Goals … Not Resolutions

Ten minutes before midnight … it is time to state our goals for the coming year. Now, I am not one to really believe in New Year’s Resolutions. I used to do that every year and what I have found is that, more times than not, you never stick to your resolutions. By the time February comes around, you are back to your old ways, doing whatever negative behavior it was that you vowed to stop doing in the first place. No, I like to set goals for the coming year. On every New Year’s Eve, my family and I sit around, generally right before the new year rings in and we state which goals we hope to accomplish the next year. I feel that by stating our goals and what we want to do and achieve that year, that it becomes more real … concrete … an oath that can not be broken. Now, I know that I am a dreamer, but hey, I try.

This year, my oldest son, Jay, who is sixteen years-old starts us off ...

“My goal is to learn how to read sheet music better.” An admirable goal, I must say. Jay is such an accomplished musician but he just falls weak in this one area. I am so proud that he recognizes this weakness and wants to fix it. Of course he has been saying this for the last three years but this is the year … I just know it is.

Then it is my twelve-year old, Shon’s turn ...

“I don’t have any goals.” And this is how it goes with him. I guess he takes after me just a bit more than I want him to. He is just a bit of a pessimist. He claims that he can’t think of anything he wants to change and sullenly sits back in the couch. He really thinks all of this nonsense is just a bit senseless. Maybe it is, but still, I prod him a bit ...

“You have nothing that you want to work on or accomplish this year?” I ask.