2012 NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

It's 1:00 A.M. So technically it is New Year's Eve! And New Year's Eve has always been a time of looking back at the past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year. It's a time to reflect on changes we want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on those changes.

Did you know that the tradition of the New Year's Resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C.? Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of the calendar. With two faces, Janus could look back on past events and forward to the future. He could look backward and forward at the same time. At midnight on December 31, the Romans imagined Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the new. The Romans began a tradition of exchanging gifts on New Year's Eve by giving one another branches from sacred trees for good fortune. Later, nuts or coins imprinted with the god Janus became more common New Year's gifts. Cool! Eh?

Anyway, I know some people joke about not following through with their New Year's resolutions, but I have found that if I write down my goals and keep them in a prominent place where I can read them daily (or at the very least - weekly) I actually do quite well. So here is my 2012 resolutions:

1. Help my husband by taking over the budget and finances for the family. Scott is one of the hardest workers I have ever known. He values hard work and gives his all to his employers. He also gives his all to his church callings. I know it would be a HUGE load off of his shoulders if he didn't need to worry about paying bills.

2. Keep a daily scripture journal, independently of the scripture journal I keep with my daughters for our Book of Mormon class. I got the idea for scripture journals from "The Red Headed Hostess." (See her blog at: www.theredheadedhostess.com) I am much simpler in my approach with scripture journaling. I read a chapter and record at least 3 inspirations I had per chapter in a journal. (My daughters do the same thing and then we share.) My resolution is to also study independently the same way....

3. Keep the sabbath day holy-er. I like my Sunday naps. And sometimes I sleep the entire afternoon. I would rather spend my Sabbath days doing good.

4. I want to compose some simple songs and teach my piano/voice students to do the same. I recently purchased a new computer and keyboard for my music studio. I also have Finale. I want to use my technology to enrich my students' lives and help them be creative!

5. Practice my piano at least five times per week. (I currently practice only once a week. I am hoping to be a better example for my students'.)

6. Read two books per month. (I LOVE reading!) I'll try to write book reviews as blog posts.

7. Speaking of blogs. My seventh resolution is to blog weekly (at least.)

8. I will continue to write a monthly music/news letter for my studio. I also want to write monthly music articles (perhaps weekly) and see if I can get them published somewhere?!

9. I will continue to magnify my church callings to the best of my ability. (Since all three of my callings are music callings, they are pretty simple for me to fulfill, but I will strive to learn from them and make them the best I can.)

and 10. I will continue to home school my daughters, and give them the best possible education I can. I will be more organized with our time and continue to enrich their schooling with different educational opportunities. (I'll write about them as they happen here!)

Those are my goals! Periodically I'll report to web-land on my progress. It would help if anyone reading this would occasionally remind me of my goals and I'll feel like I'm reporting to someone.

I have learned that being accountable to someone (anyone) helps me fulfil my goals. Last year my goal was to exercise regularly. Because I was accountable to my good friend, Amy, I am happy to report that we have regularly exercised for an entire year! Yahoo

So do you make New Year's resolutions? What are your goals?