2009

It's a new year. We all contemplate the past and the future at the beginning of the year. This year, I'm going to stick to my "New Year resolutions" and revisit them. I'm going to list the five actions I intend to take this year to improve the way I live life.

1. Be Proactive
2. Be Aware
3. Be Sympatheic
4. Be Flexible
5. Be Connected

Proactive - I have been a terrible procrastinator for as long as I can remember. I've missed flights, I've screwed myself out of opportunity, cost myself money, and I've created frantic panic by not being proactive. This year things that require action won't wait and I will resolve to "just do it" when necessary. I will be proactive in terms of how I push myself to do and be better at everything I do. This year being proactive will include getting my will and estate in order so that my own wishes would be carried out if I were to depart this life. This year being proactive will include listing and prioritizing those things I want to achieve in this life and beginning each goal without putting it off.

Aware - I am aware of many things that matter to others. I am aware of the things that are important to my clients. I am aware of the problems in this world. I am aware of consequences, yet make bad decisions. This year I resolve to be aware in a different sense. I will be aware of myself in terms of being aware of my finances and obligations to others. I will be aware of the concerns of my family and do what I can to aid in resolving those concerns.

Sympathetic - This year promises to be great in many ways, however many people are suffering financially, emotionally, and spiritually. This year I resolve to be more sympathetic to the problems of those who are close to me and sympathetic to those in my community. I will do what I can to help others who need my help. If I cannot help, I resolve to put them on the path to find that help for themselves - essentially "teach the man how to fish" and own his or her problems.

Flexible - I've been stubborn in some respects. I've fought for things that weren't worth fighting for without considering alternatives. This year I resolve to look at all alternatives and not forsake the possibility of doing things a different way. I resolve to be flexible in my views and try to understand the views of those who I often disagree with in hopes to be sympathetic to their view of the world.

Connected - I have made my self so busy for busy's sake that it often leads to feeling isolated. This year I will be proactive about being aware of the actions I take to isolate and protect myself from the harm of others. I will be flexible in order to connect with others, not just for the sake of connection, but to be connected so that I can see the merit in those aspects of life that I've not experienced. I will take the effort to be more connected to family by visiting them near and far; by letting them know how much I love them; by calling, writing, and sharing myself with them throughout the year, not just on birthdays. This year I resolve to be connected with myself - the feelings I have, the goals I will set for myself, and generally know at all times where I stand.