I love the holiday season. Family gatherings, food, friends, more food--I even love shopping and gifting. But as much as I enjoy the holidays my favorite month of the year is January. There's just something about opening a fresh, new calendar with all those days ahead that fills me with optimism and anticipation for the possibilities of a brand new year.

The first week of January is my planning week. I start by re-reading my personal mission statement and reviewing my Bucket List to make additions or cross things off. (This year, going to Churchill, Manitoba to see Polar Bears in their natural habitat has moved to the top of the list. I'm afraid if I don't go soon it will be too late and that's a sad thought.) I take a last look at the previous year's goals and allow myself a few minutes to bask in accomplishments.Then I open a fresh page and think about my new goals. I believe that meaningful goals must not only be specific and measurable but also flexible, challenging, exciting, well-balanced and realistic. I know that goals without objectives attached are just wishes so my next task is to write specific objectives to keep me on track.

In 2012, I have set professional goals with financial targets and physical health goals with specific targets but perhaps my most important resolutions are what I classify as "soft" goals. These include things such as:

1. Live in the Present
2. Be kinder
3. Learn something new just for the fun of it
4. Read for pleasure and not just for information
5. And brand new for 2012 is "Write a Legacy Story every week."

I love this way of starting each new year. I have a large sign in my office that reads simply, "Believe." I know that people draw many different meanings from this but I use it to keep me reminded to focus on possibilities and what I can accomplish if I do. Do I always achieve every goal? No. But just the act of setting them keeps me moving in the direction I want to go and I consider that an achievement in itself.