New year, new goal?

United States
December 26, 2009 6:54pm CST
It's so common, at least here in America, for people to make...and break....resolutions with the onset of each new year. I no longer make resolutions, but....I do try to look back on the year just past, examine where I am here and now, and decide where I'd like to be in life next year this time...and then I try to set at least one particular goal for myself. I'd like to boost my income by a particular amount in the next year, for instance, and perhaps move to a larger apartment as a result of meeting that goal. Do you have one special goal in mind for yourself that you'd like to fulfill in the new year, which is soon to be upon us? Karen
7 people like this
30 responses
@hexeduser22 (7418)
• Philippines
13 Jan 10
I have no resolution this year or if I did I knew I would break it sooner or later I have a goal though, I want to finish my studies this year, I'm getting old and I'm at a marrying age but still the family crisis had taken it's toll on me and I got delayed in everything including school. Also I welcome this year positively and I feel my luck is going to change but it wont change if I don't do something about it
1 person likes this
• United States
14 Jan 10
Hi Hexeduser There have been years that my own resolution was: I resolve not to resolve...for the reasons you've listed! I'm glad you're determined to finish your studies, as education is so important! In my country, many people now marry at later ages than in the past and feel that is was a good move. So I wouldn't worry about that. As you said, I believe we make our own opportunities and luck much of the time by the actions we do or do not take. Have a happy day! Karen
1 person likes this
• Philippines
15 Jan 10
Marrying later in age is not a bad thing but what I'm concerned is that my partner would be having a hard time delivering our baby if we married too late. Good luck to us all this year and may we all have a blessed and fruitful year
• India
13 Jan 10
Hello my friend PeacefulWmn9 Ji, You are absolutely right in thinking to just cosolidate, what you thought a yar back onsetof 2009 and how far youachieved your goal, what were reasons for reversals and their remedial actions to be taken. Then set new goals, with in permissile reach. Once this all home work is done, you can relax and sleep well. Try and full-fill your tyarget by due date. This will build in more courage to make even better plan and assignments. May God bless You and have a great time.
• India
16 Jan 10
Hello my friend PeacefulWmn9 Ji, So nice of you for your positive response. When we set any goal, we keep our aim very clear and then there is a aim for the life, which I think is very important to get rollinng our life. May God bless You and have a great time.
• United States
14 Jan 10
Hello my friend. Yes, I've found this approach helpful. Your advice about setting due dates is very good, too, as it gives added incentive to complete a goal :)) I wish you a happiness and God's blessings, Karen
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
4 Jan 10
No Karen I do nt make resolutions any more I just take each Day as it comes now, there are no Goals or anything like that just to live Life and make the best of things
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Jan 10
Hi Gabs...I resolve each year NOT to resolve, but I do keep in mind certain goals I would like to accomplish :) Your philosophy of living life and making the best of whatever comes...well that is admirable. Karen
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
27 Dec 09
I do not make resolutions either. I just hope to live another year in my home & enjoy my kids & not to feel any worse than i do now. I don't have many wants & guess it's a good thing i don't & it's for sure i'm not going to change my honery ways, lol.
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Dec 09
Hi Jo. For about the past decade, my only actual "resolution" has been that I resolve not to resolve lol. I'd rather set an obtainable goal instead, that is reachable. I believe it's good to keep our wants simple, so I admire yours. And yes, do not change! We love you, as is lol. God bless you, Karen
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
27 Dec 09
Thanks for the kind words, Karen. U are such a sweetie & i love u to.Have a great sunday.
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Dec 09
I don't make them either because I never seem to keep them and then by the time the end of the year comes I end up feeling worse about myself than I did when i made the resolution. I think this year though I am going to try and take better care of my health and to also maybe try to get more into the craftings like I have always wanted to...
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Dec 09
Hi :) LOL, yes, I think it does the self-esteem no good what so ever back when I myself was always making, and breaking, those resolutions. The goals you've set seem much more obtainable :)) I wish you well with both. Karen
• United States
28 Dec 09
Thanks Karen, I wish you th best with your "resolutions" as well...
1 person likes this
@Orea15 (281)
• United States
31 Dec 09
Each January I renew my efforts to lose weight. Some years I have done really well, other years not. So I am gearing up to continue and redouble my commitment to myself and my scale. I need to do it for my health and my happiness, both. There may be other things that come to mind, but that is the most important. January 1 may be an arbitrary date, but it works for me. ;-)
• United States
31 Dec 09
Hi Oreo. Losing weight is one of the top 10 resolutions made by people each year. I did some research and wrote an article on it, and it seems helpful if people instead resolve to say cut portions by 1/3 or something specific like that to reach and maintain the weight they wish to be. Greatest of luck meeting your goal :)) Karen
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
27 Dec 09
I have many goals...one is to get to a healthy weight but this is a continuation of last year goal so I have been working on it and am down 55 pounds. I am going to get a different job. I am starting a class next month and by spring I should be doing better. I want to get my bathroom fixed, maybe started putting new windows on the house and get it really, really clean. New carpeting maybe (after bathroom and windows). Sand the hardwood floors and reseal them.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Dec 09
Hi Deb Kudos on your weight loss this far :)) I admire each goal you've set...they are all geared toward positive things to add to your life :)) I wish you well with each and every one. Karen
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
29 Dec 09
marriage, resolved one way or the other... - Dawn
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Dec 09
Hello Dawnald. That is indeed a big, but very important, goal to get finalized. Best of all wishes with that and with all other areas of your life. Karen
@savypat (20216)
• United States
27 Dec 09
I just got a resolution yesterday, it came from mylot. I am going to pay attention to and pass along all the good feelings I come across each day. And since mylot is where I communicate the most, watch out, you all will be ready to boycott me in the first month. I'll try to be restrained.
• United States
28 Dec 09
LOL, hi Pat. I look forward to all those postings about each good feeling that comes your way. What a great goal. Karen
@bingchen (1119)
• China
28 Dec 09
certainly,new year is coming,i should have new plan,but as for me,i find that i am confused with my life,i hope that i would have good start and resigned my job,but as the same time i feel confused what i am fit for,i dont want to work for boss,i hope that i can do my busniss.because of missing money,i find that i could not do what i want,sometimes i find that the life is very helpless.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Dec 09
Hello Bingchen So many of us go through these times of confusion off and on throughout our lives. Perhaps a good goal would be during those times to sort out one's priorities, and just do some searching of the soul in general. Then it would be easier to set definite goals. I have heard that to know what we are fit to do, it is best to go with our passions, and choose to do something we truly love, whether in life overall or in the line of work. I do wish you well. I know you struggle lately. God bless, Karen
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
29 Dec 09
Well, the one special goal that I had set for myself for 2009 did not happen because of financial constraints that we faced, so I think that I am going to carry that one forward into 2010. That one special goal is to get our kitchen remodeled. We bought our house just about two years ago and since we've bought it we've done a lot of work to it and the majority of the house is very nice now, but the kitchen is still a mess and I would like to see new cabinets as well as our new appliances that we've already bought installed in there. The man that owned our house prior to us didn't take care of it, so now we are doing all the rehab work on it, but I think in the long run it is going to pay off very well for us.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Dec 09
Hi Dorann I've been through several kitchen remodelings in my lifetime. A lot of work and money, for sure, but corners can be cut, and the end result has always been worth it all! I hope you can realize this dream in 2010. Karen
@clarkbody (141)
• United States
27 Dec 09
Yes, much like you I look forward to being better off than I was at the end of the year before. All of the plans that I have now should have reached another level by the end of 2010. My one goal is a two part goal: To have my website up and running and to have a substancial following.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Dec 09
Hello Clark I admire your goals. I remember how good it felt to finally have my own website earlier this year. :)) And now I have several, but I am still working on the large following. I really wish you well. Karen
@rjvb26 (2518)
• Philippines
28 Dec 09
Just like you, i no longer make a resolution cause i am sure to break it sooner or later, i just make some improvements on myself and set new goals. I will never make a resolution to be a good man because sometimes when we people are getting emotional, we do things that are not so good. Have a Happy New Year!
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Dec 09
Hi Rjvb I am all for day-to-day self improvement as opposed to making 10 huge resolutions that I know will be setting me up for failure, so kudos to you! And best of luck in each of those goals you set, too. Karen
• Philippines
27 Dec 09
my new goal in the new years coming is to buy the stuffs i want and also spend my spare money to my shooling
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Dec 09
Hi Viene. Welcome to MyLot :) I wish you well in making the purchases for things you need or want. And schooling, that is so important...a very wise goal :) Karen
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
27 Dec 09
Last year I made the mistake of setting up too bigger ambitions for my New Year, and they set me up to fail and I came crashing down to earth with a big bang. I started the year very positive that I was going to achieve my two goals by June I realized that I wasn't going to achieve them and it made me feel so damn depressed, so this year I am only going to set myself small easier goals, kind of like stepping stones if you like or small pigeon steps then I won't be setting myself up for a failure. I know what I'd love but it's out of my reach and I have to be realistic. Getting my own place would be a dream come true, I craved that last year but this year I am going to concentrate on me and getting myself stronger not physically because that is easy, but mentally and that is the difficulty, mainly my self esteem issues and trying to build myself up, but slowly, doing it with the help of my therapist and my inner strength which fortunately I possess. Happy 2010 dear friend I hope it brings you happiness and a small slice of that for me too!
• United States
28 Dec 09
Hi Wolfie. I like the idea of setting more reasonable goals...stepping stones. It makes the most sense for almost all of us, yes? I think you have such potential, and that you will reach your goals. And yes, you'll make peace with yourself and build up the self-esteem you deserve. Thank you for your thoughtful response. I wish you moments of happiness that keep coming more often and lasting longer. Karen
@Tuanshun (138)
• China
27 Dec 09
Making resolutions is good, but failing to realize them is embarrassing. So i seldom to do such thing. I wish i could make more money and friends in 2010.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Dec 09
Hello Tuanshun. I agree with your thoughts on making resolutions and being unable to keep them. I do always have wishes or goals, though. I wish you well with making more earnings and friends in the New Year. Karen
• Philippines
27 Dec 09
I do make resolutions every new year. I list them and try my best to apply them in my life. Some of the resolutions were fulfilled and made but some weren't. I do make a point that I do what I could to make those resolutions happen. I guess , it's just normal if those plans and goals weren't all achieved, what's important is you have given your best to make things happen. This coming year, my plans are mostly about work. I also need to save more, it will be one of my major resolution. I'll try to make it happen again next year.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Dec 09
Hello Fiona. I think many wish for the same thing as you...to make more and save more in the coming year, as the economy set some of us back. It will be a worthwhile goal to try to catch up financially, and I wish you well in that. You are right...giving our best, even if we fall short sometimes, counts for a lot. Karen
• India
27 Dec 09
Hi, i want to make a new goal on new year but still i think about it.because i have so many goals for new year but some times we never stay on it so i make some simple goals on my life.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Dec 09
Hi Bali I think you're wise to put thought into goals before making them. I need to do that same thing. Sometimes, the simple goals bring us the most happiness anyway. Thank you for sharing those good tips. Karen
• China
27 Dec 09
hi karen,it my pleasure to communicate with you.i always make many plans,but with the time flying,most plans ends of failure.so this year i deceded only make a few plans,but try my best to finish it.at frist,i must finish my lessons,and i want to improve my spoken english,as you know,most of chinese student only write english well,so i want to make many forign friends to practise my spoken english.i want to know what is your feeling if you meet with a chinese want to communicate with you on the street?
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Dec 09
Hi Lulu A pleasure to meet you :) A few well chosen plans are good as opposed to making many many and then feeling overwhelmed, so that is a good idea. I wish you well in your lesson and in learning more and more about speaking English. If I met a Chinese on the street, as I do not speak that language, I am sure I would find some way to communicate with that person :)) I am always happy to meet new people, help someone, or make a new friend. Karen
• India
27 Dec 09
Yes i think it's surely best to have some goals in every new year. and i decided to abjure my angry!!!!!!!!!
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Dec 09
Hello Suriya. I agree...reasonable goals which we can work toward are good, and I wish you every success with the one you've set for yourself :)) Karen