As I'm sitting here tweaking plans for goals for next year and I found it funny that we place such a burden on January 1st. All the hopes and excitement for a fresh start fall on the shoulders of first day of January. Why? What makes the first day of January that more special than any other day that so many people use this day to launch new processes or ideas? Look at how many life altering plans launch on this day - diets, changes in personal habits, acceptance of new ideas or theories, plans to increase business or financial status. Is it simply the fact that we take down the old calendar and replace it with a fresh canvas with 365 days of new hope and opportunity to achieve an enormous wish list - some of which we carry with us year-to-year? C'mon... be honest...how many of us are starting another diet or claim that 'this is the year' we'll be better organized or get to that dream vacation?

I'm extending an invitation to everyone to join me in carrying the "fresh excitement" that sparks the New Year with us all year long. Why not? We experience the first of a month eleven other times in the year. There are other holidays where we celebrate late into the night, two other months that begin with the letter "J", several other months that bring cooler weather (depending on where you live), and of course we still have that list of goals that we created. Don't be discouraged when you reach February and you've not been magically transformed into the dynamo you visualized on 12/31. The formula for us to reach our goals includeTIME, LOVE and HAPPINESS.

It takes TIME to plan, implement and accomplish your goals! Embrace each day as a canvas of 24 hours to accomplish great things! Celebrate that you get 28-31 days in a month and twelve months to make a difference in your life or the life of others! Take time every day to evaluate the detours life threw at you (like you do in December) and adjust for tomorrow or next month. Take TIME to LOVE the people who enter your life and do things that make you HAPPY!

Happy New Year … all year long!


Julie Eudy
Golden Services Group