How many made a New Year's Resolution?

Always great to hear from you Pola... Remember that short term goals can lead to long term ones... One of my short term goals was to save XXX amount of money every month... the long-term goal was when I hit a certain amount I was taking my wife to Hawai'i. If I just looked at the far off goal and saw how much money it would actually take to get her there I would have never made it. Instead I saved not only what I said I was going to save but a little more as well... and we got to Hawai'i a little earlier.! Stress... well stress is something we all live with and DEALING with it is a great way to learn how to live a better more productive lifestyle. I have taken up excercise and that has not only helped me in my relieving of stress but has also made me a more healthy, stronger person... both physically and mentally. All the best to you and of course I always love hearing from you. Thanks Zelo

I am only going to say this because it's you Pola and well we 'know' each other. Losing a loved one is extremely difficult and my condolances and empathy go out to you there. As for illness on the personal side I again can empathize with that. Now what I am going to say is maybe a little risky for me to say but something I believe in... do NOT wish for happiness in your life but rather wish for the things that are going to make you happy. You mentioned finishing what you started and enjoying life... extend that out to say "I will always look at the bright side of things". The reason I say this is because happiness is such a relative thing that you should have something more concrete that you can write down, that you can see, that you can do and know it's done. When do you know when you are truely happy? I love the Laugh More... that is a GREAT New Year's Resolution and one that everyone should have! Enjoy you for who you are... broken or not. Enjoy the surroundings you have been placed in by choices made in your life or circumstances that have led you to where you are are today. Thank God that you wake up every morning. You are the kindest sweetest person I have met here and I would love to give you a big giant hug 'cause you have such a sweet kind heart. 2008 was rough for a lot of people in a lot of ways and unfortunately for some it is just going to get worse but there are those out there that are even more worse off than what we may be and we have to be thankful for what we do have (beautiful memories of mom maybe?). Hugs and Kisses hon. Thanks Zelo

Thank You Zelo for complements and hugs....

I appreciate your advice alot..I do try to always look at the big picture of what needs to be done and do get discouraged a bit..So I guess I will be setting smaller goals and better rewards. I was thinking losing 100 pounds this year and my reward was to be small things so maybe I should shoot for a laptop I have always wanted by saving as many 3 dollars per the pound I lose...

By making smaller goals that lead to bigger successes makes one attain at least some if not all of the goals they set for themselves. If all of your goals are reached you are not trying hard enough... goals are meant to be hard to attain. And on the flipside, if you are not attaining any goals they are too hard or too far away. Break down all your goals into smaller micro-goals and I think you will find that when you accomplish the small ones the larger ones won't look that big. As with Pola... I think that smiling and laughing is a GREAT idea and if the world would just smile a little more... wow how much different of a place would this be. Glad to be back! Thanks Zelo

Happy 2009 to you as well Wolf... and amen to all that you said. Here is to not only dreaming dreams but acheiving them as well! Thanks Zelo

That is fair enough. Thanks for your response Thanks Zelo

Well it doesn't make sense to make one if you are not going to keep it or if you are not going to remember it... that makes sense to me! Thanks Zelo

I have heard a lot of people say exactly the same thing... but remember not just cutting on spending but buying wisely can also be a way to make your New Year's resolution come true! Thanks for the response Thanks Zelo

thanks for the BR