Editor's Fix - Jump Into the New Year By Setting Goals!

I've never been much of a goal setter. Sure, I scribble down the general New Year's resolutions most years, but they are typically the vague “be more giving to friends and family” or the unsubstantiated “be healthier”. But after recently being faced with a wee rough patch I was spiraled on a bit of a re-evaluation process. What were my values? What attributes were important to me in those around me? What did I want out of my job, partnerships, friendships and family? These answers along with a list of specific goals I wanted to achieve over the next six months were the end result. It was a challenging exercise, and one I will in no doubt have to continually revisit, but the more time I put into it the more uplifting it became and the more energized and excited I began to feel.

Not surprisingly, the busy-ness of life took over and I eventually forgot about the endeavor... until one day a year later while packing for a trip. My journal was in my bag and I started sifting through the pages and found the goals. As I went down the list I laughed with a bit of disbelief - I had managed to accomplish nearly every one.

This year, for the first time ever, I’m excited to set goals in place of my non-committal resolutions. Not only is it a great way to get things done, it forces us to recognize our achievements and gives us a solid reason to celebrate. In this busy life full of expectations not only from others but from ourselves, we don’t recognize all that we’ve done. Instead we focus on all that we have to do, easily forgetting the path behind.

So this year, let’s not only set some goals for ourselves, but actively celebrate our achievements. Here are some inspiring quotes to help you along the way, and with any luck this edition full of inspiring individuals, stories, and columns will aid you in the process as well.

Happy New Year!

Editor
Krista Turcasso

The fountain of contentment must spring up in the mind. He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts and multiply the grief which he purposes to remove.
~ Samuel Johnson

Our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world…as in being able to remake ourselves.
~ Mahatma Gandhi

Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.
~ Lao Tzu

It is not the length of life, but the depth of life.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.
~ Henry David Thoreau