New Year, New Goals

Here we are again the end of one year and the beginning of another. How do you feel at this time? Perhaps you are feeling sad that another year has gone by and you did not achieve the things that you wanted to. Perhaps you are excited about new things that could happen or are going to happen in the New Year. For myself I feel both. I feel like I am in some time warp……. How can time move so fast? Yet I wonder how it is that I can’t keep focus on the things I want to change?

I am a big believer in goal books and I have made many over the years. I pulled some out the other day and looked at them. They seem to have the same things repeated over and over but I have not made much progress in certain areas.  This makes me feel frustrated. Why can’t I make a change on these items? Perhaps I am not putting enough effort towards them. Perhaps it is not time for them to change. The magical thing about New Years is it gives you permission to attempt to start over. Wipe the slate clean and set your new intentions. So here I go. I set my new goals and I have a new plan. I start with a new attitude and put some new ideas toward my goals.

My ultimate goal is to see some results this year. The best way to move towards this goal is to…

1. Set specific goals. Provide specific details so you can visualize your goal.
2. List some actions steps towards moving towards your goals.
3. Put some time lines on these goals. Set a time to finish each action step.
4. Log your progress so you can see that changes are happening.
5. Celebrate steps along the way. It’s nice to acknowledge that things are changing.
6. Enjoy the adventure. It’s not all about the final destination; enjoy the journey as you move down the road.

Good luck on achieving your goals and have a Happy New year.

Tracey Weems -Expressions of Tracey

Blossoming

Each moment has the gift of being a new beginning. Let yourself blossom into a new you, a new thought or a new action.  Enjoy this moment.

Painting by Tracey Weems

Relationships

Relationships are like driving down the highway. Some pass you by quickly. Maybe you try to keep up with them for a time but it’s hard not to fall behind. Others are like those slower cars. You may stay with them for a few miles but then it just gets frustrating and you have to change lanes and move past. Then you find those who are going the same pace as you. Sometimes you are in the lead and sometimes they are in the lead and you do this dance back and forth down the road.

Tracey Weems  2018

Put down the phone

Today I was out at a local shopping area where there are lots of shops, restaurants, and a movie theater to go to. The temperature was around 80 degrees, the sun is shining and it’s just a great day to be out. As I am walking around I take notice that an alarming number of people are looking down at their phones. Now I know in today’s world this is nothing new but this was more than that. I stopped and scanned the area. I would say I was looking around at about 50 people, some walking most standing in various size groups of people and about 80 percent of them all looked exactly the same.  Their heads were down staring at their hands and not talking or really even acknowledging anyone around them. There were families, groups of friends and even people by themselves that looked like a bunch of zombies. It really felt like I had walked onto the set of some sci-fi movie.

What is everyone doing? It may be time to take a minute and think about what is important and what is not. Recently I was at a memorial service for two people who were in an accident. You just don’t know how long people are going to be in your lives so when you are lucky enough to be in their presence, take that opportunity and enjoy the moment with them. Put down the phone, talk, and laugh and look them in the eye.  You can check your phone later. You may even find that you don’t need that phone as much as you think.