come home and cook for my family and I’ve just worked all day.
Also, I make the excuse that my husband is not going to take part in it and it’s like I want all or nothing. I was advised by my stake president to keep going to church and do the things we are asked to do, and one day, my husband will follow. I have to do what is right for my family. Though my husband has not become a baptized member of the church, yet, through my example and our daughter’s, one day, there is a great chance he will.
The most important thing to remember is that you will accomplish more when you make realistic, obtainable goals. Consider what could improve your life, or better it. Do not allow life to plateau, and become routine. My sister in law even mentioned to me, just last night how she wanted to start helping within the community once a month. Even if it meant going to a local park that she knew homeless people hung around, and passing out bologna sandwiches. Always be on your toes to improve and to aid in making someone else have a better day. Maybe your goal could be that you want to participate in more service. There are several ways you can do this.
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I recommend that article in the Ensign, the link is above. Then, if you have to, sit down and make a list of what would be most realistic to accomplish this year. List how you can succeed, and get started! It’s always such an awesome feeling to know you have accomplished a goal. So if you haven’t already, make your list and get started on bettering yourself, and the world around you!
