2011: New Beginnings

“New Year’s eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights.” — Hamilton Wright Mabie

My mom posted this quote on her Facebook yesterday and although it didn’t resonate with me at first, I kept thinking about it.  You see, I’m not one to make New Year’s Resolutions.  I don’t get really sentimental about the ending of a old year and the beginning of a new one.  I don’t have ambitious thoughts about how this upcoming year could be so much better than the last.
My personality typically has me living in the moment – not too much reflection or wishing for old days or regrets about past mistakes.  Nor too much pining for a future dream or possibility.  If I do tend to one, it would be dreaming.   But I never really resolve to make those dreams happen. Perhaps I should do more of that but often I find living in the moment about all I can handle.
Which maybe is the reason I don’t achieve a lot of dreams.  Dreams like writing a book, starting a non-profit, getting back in shape, etc. You know what they say about “those without a vision …”.
There are moments where I realize how fast life is going and how if the last ten years went this quickly, the next ten will surely go quicker.  It is in those moments that I also realize that if I don’t resolve to make some goals and take steps to meet them, I may find myself at the same place ten years from now.  Not necessarily a bad life but definitely not the best.
So, I’m doing some reflecting on my dreams.  Some thoughtful pondering about what I truly want out of life.  And along with that, some clear goals that will enable me to realize those dreams.
One of these dreams is writing more.  I use to blog every day.  I use to engage my world in such a way that I had things to say, thoughts to share, questions to ask.  But not in recent years.  And I miss it.
So, goal one: to blog at least four times a week.  Will you hold me to it?
What are some of your goals for 2011?  What can I do to help hold you to your goals?