Now that it’s officially 2007 and I have settled into the new year after short vacation, reflecting on the past year is nary something I have time for, at the moment - but it is important to reflect on the past in order to apply experiences and lessons learned in the future. Important things I learned and came to terms with in 2006:
1. It’s impossible to make everyone happy every single time, no matter how hard you try. This includes family, friends, clients, coworkers and strangers on the street. Just try and be the best at what you do - - whatever it is you’re doing, and come to terms with the best you can do for any given moment is all you have to give. You may improve your talents, efforts and methods in the future, but for right now …”this very minute, of this very day - I am giving you my absolute best.”
2. There are only 24 hours in any day of the year. Trying to squeeze more time out of a day is utterly impossible. Instead, try to organize and prioritize better. It won’t give you more hours - - but it will allow you to make the most of the hours you have.
3. Talent does not always equal ability. Someone may be extremely talented at a given task, however they may lack the ability to successfully manage all of the elements required for a project. I shall try not to assume that a talented person is a capable person.
4. Misplaced trust is always a shock to me. I don’t know why it should be - but it is. Even when you think you can trust someone - - you just never really know until the day that they do something that completely and utterly undermines that trust.. leaving you sitting there shaking your head in wonder.. “how could I have..” - - don’t make the mistake of thinking it was something you did. Upfront, frank and honest communication is the solution to untrustworthiness. If you make it a personal policy to communicate with the people in your life and let them know exactly where you stand and what your intentions are — there can be no surprises under the hood.
5. On that same note - don’t let the actions of people who have passed through your life dictate how you welcome new ones in. Each person is different and brings with them an individuality that deserves a first chance and does not deserve to be tagged with your historical baggage. Once bitten, twice shy is ok. Proceeding with caution is ok, as well - - just don’t let it rule your life before you close yourself off to some great opportunities with some fantastic people.
6. Marriage rocks. My only advice - make sure you get it right the first time. I didn’t get it right until this time.
7. You can pick your friends, but you can’t pick your family. I didn’t resolve that within myself until 2006. After years of beating my head against the wall - I’ve finally given up and have just accepted the fact that there are just some people in this world that I do not mesh with - - even if it is a member of my family. Life is too short to continue beating on that wall. Time has come to move on and let that water under the bridge flow free.
8. I have not regretted my 2004 resolution to keep my mind open to new opportunities and ideas. I had become too set in my ways over the years - - lifting those limits I placed on myself opened up some great opportunities and experiences I would not have had if I continued to close myself off to new things and new ways. I plan to continue that frame of mind indefinitely.
9. Having teenagers is both a blessing and a curse. The deviousness of your own teenage years will revisit you three-fold, and yet the pride of watching them grow, learn, fall, get back up again is priceless. Seeing yourself in them produces quite a few smiles - witnessing their own individuality will produce even more.
10. I still suffer from flight fright and not sure when I will get over my fear of flying. It doesn’t stop me from flying when I need to - - I just feel sorry for whoever is sitting next to me in flight!
Resolutions for this year? More of the same plus learning how to write a book and run three businesses, all at the same time (see #2 above.)
What were your big lessons learned in ‘06? And your resolutions for ‘07?
Hopefully 2.8 and 2.9 will...
8:29 pm on January 3rd, 2007
As trite as it sounds, I don’t do New Year’s Resolutions (and no, I won’t go for the hackneyed joke here).
I found myself once saying I was going to make a change in the new year, and then realizing I was procrastinating, waiting for the beloved 1-January to arrive.
If something is worth resolving to do, then it worthy of starting today, whether it is January 1st, March 12th, or October 23rd. Waiting for New Years Day, I reasoned, was an excuse to delay the better behavior. Further, if I failed to keep the resolution - as so many people do by the end of March - its a perfect excuse for me to wait until next year to try again.
So when I find myself in need of a change, I do it then. Why wait?
As for your #1 & #7, I was reminded of that this New Years Eve… big time!
And for #2, this always helps me!
8:41 pm on January 3rd, 2007
Good points on the resolve to make changes any day of the year. Makes total sense. There’s something about the end of a year, tho, that draws me to look back on the year - - think of what i may have done differently, reflect on the things I learned and try to learn from them going into the new year.
I’m good at making resolution lists - - i’m even BETTER at procrastinating, though! LOL
3:36 pm on January 4th, 2007
I especially liked #5. Having some baggage of my own it made me stop and think. Maybe I’ve been too harsh in some recent past cases. Thanks for giving me the wake up.
I also liked #7. Got a brother that thinks he’s better than everyone and a total hypocrite. I did resolve this year to just leave him out of the loop rather than deal with him. Sad but better to save my sanity.
A great list and a nice site. Happy New Year!
4:51 pm on January 4th, 2007
Happy New Year, BonBon - thanks for stopping by here. I usually only see you over at RV, so it’s nice to have you visit here
#7 was also something I struggled a great deal with this year. However, you are right - as sad as it may be, at some point you gotta do what you need to do in order to preserve sanity. It’s not always easy - but life is too short, isn’t it?
Cheers!
10:24 am on January 5th, 2007
I’ve pretty much given up on making resolutions. I know I’ll probably break them, so why should I lie to myself? As for your ten things, all of them are great. Yeah, procrastination can be a problem here too… I guess maybe the closest thing I can say for a resolution would be to get things done more promptly as I’ve been working on that recently…
5:51 pm on January 5th, 2007
Hi I have just come across this site for the first time and it was great to see someone with a similar lifestyle to me. I find the web has a lot for the younger generation and little for the persons living with children. Anyway reflecting on 2006 I find it very hard to be totally happy with family life and career. I go to work and want to do well and work hard and become frustrated when career opportunities come along but dont fit in due to home life. Then I come home and put the mum hat on and want to be a great mum. So for 2007 I am going to stop trying too hard and getting myself frustrated when things are not going as I want them and chill out a little, well as much as you can with 2 kids!
6:47 pm on January 5th, 2007
Astro - stop procrastinating!
Did that help?
6:49 pm on January 5th, 2007
Dawn - thanks for stopping by. Over the years, I’ve really come to terms with frustration about things not being the way I want or need them to be. Life is what it is - - all you can do is work hard to make life what you want it to be.. and let all the rest go. Sanity demands it
Happy New Year!
7:42 pm on January 5th, 2007
My big lesson from 06 was to stop getting all excited around stupid people because they are going to keep being stupid no matter how right you are or how loudly and passionately you scream at them. I used to get so mad and be so confrontational until I had a significant event on March 9, 2006, I specifically recall. I got so worked up over something I should have just walked away from, and things got so wildly out of control that I was ashamed of myself for letting it get that far. So since then I have significantly curbed my rage towards stupidity, laziness, ignorance, and so on.
My big resolution for 07 is to go to Church more and stop cursing.
4:07 pm on January 7th, 2007
Hi Lisa!
I recently found this blog and I just read the “about” page. I just want to say that you seem like such a nice person. You wedding pictures looked beautiful btw. If you dont mind, I’ll drop by here every now and then.
PS. So you listen to Yngve Malmsten? Swedish….like me. =)
1:19 am on January 10th, 2007
This was beautifully written, honey. I just adore you, you know that?
You always make me happy.
1:27 am on January 10th, 2007
Awww, Jeanette - thank you. If you were here, I’d cuddle on the couch with you.. share a big tub of Ben & Jerry’s while we watch forensic science shows on courtTV! I just lurve you that much.
1:28 am on January 10th, 2007
…and I don’t visit you nearly enough. I suck that way, I know - - and I love you for loving me anyways.
12:23 am on January 11th, 2007
Happy belated New Year!
My resolutions for “real life” were to quit smoking and keep a proper checkbook register…so far so good! LOL!
1:01 pm on January 12th, 2007
No procrastinating on the thoughts of you and Jeanette cuddling on the couch….
8:25 am on May 7th, 2007
What a valid post. I enjoy reading the posts on this site and will be sure to return on a regular basis.