| Victories and milestones are key motivators if | | | | working hard do be conscious of how I'm treating |
| you're working hard to fulfill a dream, keep a New | | | | others. Every time I get in my car, for instance, I |
| year Resolution, or achieve a goal. But it's difficult | | | | make a mental note to give the other guy some |
| to measure progress and maintain accountability if | | | | room on the road, let people merge, and generally |
| you don't write things down, 'Check In' regularly, | | | | practice safe driving techniques. I'm not perfect, I |
| and maintain a realistic, steady pace. Personally, I | | | | get frustrated with rude and inconsiderate drivers, |
| like to Check In everyday when I do my | | | | but I'm trying to 'be' a polite, considerate driver. |
| journaling and planning for the day. It helps to | | | | With both goals - helping the environment and |
| keep my 2008 dream, resolution and daily goals | | | | being kinder - I'm striving to lead by example. If |
| front and center, and on track. Not everyone has | | | | each one of us does just one positive thing for |
| time to do daily Check-Ins, however, so weekly | | | | the environment, and one kind thing for our fellow |
| Check-Ins are the next best thing. When you only | | | | humans each day that really adds up, and could |
| Check In once each month, or each quarter, it's | | | | promote both personal and global change. As with |
| really hard to keep track of progress, next steps, | | | | most things - New Year Resolutions, fighting |
| course corrections, timelines, milestones, and hard | | | | Global Warming, thoughtful acts of kindness - our |
| won victories. That's why writing things down in a | | | | actions do add up over time. If we take one small |
| journal or a 'Daily Resolution Diary' and reviewing | | | | step at a time, one day at a time, those small |
| notes regularly are so important. | | | | steps can make a huge difference. You don't |
| This year my personal resolution theme is to | | | | have to move mountains overnight, you just |
| 'Give Back' and show my 'Gratitude' for my | | | | need to be committed enough to stick with your |
| blessings in four ways: | | | | values, your priorities - your dreams - for the long |
| | | | haul. |
| 1. Walk 60 miles for the Breast Cancer 3-Day - | | | | As for me in coming days and weeks, I have my |
| Susan G. Komen For The Cure - in Washington, | | | | next 10, 20, 30, 100 steps outlined in my journal |
| DC, October 3-5, 2008. My team is I Resolve To | | | | for my 'Gratitude Project'. I'm planning to draft |
| Walk! | | | | and send friends, colleagues and family members |
| 2. Volunteer at a Virginia Horse Rescue Farm. | | | | a fundraising letter for my October 2008 Breast |
| 3. Learn about how to combat Global Warming | | | | Cancer 3-Day Walk, so that I can meet my |
| and take action. | | | | $3,000 goal. I'm setting up a training schedule and |
| 4. Engage in PreMeditated Acts Of Kindness - be | | | | investigating gear for Spring and Summer work |
| more conscious of how I'm treating others and | | | | outs. Best of all, in addition to helping to raise |
| do positive things for others without expecting | | | | money for breast cancer research, my 3-Day |
| anything in return. | | | | Walk is helping me to fulfill one of my LifeTime |
| I know I can't make progress in each category | | | | Resolutions: Daily Exercise. When you know what |
| every single day - that's not realistic - so I plan | | | | your priorities are it's amazing how they blend |
| my next steps for each one, and take a step or | | | | together, work together, and lend purpose to |
| two every day. For instance, I'm doing ongoing | | | | ordinary, everyday life - making each day |
| research on ways to combat Global Warming and | | | | extraordinary! |
| reduce my Carbon Footprint. I post useful | | | | Remember: I Resolve To Achieve My New Year |
| information on my blog on Monday, Wednesday | | | | Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time |
| and Friday in an effort educate myself, and to | | | | For One Year. It's your choice. Do it today. Turn |
| urge others to join me in protecting and | | | | your resolution into reality in five simple, common |
| preserving the environment. One of the things | | | | sense steps: Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, |
| that I wrote about recently - and something I'm | | | | Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your |
| doing in 2008 - is trying to reduce my use of | | | | resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, |
| plastic bags. I'm recycling the bags that I'm given, | | | | something that's with you for good! Above all, Be |
| so that I don't get new ones. Each time I recycle | | | | A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, |
| I figure that's one less bag in a landfill. | | | | keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey! Make |
| I'm also brainstorming ways to 'be kinder'', posting | | | | Every Day New Year's Day. Make Every Day |
| the ideas on my blog and, most importantly, | | | | Count. Let's Go For It! |