New Year's Goals

When I was in high school one of my English teachers assigned a paper in which I was to list and describe my goals for the next five years. I wrote the paper, turned it in and forgot about it. A few years later, the paper was returned to me. It arrived during a particularly difficult time in my life. I read:

I will go to college.
Check.
I will graduate from college.
Check.
I will go to France.
Check.
I will get a job as a teacher.
Check.
I will get married.
Hmmmm.

The power of setting goals and writing them down was sitting in front of me. I had reached all of the goals I had set for myself that I had complete control of. (A marriage is a difficult goal to accomplish by yourself!) As I reflected on all of my accomplishments, I realized my current depression and unhappiness came from my lack of new goals and dreams. I was plodding along just trying to survive day to day instead of having a plan and knowing how my day to day routines are helping me get to a better place or to become a better person.

At this time of year many New Year’s resolutions are made but statistics show that after three weeks 50 percent of those resolutions have been abandoned. Webster’s Dictionary defines a resolution as “the state or quality of being resolute; determination.” The word by definition seems restrictive and unchanging. I prefer the word “goal” which is defined as “the result toward which effort is directed.” Effort may ebb and flow but a result shines in the distance and inspires.

There is great power in writing goals down. Writing them down takes them beyond a fleeting wish or a vain hope. One of my New Year’s traditions is to write down new goals each year. I begin by reviewing the previous year’s goals and checking my progress. I am always amazed at the goals that were accomplished or the steps that were taken toward their accomplishment without even realizing that I was doing it. Then I proceed to set goals for the current year. Some goals need additional time and continue from year to year (i.e. lose weight and become fit) and some goals are brand new.

Goals are an eternal principal. “Improvement and progression have one eternal round.” (“If You Could Hie to Kolob”, Hymns, 284) Goal setting and achieving are so important that the Lord has provided many resources for us, especially our youth, to teach us how to set goals and to progress. Faith in God, Personal Progress, Duty to God and Pursuit of Excellence are all excellent resources to help us to continually “increase in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52) “The program teaches you to make commitments, carry them out, and report your progress to a parent or leader. These are patterns you will use throughout your life to learn and improve as a woman.” (Young Women Personal Progress, p. 7)

One wise woman in Layton, Utah felt she needed some spiritual enlightenment and after browsing the shelves at the Distribution Center decided to study the Young Women Personal Progress program. Through following the program and setting goals, she experienced a greater sense of spirituality. One stake Young Women president teaches, “The Personal Progress program will enhance anything they (young women) are doing. Personal Progress helps a young woman make all things spiritual, from school work to church work.” Although Faith in God, Personal Progress and Duty to God are all designed for the youth, they can help all of us at any age and if you have children 8-18, I challenge you to study the programs alongside your children. It will enhance your relationship with them and strengthen your testimony.

How do you set your own goals? My favorite goal idea is based on the idea of goal setting in the business management realm. I’ve adapted them to fit my purposes.

Goals should be SMART.

S-specific, What exactly do I hope to accomplish?
M-measurable, How will I know when I have accomplished it?
A-attainable, Is it realistic? Am I able to do it? Am I willing to do it?
R-report, Who do I report my progress to?
T-timely, When do I hope to accomplish it?

In the 2007 General Relief Society meeting Sister Julie B. Beck said, “In order to do our part as women under the Lord’s plan, we must stand strong and immovable in faith, strong and immovable in family, and strong and immovable in relief. We must excel in these three important areas which set us apart as the Lord’s disciples.” We can no longer haphazardly live from day to day. We must have a plan and we must help our children plan to excel and progress as the Lord’s disciples.

After reading, rereading, pondering and studying that essay from my English class, I realized that I was depressed and unhappy because my progression had stopped. I was surviving instead of thriving. Goals help us to thrive in our lives, spiritual and temporal.

The Christmas Season

The Christmas Season is such an exciting and fun time for most students but it can be a difficult and sad season for some. At school, more conflicts erupt during December, especially as Christmas and the vacation draw near. Although many families receive loving help from others, there are always other children and families who may lack both physical and spiritual assets but would never ask for help or reveal their situation to others.

Be attentive to your children’s friends and their words and actions. Do they seem unusually quiet and withdrawn or boisterous and loud? How do they respond when others ask them what they want or what their family does for Christmas? An extreme answer or no answer at all may signal a particular need during this season. Some will need physical help, such as basic needs of clothing and food. Others will need spiritual help such as an arm around the shoulders, spending time, listening, etc.

One Christmas teachers at school decided to join together to provide the Twelve Days of Christmas for a colleague and her family. On the 12th day, each teacher was to provide a couple of food items for this family. I had forgotten until another teacher appeared at my doorstep to collect my goodies. I randomly threw in some items I had already purchased and made: chips and salsa, cheese and crackers, Christmas candy and cookies.

After Christmas, this colleague shared her experience of being the recipient with me. She was feeling sorry for herself and decided that she would go to the grocery store and use her credit card to buy fun and festive food they couldn’t afford but she wanted. She purchased the food and went home to find a basket of food filled with exactly the same items she had just bought. She realized that the Lord was mindful of her and she needed to trust in him. I learned that sometimes simply being willing to be an instrument will put you in a place to serve and He will guide your mind and hands.

Be willing to serve and the Lord will guide your mind and hands as you observe and hear the things your child’s friends do and say. A loaf of bread, an invitation to a family event or following other inspiration will bless the lives of all.

Great Gifts for Teachers

Teachers appreciate gifts from students and their parents and the Christmas season is a great time to express appreciation; but honestly, teachers have plenty of teacher mugs and apple ornaments. What gifts would earn an A+ from your teacher?

Belinda’s Top Ten

#10-Gift certificates for dinner, the movies, or the local office supply store. (Teachers love office supply stores!)

#9- Favorite bag of treats for the treat jar.

#8-Hand sanitizer (in gallon bottles!)

#7-Breakfast or lunch kits. (i.e. granola bars and juice boxes, instant soup and crackers)

#6-A donation of a book to either the teacher’s classroom library or the school library.

#5-A package of sharpened pencils, fun-colored pens, sticky notes and stickers.

#4-Coupons for correcting papers, putting up a bulletin board or helping in the classroom.

#3-A note of appreciation from parents.

#2-A note of appreciation from students, especially ones that express the specific things that this teacher does to help you. (I have a file of every letter a student has ever given me-they are priceless!)

#1-Homework turned in and on time. What every teacher dreams of! (parents too!)

Christmas break is a good time to catch your breath and catch up. After the holiday recess, students head into the longest and hardest time of the year. From January to April, there are few breaks and the most challenging curriculum is presented at this time. Use the holiday to complete missing assignments, read an extra book for book reports or one assigned for next term, get started on the science fair project…you get the idea.

Merry Christmas. May your Christmas be full of fun with family, service to others and joy in our Savior and his perfect life, love and gift.