Happy 2009

Happy New Year! How often we hear this greeting as December draws to a close! Whether we plan to make resolutions for the New Year or not, we still make decisions consciously or unconsciously for the next twelve months. Not to decide is to decide, so we are told.

The question here is, “What’s important in your life?” Some people just ‘go with the flow’ while others make agonizing decisions about what’s important to them. Let’s reflect on that for a moment.

What makes you want to get up in the morning? Your children, your job or the money you want to make? Are you looking forward to this coming year, despite the current condition of the economy, global warming, the million of jobs being lost, the wars and poverty in so many countries of the world? In a recent survey, fifty- eight per cent of people voiced that they have hope for the coming year. Two-thirds of them still have confidence that they will have jobs in the New Year.

Do you feel pressured to make resolutions? What is important in your life? As the theme of my book, Quest for Happiness states, we are all on a journey to find happiness. What will that happiness consist of for you? Is it more money, a new relationship, beauty, education, fame, power or security? All of these things are important and are needed by each one of us in some form or another.

In the middle of the third century B.C., Aristotle wrote that “Happiness depends upon ourselves.” This invites us to do some introspection. Several suggestions that I find helpful are:
1. In January, reflect on last year’s successes and think about
building on one or two of those for the coming year.
2. Find out what it is that you really value and are most interested in and work on those things rather than give up something in your life.
3. After reflecting on who you are and what you like about your-
self, choose to make a goal that is measurable, well planned, written down and accountable to a partner or friend.
You may think of others that fit you and your lifestyle. The main thrust is that you want to move forward on your journey, becoming a better person making the world a better place to be because of your gifts and talents, generous in sharing with your family and friends.

Happy New Year!