Happy New Year to all!
This week was a rude awakening for many of us who have been in some form of holiday mode for the last weeks (and it was an especially jarring note to realize that my blog is due TODAY). But while we all hate to see the fun and relaxation of the holiday times in the rear view window, there's something fresh and exciting about January for me.
We're meant to talk about our least favorite goal and why we set it this month, but I'll open by talking a bit about my "Goal Girls" group. At least 4 years ago, a friend explained to a group of us that she wanted to try out the "Cultivate your Life" planner system and wondered who would like to join her. Out of about 10 women, only 4 of us decided to give it a try, and we've stuck with it each year. We buy the planner, and we meet once a month on a Sunday morning or afternoon. We catch up with each other on a personal level, we discuss how our goals for the previous month or overall year are going, and we encourage each other to celebrate wins and reframe the things that didn't go to plan. We inspire and support each other as each year brings new pathways and challenges for each of us.
For several years we would lament that the only time we actually opened the planner was at our monthly gatherings, and we wondered if we should even bother buying the book for the following year and continuing. But one of the lessons we discussed and have gradually absorbed is that it's not about the book or how many times the book is opened or whether the book is fully completed each month or year. It's about the mental clarity, the rejuvenation, and the community of support and engagement that we share together. Speaking personally, I do have my weekly, monthly and yearly goals in my mental mindset after our gatherings, even if I don't record my progress on a daily or weekly basis in the book itself. The book, not as complete as it might be, does serve its purpose in the end. But more importantly, I have this fabulous circle of friends who will cheer me on, lift up my spirits, and challenge me to refocus and reframe as needed to keep pushing forward.
My least favorite goal? Well, that probably has to be the "weight loss" goal that rolls forward every single year in my planner book. This year I'm trying something new, so maybe there will be success to report, and my 2025 goal will simply be health & weight maintenance. Hope springs eternal! Happy 2024!
